He adds, however, that in view of the situation in Mexico and later in view of the European wars he has absolutely discontinued the sale of any of these rifles to any one. Accept [etc.] W. J. BRYAN File No. 763.72111/649 The General Agent of the Grand Trunk Railway System (0. S. Cockey) to the Secretary of State MY DEAR SIR: New York, November 13, 1914. Transportation of contraband goods Would like very much to know whether our road would be permitted to handle contraband from Dominion of Canada across United States territory into Canadian territory, and whether United States contraband goods can be moved into Canada, then through Canada, into the United States, and again into Canada for export via Canadian ports. For instance, from New York to Vancouver via Niagara Falls, across Canadian territory via our road to Chicago and into Canada north of Minneapolis. Any information you can give me on the subject will be greatly appreciated. Yours very truly, O. S. COCKEY The Secretary of State to the General Agent of the Grand Trunk Railway System (O. S. Cockey) DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 16, 1914. SIR: The Department has received your letter of the 13th instant, wherein you inquire whether the Grand Trunk Railway System would be permitted to handle contraband from the Dominion of Canada across United States territory into Canadian territory, and whether United States contraband goods can be moved into Canada, then through Canada, into the United States, and again into Canada for export via Canadian ports. In reply you are advised that if the goods in question are transported in the ordinary course of trade and not under military or other Government escort, so that the train does not take on the character of a convoy indicated in Article 2 of the Hague convention No. 5, there would appear to be no objection to such shipments passing through United States territory. If, however, complaint is made to this Government that transportation of this sort is in violation of the neutrality of the United States, this Government will feel that it is necessary to examine into the facts of each case and render an independent decision in accordance therewith. I am [etc.] For the Secretary of State: ROBERT LANSING Counselor File No. 763.72111/1183a The Counselor for the Department of State to James H. Hayden DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 1, 1914. DEAR MR. HAYDEN: About two weeks ago you called upon me, as an attorney for manufacturers of submarines, and asked my views as to whether the sale of submarines to a belligerent government would be in violation of the neutrality of the United States. I told you that, while I had not studied the question, my personal opinion was that the sale of component parts of submarines treated in bulk was not illegal, but I expressly said that I could not speak for the Government in the matter until I had studied the question and consulted the Secretary of State. At a later interview I told you that the President and Secretary of State considered that sales of manufactured parts of submarines would be unneutral, and you agreed, as I understood, to submit the matter in writing before any sales were made. It has been brought to the attention of the Department that certain American companies are supposed to have entered into contracts with one of the belligerent governments for the manufacture of submarines or of their component parts, and that work thereon has already commenced. In view of your statement that you would submit the matter in writing to the Department before sales were made, I would like to be advised as to whether or not any manufacturer, whom you represented when you interviewed me on the subject, has made or is executing any contract of this kind. Since you consulted me on the subject I think that I am entitled to know this, because it would be improper for your clients to have acted upon an unofficial opinion of mine in view of the reservation made as to the possible attitude of the Government. I feel it my duty to inform you, in order that there may be no uncertainty in the matter, that this Government is opposed to the sale of submarines or of their component parts by American manufacturers to belligerents, as being contrary to the strict neutrality which this Government seeks to preserve in the present war, and that it will take all legal means to prevent the exportation of such craft and manufactured parts. You will oblige me by communicating the views of this Government to the persons or concern whom you may represent. Very sincerely yours, 2432-28- -37 ROBERT LANSING File No. 763.72111Em1 The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, December 4, 1914, 11 p. m. 1005. Universal, very bitter, and increasing feeling in Germany because of reported sale by Americans of munitions of war, etc., to Allies. Boycotting of American goods already beginning. GERARD File No. 763.72111/1072 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 7, 1914. 