File No. 763.72112/2649
The Minister in Denmark (Egan) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 19.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 108 of May 26, 1916,1 I have the honor to state that it will be very difficult to obtain accurate statistics tending to show that the receipts by Denmark of particular American export commodities since the beginning of the war, and especially in recent months, have been less than actually needed under existing circumstances in legitimate trade. At present, the Government will give out no statistics on this point and the great shippers confess frankly that they are afraid to make even confidential statements of the restrictions on their trade for fear that the British will turn the screws more tightly. A comparison of British and American imports made before the war with those since the beginning would be unfair, unless one could discover the amount of imports necessary for Denmark which were prevented from reaching her from Russia, Germany, and Austria for instance, because of the war. In the first few months of this struggle there is little doubt that copper, coffee, lard, animal fats, etc., passed rather freely into Germany. The British policy is to prevent the accumulation of foodstuffs, etc., here—the Danes, for political reasons agreeing in this—as well as the exportation of goods into Germany. Under the agreements made between the Chamber of Manufacturers and the Merchants’ Guild in Denmark and the British Government, only the “rations”—that is, the quantity of imports permitted under guarantees—have been allowed to enter. A great grievance with the Danish importers of American goods is that their orders should be absolutely controlled by the British Ambassador at Washington and that only such American firms as are approved by the British authorities are allowed to export copper. They find it intolerable that goods from the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and the Danish West Indies should be at the mercy of the British Government.
[Page 399]There is a copper famine here at present, and, as to rubber, not even tennis balls can be imported. The import of petroleum has been normal since the war. At present there is a great dearth of benzine and fuel oil. The Standard Oil people have been trying for some time to induce the British Government to permit the entrance of extra quantities of fuel oils, to be used in the creameries, etc., owing to the shortage of coal. More benzine is also demanded because of the increase in the number of automobiles.
This, of course, is merely a preliminary statement. I shall do my best to send a report, defective as it possibly may be, as soon as possible.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