File No. 165.102/68
The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, September 25, 1914, 12 p.m.
[Received September 26, 12:30 p.m.]
[Telegram]
288. Am working on the question of export dyestuffs, cyanide and salvarsan, etc. There has been some divergence of views and consequent confusion between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Interior. The great fear is that these articles may be taken from neutral vessels by the English. If you can send me an assurance that England will not take these goods when the property of American citizens from neutral vessels, and that United States will guarantee that goods will not be resold to English, I am confident that matter can be arranged. Foreign Office told me yesterday that goods would be allowed to leave Holland in American ships and to-day that probably goods might also leave in Italian vessels from Italy but the question of what should be guaranteed against selling to England still open. Have meeting again to-morrow and hope for a definite answer. Suggest that in the meantime you either get assurances from the British Government or send an American ship to the Netherlands. If the matter cannot be arranged soon, factories will cease manufacture. The following was received in writing from the Foreign Office this evening:
The exportation of cyanide from Germany is prohibited. However, the Imperial Government is willing to meet the needs of American domestic consumption to permit export of relative amount of cyanide. It believes it to be necessary, however, to make condition that the goods are carried under American flag as otherwise in danger of being confiscated by English.