File No. 665.11251/42 The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Rome, December 30, 1914, 12 noon. [Received 5.30 p. m.] 141. Am assured by Foreign Office cotton may now be shipped freely to order as before decree of November 13 with no embargo on reexportation.1 AMERICAN AMBASSADOR EMBARGOES BY GERMANY File No. 165.102/2 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 20, 1914. Representative Metz anxious to learn possible stock of dyestuffs, cotton prints and pharmaceutical supplies and synthetic products available for United States. Also possibility of traffic on Rhine to Rotterdam. Manufacturing works mainly at Höchst, Biebrich, Ludwigshafen, Leverkusen, Ürdingen. Matter most important. Frankfort already instructed but no reply. Endeavor telegraph information earliest possible moment. BRYAN File No. 165.102/13 Memorandum for the President, by Representative Herman A. Mete, forwarded to the Department of State, August 20, 1914 Practically 75 per cent of the dyestuffs, outside of dyewoods, that are consumed in the entire world are manufactured in Germany in five or six plants located chiefly along the Rhine and Main. Countries like Russia, France, and England, and even the United States to a small extent, have established plants for manufacturing colors, and are now depending entirely upon Germany for their own material from which they carry on the further operations. Every cotton, woolen and silk mill, as well as every leather manufacturer, paper mill, printer's ink and paint manufacturer, is dependent upon the products of these German concerns, whether he makes white goods or colored goods, because chemicals are used for sizing and finishing as well as for dyeing. There is not over a sixty days' supply of textile chemicals and dyes in the United States, carried in stock by the various importers or agents of German concerns. These stocks have been apportioned in such a way that practically every mill will get its pro rata share, based upon its Not printed. For summary of reexportation provision, see Department's No. 564, November 18, 1914, printed ante, p. 347. average monthly consumption, to carry it along from four to eight weeks and so far as I know none of these holders of dyestuffs have raised their prices in the least to their old customers. The chemical men, on the other hand, have advanced prices from 30 to 100 per cent upon oxalic acid, chrome, tannin, and other products used in dyeing, printing and finishing in these industries. Unless the mills can get supplies to keep them going after the present ones are exhausted, it means that unless help is obtained, the cotton, woolen and silk mills, and the industries which use their products, that is the clothing trade, garment works, etc., will be shut down, with the consequent non-employment of hundreds of men and women now in these industries. All theorizing as to making these products here is simply ridiculous. It would take years to establish plants and after they were established, they would be in competition again with the German manufacturers unless the tariff was raised to allow them to work against foreign competition. The wood dyes have been displaced within the last twenty years. by coal tar colors which not only are much faster but easier to manipulate and leave the goods in better condition. We could go back to wood dyes by increasing the output of plants still in existence but if they were increased at all, they couldn't begin to take care of a fraction of the products now dyed with colors which have replaced the woods. It is like arguing about going back to the hand loom as against the power loom, to talk of going back to dyewoods. Every mill in the United States is vitally interested and any talk of taking export trade from foreigners is out of the question so long as we couldn't get supplies to satisfy our own market. The chemical works in Germany, even assuming that they have [not?] stopped working, [are crippled?], and I know that plants in which I am interested in Höchst-on-Main, in which seven or eight thousand are employed, are crippled by having probably five thousand called to the colors. This undoubtedly holds good in every other plant in Germany but these factories have enough stock on hand to supply the wants of the world from two to three months, while all those manufacturing countries which include England, Germany, France, Belgium, and Russia are of necessity deprived of these supplies. The only remaining manufacturing countries who are large consumers are the United States, Japan, and China. These goods could be shipped to China and Japan, and to the United States through Holland, and would keep our mills going for at least a year if not another pound were produced in Germany. It is suggested that we get in touch, through our consuls, with these plants which are situated at Höchst-on-the-Main, and Mainkur-on-the-Main, both in the Frankfort district, Ludwigshaven, and Leverkusen on the Rhine in the Cologne district. There is one large plant in Berlin and two in Switzerland but these are not of necessity cut off by water transportation to Rotterdam and dependent upon the railroads. It seems logical, therefore, that if transportation down the Rhine through a neutral country like Holland is possible, we ought to be able to get these goods and keep our mills running. There are certainly men enough left at the works to load the vessels if nothing else. Individual communication with plants is impossible. I haven't been able to get a word from the works since August 4. File No. 165.102/5 The Silk Dyers' Mutual Protective Association of America to the Secretary of State Paterson, New Jersey, August 17, 1914. DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the Silk Dyers' Mutual Protective Association of America, held at its offices this day, the secretary was, by resolution, directed to bring to your attention the situation in