File No. 300.115/7285
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 23.]
Sir: With reference to my cablegram of to-day’s date, No. 3760, in regard to the issuance of permits by the British Government for the export from Rotterdam to the United States of beet seed of German origin, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of Sir Edward Grey’s note of the 10th instant in this connection.
I did not fail immediately to present to the Foreign Office the Department’s request that certain substitute permits be issued for the export of beet seed, which requests were contained in its cablegrams Nos. 2779 and 28171 of January 25 and February 3 respectively.
In view of possible confusion as to the issuance of replace permits, the Foreign Office informally advised me, in a discussion of the [Page 536] matter, that they have canceled all outstanding permits, and will be willing to issue permits in their place up to 140,300 bags, the amount already agreed upon. They state that they prefer to issue these permits, only when the seed is actually at Rotterdam and ready for immediate shipment.
This appears to me to be the best solution of the matter, as it will avoid the confusion which might arise from the cancellation of some permits and the issuance of others in their place, and the holding over for a length of time of permits already granted and for which the seed is not available.
I feel sure that the Foreign Office has tried to meet the wishes of the Department in this matter, and will do all in its power to facilitate future shipments under these new conditions.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