File No. 300.115/5099a
The Foreign Trade Adviser of the Department of State (Fleming) to the Commercial Adviser of the British Embassy (Crawford)
My Dear Sir Richard : It is the desire of Mr. W. B. Rosevear, jr., an American citizen and representative of Dippe Brothers, growers of beet seed at Quedlinburg, Germany, to import 50,000 bags of beet seed for sugar-beet growers in this country. This is of governmental importance and the Department of Agriculture of the United States is greatly interested in procuring this seed for our growers.
Mr. Rosevear is in receipt of a telegram from the Rotterdam agent of Dippe Brothers, which states that there are now ready for shipment in Germany 50,000 bags of beet seed, subject to export license, but buyers must send certificate attested by State Department that goods for use only in the United States, and must apply at the British Embassy at Washington for confirmation of transport security.
In order to prevent any shipment from this country, the Secretary of Agriculture has consented to act as consignee for this seed, and for all sugar-beet seed imported for American sugar companies, and all seed will be reconsigned to the sugar companies only upon satisfactory guarantees from them that the seed will be used by the sugar companies and will not be reexported.
Mr. Rosevear has exhibited to me affidavits:
- (1)
- Of R. M. Oxnard, vice president, American Beet Sugar Company, that that company is inadequately provided with sugarbeet seed for its operation for the coming year and that the order for 2,500 bags of the product from Messrs. Dippe Brothers of Quedlinburg, Germany, given for execution to Mr. W. B. Rosevear, jr., is intended entirely for the exclusive use of that company.
- (2)
- Of M. R. Osburn, secretary, Toledo Sugar Company, for 300 bags, accompanied by original order.
- (3)
- Of William H. Wallace, general manager, Michigan Sugar Company, for 3,000 bags.
- (4)
- Of John H. Abel, general manager, National Sugar Manufacturing Company, for 1,000 bags.
- (5)
- Of William B. Rosevear, sr. (father of William B. Rosevear, jr.), for 1,000 bags.
These evidence but a part of the demand for sugar-beet seed in this country.
On May 21, 1915, the Foreign Office of your Government stated that although His Majesty’s Government cannot give any general undertaking as regards the shipment of German beet seed to the United States, they will be willing, in view of the fact that the seed is not procurable elsewhere than in Germany, to give an undertaking against interference in regard to particular consignments, the case of such shipment being considered on its merits; that such permission would of course be conditional on there being no question of the exchange of commodities with Germany, and on the seeds being shipped from a neutral port, such as Rotterdam.
As it appears to be one of the conditions for the shipment of the seed from Germany that transport security be received acting for the sugar-beet seed interests of this country, and in this case particularly for Mr. Rosevear, and unofficially and informally and without recognizing in any way the order in council of March 15[11], 1915, I shall be pleased to have you take this matter up with your Government to the end that a special permit may be given for the shipment of this seed when it arrives in Rotterdam.
I shall retain the affidavits, above referred to, in my office for the next week, and if you desire to examine them I shall be pleased to submit them to you.
As this is of special importance to the Government of the United States, I bespeak your usual prompt and valued attention.
I am [etc.]