File No. 832.85/78
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 21, 4.20 a.m.]
3413. Department’s No. 3322, March 16, 5 p.m. Mr. de Margerie of the Foreign Office told me today that while he was unable at the moment to inform me as to the particular service in which the 30 German vessels interned by Brazil, but controlled by France, would be used, yet he was certain that they would be employed only in such a manner as would meet the most urgent transportation needs of the war.
He informed me that not any of the great stock of coffee purchased by France from Brazil had yet been shipped over, and it was not expected that any of these 30 ships would be used for that purpose. Mr. de Margerie has promised to give me an early answer as to the uses to which these ships will be devoted.1
- No record has been found of further communication on the subject.↩