File No. 300.115/9687
The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2.20 p. m.]
4814. Your 36871, August 15. Foreign Office states that Rizal was not at once accorded bunkers on arrival at Colombo on homeward journey in accordance with general policy of British Government regarding supply of British coal as bunkers, as neither owners nor charterers had agreed to conditions to which British Government had found it necessary to subordinate the grant of bunkering facilities to neutral ships.
However, charterers subsequently signified their assent to conditions and the ship duly proceeded, and even during negotiations care was taken to subject voyage to as little delay as possible. Rizal cleared from Colombo on August 16 and instructions were telegraphed to Port Said to supply fuel if required at that port.