File No. 841.731/1769

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

6059. Your telegram 1107, February 10, 1915.1 British Government understands that United States telegraph censorship includes control of censorship established at Panama Canal controlling correspondence between North and South.

We contended in 1915 that the British censorship could not effectively control telegrams between North and South owing to existing alternative routes free from censorship and that partial control merely caused irritation without corresponding advantage. British authorities therefore abandoned censorship on their lines between points named.

Foreign Office now represents that if United States has established censorship at Panama Canal it would be possible for this to be evaded by use of British lines and in these circumstances enquires of me whether it would not be desirable to reestablish British censorship which was relaxed. Please instruct me.

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