740.00112 European War 1939/803: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3 p.m.]
2377. Department’s 732, October 18, 8 p.m., and 1063, December 11, 5 p.m.71 Following a series of requests for clarification as to the status of tobacco under German contraband legislation a member of the Embassy was yesterday received by appointment in the Legal Section of the Foreign Office for a discussion of the matter. The Foreign Office official with whom the matter has finally been lodged apologized for the delay in answering the inquiry stating that the authorities had been somewhat perplexed as to the purpose of the inquiry and the possible effects of any new decision taken by the German Government in the matter. He declared that the statement issued by the German Embassy in Washington was unauthorized and incorrect since tobacco was definitely included in the second provisional contraband list issued by the Reich (see my telegram No. 1234, September 14, noon72). He said that if the Embassy would make an informal but definite request to that effect the German Government would give prompt and serious consideration to exempting tobacco from the contraband list. He said that he could not state in advance what action would be taken on such a request but indicated that it would probably be favorable conditional upon the continued exemption of tobacco from the British contraband list. He added that it was conceivable that Germany might be interested in making purchases of American tobacco.
I would appreciate instruction in the event that further representations are desired.