File No. 763.72112Sa/49
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29, 6.53 p.m.]
1456. Your 885, August 21, 3 p.m. It has [not?] been possible to obtain from the Foreign Office a reconsideration of their previous objective notes [objections to?] identic communication to all the neutral governments concerned, but in the temporary absence of the Minister of Blockade and of definite instructions from their Governments to the representatives of France and Italy a further meeting has been set for Tuesday next, at which Sir L. Worthington Evans will be present. The following text was today adopted ad referendum by the representatives of the Foreign Office, France, and [Page 1102] Italy. If it meets with your approval I shall press for its joint communication to all the neutral governments concerned. The French representatives today concurred in this course, so there remains now only to convince Sir L. Worthington and the Italian Government of its advisability.
The Governments of the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy, associated in war against the Government of Germany, are acquainted with the fact that the German Government is now attempting to control neutral shipping through a new device improperly termed a “safe conduct” which constitutes in fact but a threat of condemnation and destruction unless German control is accepted. Such control might extend to German supervision of all personnel and passengers, the character and consignment of cargo, mails, etc., and the movements of the vessel itself. The Associated Governments observe that enemy control through such a device or otherwise may operate to deprive vessels accepting the same of their neutral character, and the Associated Governments accordingly reserve the right to deal with any vessel which has subjected itself to enemy control, as the circumstances in each case may warrant.
As an additional statement, to the Swedish Government only, the following paragraph has been suggested in concession to the views of the Foreign Office.
The attention of the Royal Swedish Government is invited by the Associated Governments of the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy to the fact that, apart from the general results of the acceptance of such control affecting the status of Swedish shipping, the acceptance in the specific case of Sweden would be contrary to the Swedish agreement signed May 29 last in so far as it would tend to nullify its effect and to impede the exportation to the Associated Governments of manufactures from or with the aid of materials whose importation through the blockade is permitted for the specific purpose of the return of the finished article.
[This to be?] submit[ted] in the form of a separate note or else communicated informally.
Sheldon returns today from a brief holiday and will be shown a copy of this telegram.