195 Code/212
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham)
Sir: The Department refers to the statement on page nine of your despatch No. 611, dated April 9, 1934,54 entitled “Suggested Shipping Conference”, and notes with interest that the Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Netherland Ministers in London have made representations to the British Government on this subject.
A copy of a proposed general shipping code prepared by the National Recovery Administration is transmitted herewith55 for your information. You will observe that foreign shipping lines carrying cargoes from the United States would be made subject to the provisions of the code. The Department has received notes from the French Ambassador and from the Danish and Norwegian Ministers at this capital protesting against certain provisions of the code, and the Greek Minister has orally stated that his Government objects to some of its provisions.
As an alternative to the proposed general shipping code, representatives of foreign shipping lines have suggested that an international shipping conference should be held for the purpose of stabilizing rates and taking other measures for the protection of shipping interests. The Secretary of Commerce has stated that he considers it inadvisable for the United States to issue invitations for such a conference.
Please keep the Department fully advised of any further developments with respect to the possibility that the British Government may issue invitations to an international shipping conference.
Very truly yours,