File No. 763.72112/3246
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23, 9 a. m.]
5359. Your 4132,2 December 5, 5 p. m. Foreign Office states that in view of concessions of a far-reaching character recently granted by British Government at my request, it does not see its way now to make further concessions regarding shipments of tobacco. Nor is British Government able to concur in Department’s views respecting the utility of tobacco to the enemy in view of the evidence of the strong support afforded by tobacco chronicles of endurance of forces in the field, while good reason exists at present to believe that the actual shortage of tobacco supplies in enemy countries is making itself felt. Foreign Office adds that steps have been taken to curtail seriously the supplies of Dutch colonial tobacco imported into Holland.