File No. 600.119/492a
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)
6325. For Sheldon [from War Trade Board]:
No. 28. Your No. 31.1 In the light of information available to us, and aside from our desire to maintain a consistent policy toward Holland and Scandinavia throughout the negotiations, we are convinced that the surest and most effective way to expedite negotiations and bring about agreements with border neutrals is the continued maintenance of complete embargo, and we feel that these considerations outweigh any effect from capture of Scandinavian and Dutch markets by Germany.
Nevertheless, in view of your closer proximity to the situs of negotiations, we are disposed to entrust this matter to you; and if you and Minister of Blockade, after giving consideration to our views, feel it advisable to modify embargo by permitting export of nonessentials, we will be guided by your judgment and you are authorized to proceed accordingly.
Since formulating the above reply, we have received your Nos. 372 and 43.3 In view of same we are brought to conclusion that attempt of War Trade Board to maintain strict embargo against Scandinavia and Holland has been unsuccessful, and this is an additional reason for leaving the matter entirely to the judgment of yourself and Minister of Blockade.