File No. 103.96/1681f
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin)
3225. For Sheldon [from War Trade Board]:
No. 1774. We have advised the British Embassy here that we would participate in the purchase price of some 245 tons of molybdenum [Page 1294] from Norway, which has already been the subject of some correspondence between us, in the following manner: That any recovery due to the United States on account of its share in the purchase of the 2,000,000 tons of Swedish iron ore, provided for in the agreement of May 29, 1918, may be used to pay our moiety of the purchase price of the molybdenum. We have also advised the French that we would participate to the extent of one-third in the French and British purchase of 41,000 tons of low phosphorous iron ore from Sweden in the same manner. The Executive order of June 29, 1918, providing for our participation in the purchase of the 2,000,000 tons of Swedish iron ore, has been amended so as to make possible our participation in the molybdenum purchase and the low phosphorous iron ore purchased in the manner indicated.
We are sending to you by pouch forthwith amended form of said Executive order and letters to the British and French Embassies,1 which will furnish you with greater details.
- Not printed.↩