File No. 659a.119/18
The Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 1, 1.08 p.m.]
10375. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 693. Your 577, May 28.2
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The facts are that I asked Anglo-American Oil Company here to make a price for Iceland. They said they cabled their principals, the Standard Oil Company and received reply that they must not quote. Matter was then taken up by British with Asiatic Petroleum Company who expressed a willingness to contract. I then suspended all negotiations until I could get an expression from you in answer to my 6263 as to whether you would prefer the oil to be sold by a branch of the Standard Oil or by the Asiatic.
My proposed letter of adherence does not pretend to bind War Trade Board or the United States Government in any way except a guarantee to [a] issue licenses on request for cereals and mineral oils within the agreed [rations], (b) issue licenses for some other articles within the [rations] when they can be spared.
Please cable at once about the oils and when you receive the documents through pouch. Cable instructions about letter of adherence.