wide.
The American control, established more recently, is under the
Department of State, in accordance with the proclamation of the
President of the United States on materials necessary for national
defense.
British
control is facilitated by the fact that the main African diamond
sources, said to produce more than 90 per cent of the total, are
controlled by the Diamond Corporation and the Diamond Trading Company,
as we have seen in previous chapters. They are co-operating closely
with the British government in an effort to trace the ultimate
destination of all industrial diamonds coming from British-controlled
(and other) sources.
The
British could, as a matter of fact, refuse to supply diamonds to any
dealer in the United States or elsewhere. As far as can be determined,
however, no threats of this sort have been made to industrial diamond
dealers and do not have to be made. The implication that they must obey
the rules is contained in a pledge which all dealers must sign before
receiving any "rough diamonds and diamond products suitable for
industrial use."
The purchasers agree that:
"We
will use our best endeavors to insure that diamonds will not, through
act of ours, reach any country at war with Great Britain or its allies.
We also agree, when requested by the proper British agency, to make a
full disclosure of our records and permit inspection of our stocks."
When
an American importer wants industrial diamonds he cables his dealer in
London. On receiving his reply he telephones a British government
agency in New York or elsewhere, which, if it wishes, questions the
American importer on the purposes for which the imports will be used.
The British agency then cables its approval to a British
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