File No. 600.119/351
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.30 p.m.]
7006. In an interview yesterday with Lord R. Cecil, Minister of Blockade, the questions raised in your 5236 of July 313 were discussed in great detail. His recent cables to the British Embassy in Washington seem to cover all the questions you raise, especially when their contents are considered in conjunction with his memorandum of August 4, a summary of which I am informed was telegraphed by him to the Washington Embassy some time ago.4 The memorandum itself was transmitted with my despatch No. 6758 of August 13 and should now be in your hands.5 If there remain any points which are [Page 928] not clear or if any new questions have arisen with relation to our share in the blockade, I await your further instructions. The Embassy is in close touch with the Ministry of Blockade which is apparently at pains to keep me informed as to new developments. One suggestion which has just been made by Cecil may be worth emphasizing here. The British Government is quite willing that an Allied blockade council should be set up in Washington and to send delegates to sit in it if desired. On the other hand if our authorities prefer not to be bound by the decisions of a council whose nature might be taken as that of an official inter-Allied body, the British Government is willing to send over men familiar with all phases of the blockade if these men are asked for by our Government. In that case they would come merely in a consultative capacity and their instructions would be to assist the American Government with information as required. I think many grim difficulties would be overcome by the presence of such assistants. I am assured that the French would co-operate in this.