File No. 894.85/47
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)
7679. For Sheldon [from War Trade Board]:
No. 461. Embassy’s 9886, May 6, 1 p.m. Your 522.1 We have agreements here by authority of both French and Italian Governments that they will not allow purchase of Japanese steamers. We feel that these agreements should continue in force because as we furnish the steel to Japan we are able to secure better prices for [Page 648] ships than any of the other Allies. Fisher has stated that it is England’s belief we should continue Japanese negotiations for ships. It is also true that United States will probably have to advance credits to Italy and France to pay for any ships that might be bought by them.
Letters of April 22 and May 4 from Munson to Stevens give you full details of United States-Japanese agreement both on chartered and purchased steamers.1 Show to Stevens.