File No. 855.48/472
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4–30 p.m.]
5767. From commission for your information and for Hoover:
British Government has warned Germans through Spanish Ambassador that unless German safe-conduct be granted to relief ships held in United Kingdom ports so that they may go to Rotterdam by March 2 the British Government will unload them and sell cargo to individuals or Government. The British argue that Germans by denying safe-conduct relieve commission of responsibility for delivering cargoes. This loss of 58,000 tons of food will be serious. Commission can do nothing but protest. Is that worth while?