File No. 300.115/10342
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.35 p. m.]
5023. Before instruction contained in your 3919, 11th, could be presented to the Foreign Office a further note with reference to this [Page 539] matter was received by the Embassy in which the Foreign Office suggested that there must have been a misapprehension on the part of Stabler as to what Cadogan said at the interview referred to, as neither his recollections nor the record of the conversation made by him at the time bears out Stabler’s account of the advice said to have been given.
The Foreign Office further states that it would appear that its decision in this particular case was made clear in its notes of February 10 and September 12 (see my despatch 30401 February 11, and cable 4888,2 September 13, 7 p. m.).
The Foreign Office adds that it regrets its inability to add anything to the latter note, and the position remains that the British Government is not prepared to authorize permits for the shipment of any goods of enemy origin except in respect of specified quantities of which the value is given, and therefore it will be impossible to issue any blanket permit; that the French, Italian, and Russian Governments are being communicated with on the general subject of shipments of beet seed to the United States and a further communication will be addressed to the Embassy with regard to the result of these discussions.
As will be observed, my 37601 stated the Foreign Office informally advises and since, as the Department has already been informed, there is no record other than the copy of the telegram which Mr. Stabler drafted, and which, according to the statement of the Foreign Office was based on a misunderstanding on his part, I will await your further instructions before presenting your 3919, 11th.