708. The Secretary of State gave the following to the press this afternoon. When information reached the State Department that the Fore River Company was planning to build a number of submarines for one of the Allies, inquiry was made to ascertain the facts. As a result of this inquiry Mr. Schwab called at the State Department last week with his attorney and laid before the Department what his company had planned to do, stating that before undertaking the work he had secured the opinion of a number of international lawyers and was keeping within the requirements of neutrality as outlined by them. I stated to him that the President, basing his opinion upon information already obtained, regarded the work as contemplated a violation of the spirit of neutrality, but told him I would lay his statement before the President and then give him a final answer. On Friday I had a conference with the President, and he instructed me to inform Mr. Schwab that his statement only confirmed him in the opinion previously formed that the submarines should not be built. Within a few minutes after my return from the White House Mr. Schwab called me by long-distance telephone and told me that he submitted to the President's views of the subject and that I could announce that his firm would not build submarines for any belligerent country for delivery during the war. This closes the submarine incident. BRYAN File No. 763.72111/1113 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, December 11, 1914, 6 p. m. 1247. Sir Edward Grey unofficially expressed the hope to me that the bill introduced by Mr. Hitchcock in the Senate will not pass. aimed to prohibit the exportation by private firms of munitions of war to any bell gerent. He calls attention to the fact that this would be special legislation passed while war is in progress making a radical departure from a long-established custom and that for this reason [it would appear?] an unneutral act towards the belligerents that can profit by it. AMERICAN AMBASSADOR The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 14, 1914, 4 p. m. I have explained to Ambassador Spring Rice that Mr. Hitchcock did not consult the President or State Department in regard to his resolution. Though from Nebraska he is not personally friendly to me. BRYAN File No. 763.72111/1140 The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador (Bernstorff) No. 1184] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, January 15, 1915. EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 11th ultimo [sic] in which you draw attention to an announcement made in No. 260 of the Daily Consular and Trade Reports of November 5, 1914, of an opportunity to deliver war material to the British Government. The item in question, being No. 14333, is to the effect that the British War Department desires supplies of intrenching implements (from manufacturers only) and that pattern and specifications may be inspected on application to the Chief Inspector of Equipment and Stores, Royal Dockyard, Woolwich. In your note you request, "since the offices of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Trade are, as I [you] have come to learn, at the disposal of the agents of foreign governments to help the transaction of business between them and American manufacturers," to be informed "whether their activities as go-betweens also include delivery of war materials." In reply I have the honor to inform you of what you are probably already aware that the object of the publication of the Daily Consular and Trade Reports is to acquaint American manufacturers and merchants of trade opportunities in foreign countries. It is much to be regretted that your excellency is not also cognizant of the fact that the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, under whose supervision the publication is issued, is not at the disposal of agents of foreign governments; and your statement to that effect can have been based only on misinformation. The item to which you call attention came through an officer of the United States and the report was made by him in conformity with his duties. The Government of the United States is endeavoring to maintain a strict neutrality. No part of it has any intention of assisting in the sale of contraband of war, absolute or conditional, to any belligerent engaged in the present war, and the item should have been so censored by the officers of the Government as to have prevented its publication, which I have ascertained was wholly due to an inadvertence during the absence of the officer in charge. In order that there may not be a recurrence of an oversight of this character, specific instructions have been given to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce by the Secretary of Commerce not to publish under the head of trade opportunities items covering goods of a contraband character, and, doubly to insure this, directions have been given to officers of the State Department to detect and remove any matters covering contraband goods which may be communicated through the Department of State. While I beg your excellency to believe that I profoundly regret, as does the Secretary of Commerce, the inadvertent publication of the item, at the same time I cannot pass unnoticed and without exception the reflection which the tone and tenor of your note would seem to cast upon the good faith of an office of the Government of the United States in the observance of a strict neutrality in the pending conflict. Your inquiry whether the activities of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce as a go-between also include the delivery of war materials would seem to require no answer in view of the neutrality proclamations of the President of the United States of which your excellency is not ignorant. Accept [etc.] W. J. BRYAN LOANS TO BELLIGERENT GOVERNMENTS File No. 763.72111/484a The Secretary of State to J. P. Morgan and Company [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 15, 1914. Inquiry having been made as to the attitude of this Government in case American bankers are asked to make loans to foreign governments during the war in Europe, the following announcement is made: There is no reason why loans should not be made to the governments of neutral nations, but in the judgment of this Government, loans by American bankers to any foreign nation which is at war are inconsistent with the true spirit of neutrality. W. J. BRYAN |