File No. 411.57N83/27
Mr. Rublee of the United States Shipping Board to the Counselor for the Department of State ( Polk)
My Dear Mr. Polk: The United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation has decided to requisition at once all ships in process of construction in American yards, in order that their completion may be expedited.
It is not necessary now to determine what disposition shall finally be made of these ships. That is a question which will be decided later, and so far as ships being built for foreign governments or their citizens, after consultation with those governments.
I have been requested by the Emergency Fleet Corporation to ask you whether the State Department has any objection to the corporation proceeding at once to requisition the ships.
Respectfully yours,