File No. 841.711/2085

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

[Telegram]

6561. Your 5051, June 27, 3 p.m. The British Government’s position is that they hold themselves free to censor all mail addressed [Page 1236] to consuls whether of neutral or Allied countries but as an act of courtesy they refrain from examining communications from the consul’s government or from his government’s diplomatic representative in this country, all other mail whether or not addressed to consuls in their official capacity is subject to censorship in respect to mail leaving this country. British consuls abroad are subject to same regulations as other consuls.

I understand that by special arrangement with French censorship mail from France is not censored on arrival in this country but in the absence of postal censorship in the United States I fear no similar arrangement is possible for us. Present system is inconvenient as it involves examination by British authorities of commercial inquiries from the United States. Would it be possible privately to circularize Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations and suggest that all such inquiries, particularly those relating to trade after the war, be made through the Department?

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