which the silk dyers now find themselves by reason of the European war. As you probably know, Paterson is the center of the silk industry of the United States and all silk either before or after its manufacture must be dyed. The Silk Dyers' Mutual Protective Association of America comprises practically all persons, firms, and corporations engaged in the business of dyeing silk in the United States. The States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut are among those in which most of the manufacturing of silk is carried on and this association has been informed that the number of persons employed in the allied industries dependent upon the dyeing of silk and other materials greatly exceeds that employed in any other one industry. This association recognizes the demands made upon you at this time, but makes its plea because of the most unusual conditions now existing and because also, it is believed, that only by some such action as herein indicated can the great silk business of the United States be protected, probably saved. In dyeing silk much of the material used can be obtained only from Germany. At present but little of this material can be had because of the war in Europe. This association has been advised, however, that there is plenty of such material in Germany ready for shipment and that, if this material can be moved down the Rhine to some point of shipment, such as Rotterdam, then its transportation to the United States will be a comparatively simple matter. The war will affect the manufacture of silk in Germany, France, and other countries so that there will be little or no demand for this dyestuff in those countries and therefore, the manufacturers of this dyestuff will facilitate and aid as much as they can the shipment of the material to some neutral port. We ask you to help us at this most critical time to devise some means by which this material can be moved and transported as above stated. Respectfully yours, SILK DYERS, MUTUAL PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA By EDWIN BODMER, JR., Secretary File No. 165.102/19 The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, September 4, 1914. [Received September 5, 5.30 a. m.] 23. Referring 3, August 27, 2 p. m., concerning shipments dyestuffs, pharmaceutic articles, etc.1 Several firms ready export large quantities from Rotterdam under Dutch flag if assurance given shipments will not be seized. Dispense from export prohibition quinine and caffeine can be secured [sic]. GERARD File No. 165.102/34 The Consul General at Berlin (Lay) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL, Berlin, September 15, 1914. Series 11, relative to German embargo. Tar oil and aniline salts are now forbidden export. Thorium nitrate, salol, acylphometadiïne, silver nucleïnate, and coloring matter, not aniline, are not prohibited. Following articles are doubtful: Dyestuffs for tanning purposes forbidden, otherwise permitted if not. Rattan reeds are not prohibited raw but if used for spinning purposes may be prohibited. Catgut is probably prohibited under head of transparent leather products or aviation supplies. Laboratory apparatus, whether for educational institutions or not, is prohibited if for bacteriological, chirurgical or medical purposes, excepting childbirth, and dental instruments. Potash fertilizers are now, in general, permitted exportation. Certain combinations of potash and sodium ten metals [sic] prohibited. Caustic potash prohibited. Exports for a month now permitted laboratory chemicals if not used manufacture of ammunition explosives. Medicinal preparations aviation purposes may be permitted export. Orders of Imperial Chancellor relative to embargo con stantly changing. Permits are required if goods are questionable. Plenty of all these materials now for export. Freight regulations as to size would limit, bulky shipment best. Most available and cheapest routes from Berlin and its surrounding country are via Rotterdam or Copenhagen. Italian route much more expensive. Shipping at standstill until last few days. Now moving some. LAY 1Not printed. File No. 165.102/46a The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 17, 1914. 186. Unofficial information Germany has placed cyanide under embargo. Supply in mining districts this country and Mexico very limited. Unless cyanide can be had, American mining companies in Mexico and United States will be compelled to shut down with disastrous results. Investigate, and if there is an embargo, request German government to lift embargo on enough cyanide for needs of United States if given assurances that no cyanide will be supplied belligerent countries. Answer immediately. LANSING File No. 165.102/47 The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, September 19, 1914. [Received September 20, 1.15 p. m.] 227. Referring to Department's 186, September 17, 7. p. m. September 9, 2 p. m.1 Have been working on cyanide matter and informed 16th instant by the director of gold and silver Scheideanstalt that that export now permitted for America and Mexico. Embargo was put on because government here did not want England to get cyanide for Transvaal; therefore, please see that no cyanide is reexported. File No. 165.102/57 [File copy not signed] The Ambassador in Germany (Gerard) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Berlin, September 22, 1914, 10 p. m. 271. Referring to my telegram No. 227, 19th. The embargo on cyanide is on the kind used in mining industry and was put on to prevent British getting cyanide for their production. gold in the Transvaal. Although certain exporters had informed me that the Secretary of the Interior here had agreed to export of dyes, quantities cyanide, on their giving guarantee that consignment was for United States, I am now informed by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs that because of fear that British may take goods of this |