File No. 656.119/690
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15, 2.50 a.m.]
1106. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 1266. Your 1030, Department’s 754, August 13. I fear you had not considered the last part of my 1197, Embassy’s 965, August 9, 6 p.m.,1 when you despatched your 1030. I will again point out to the Foreign Office that the manner in which they reopened negotiations on Oppenheimer’s return was strongly objected to by our Government. I very much doubt if complaint is justified at their manner of handling any negotiations during the last few weeks; on the other point of the advisability of making an offer of modus vivendi rations, this I think is clearly a difference of opinion and as [Page 1522] we have received several indications that the Dutch propose recommencing negotiations, it would appear that this could be traced to the necessity of coming to terms which would not have come to pass, at least in the opinion of Townley and the Foreign Office, had modus vivendi rations been granted. Taylor seems to have felt the force of the British attitude and will shortly explain the situation to you in detail.
- Not printed.↩