300.115/14331
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of
State
London, September 3,
1918.
[Received September 18.]
No. 9821
Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 1418
of August 27, 5 p.m., in regard to the desire of the United States
Government to obtain
[Page 618]
the
release of various American goods which have been seized by the
British Authorities, I now have the honor to transmit herewith to
the Department, a copy of the Note, dated August 24, 1918, which I
have received from the Foreign Office, together with a copy of the
revised list of goods referred to therein.17
I have [etc.]
For the Ambassador:
Irwin
Laughlin
[Enclosure]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Balfour) to the
American Ambassador (Page)
London, August 24,
1918.
No. 138205/345/J
Your Excellency: In your Note of
January 9th last (No. 53) you enquired whether His Majesty’s
Government would be willing to enter into an arrangement for the
release from the Prize Court of goods of American ownership,
seized by the British Authorities before the entry of the United
States into the war, and still awaiting adjudication, a material
portion of which might, in this event, be utilized to advantage
in furtherance of the common cause in which the two Governments
are united. At the same time, the United States Consul-General
submitted to His Majesty’s Procurator-General a list of goods of
enemy origin, similarly detained, which were understood to have
been purchased and paid for by American citizens.
- 2.
- His Majesty’s Government, I need hardly say, are in full
accord with the views expressed in Your Excellency’s Note as
to the desirability at the present time of utilizing these
materials to the best advantage. As it was uncertain,
however, how far the goods mentioned in the list therein
enclosed still remained unsold, I referred the list in the
first instance to the Procurator-General, who, in the
accompanying revised version,18 has indicated their present
position. It will be seen that in a few instances the goods
have already been dealt with by the Prize Court and have
either been condemned or released, and that in a few others
the documents produced to the Procurator-General show that
no American interests are involved.
- 3.
- I have now the honour to inform Your Excellency that, in
deference to the wishes of the United States Government, and
having regard to the assurances contained in your Note of
the 25th ultimo (No. 1004) His Majesty’s Government are
prepared to entertain the release to the American claimants
of the goods in question, for sale in this country or
re-export under license,—with the exception of certain of
the items marked A in the enclosed list, and necessarily
[Page 619]
in the few
instances mentioned above—in all cases where they can be
clearly shown not to be the property of enemy subjects, and
provided the releases are accepted in full discharge of any
claims that might be made in the Prize Court. For this
purpose the Procurator-General will be ready to deal with
individual claims, and in suitable cases to grant release to
claimants who are prepared to accept the goods, or their
proceeds if already sold, in final settlement of all claims.
As the most expeditious way of dealing with the matter I
would suggest that Mr. Skinner, or such other person as Your
Excellency may appoint, should enter into direct
communication with the Procurator General.
- 4.
- As regards the goods marked A in the list, these relate to
contraband shipments seized by His Majesty’s forces, where
the evident intention to assist the enemy is strongly
pronounced, and His Majesty’s Government feel assured that
the United States Government would not expect them to
discontinue the Prize Court proceedings in favour of persons
whose attempt to assist what is now the common enemy has
thus been frustrated. Should, however, any of these
particular goods be required by the United States Government
for military purposes, and be still available, arrangements
could no doubt be made, in communication with the
Procurator-General, to place them at their disposal.
I have [etc.]
(for the Secretary of State)
Eyre A. Crowe
