300.115/20523: Telegram

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State

3510. In reply to Department’s 5885, August 28, 5 [3] p.m., contents of which I transmitted to the British Government on September 2d, Foreign Office has just addressed to me following note:35

“I have now the honor to inform Your Excellency that His Majesty’s Government will be quite prepared to consider, and in proper cases to consent to, an order for the release upon such terms as the court may deem just of goods which were detained under the Order in Council of March 11, 1915, to American claimants who may establish their ownership at the time of shipment. The proceeds of goods already sold or the invoice values deposited to which Your Excellency refers, would be dealt with in like manner. As observed in my former note of August 24th, 1918, it would be understood that such releases are accepted in final settlement of all claims. For this purpose I would suggest that claims accompanied by documentary proof of such ownership should be forwarded by the claimants to His Majesty’s Procurator General direct.”

For Foreign Office’s note of August 24th, 1918, see my number 9821, of September 3d, 191836

Davis
  1. Dated Dec. 6 and signed by Lord Curzon.
  2. Ante, p. 617.