File No. 658.119/417
The Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9 p.m.]
10429. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 719. Your 592, Department’s 8045, June 1,1 I have talked with the Foreign Office about their views on the necessity of replacing ships coming out from Sweden, against those vessels that would be leaving the United States with modus vivendi cargoes. In their opinion, as soon as the Swedish agreement is ratified all such movements will coalesce into the arrangement under the tonnage agreement and, while from some points of view this might be undesirable, the Foreign Office believes that we should be prepared to carry out the tonnage agreement in a generous spirit. I concur in this view.
Would point out that there will be little danger in allowing ships to depart from the United States, for if there were unwarranted delays in the signing of charters and delivery of boats under the agreement the movement could be immediately stopped. I think it is very important that no undue difficulties should be put in the way, and would point out that rightly or wrongly the Swedes have felt that undue pressure was being brought to bear on your part, only recently, to time-charter boats for four months in spite of the fact that you had consented to the interpretation of the original modus vivendi contract that the Swedish Government agreed to grant licenses but not to guarantee four months’ charters.
please cable me your views on the foregoing points.
- Not printed.↩