File No. 600.119/595

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

9147. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:

No. 314. Your No. 169.1 Representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, and myself met at Foreign Office with a view of facilitating exchange of views on blockade matters.2 Decided to meet regularly once a week and to constitute ourselves into an Allied blockade committee under the chairmanship of Leverton Harris. Such committee would have no powers except as being the means of deciding blockade matters on which they had received specific instructions from their governments. The Contraband Committee would in no way be disturbed but, should it be in difficulties, could seek advice from the Allied Blockade Committee which could give decisions or the members could request instructions from their respective governments. So many matters are arising which it is not the province of the Contraband Committee or the War Trade Statistical Department to determine, that the need of this new committee is keenly felt. This committee is taking up in detail the subject matter of your No. (175?).3 I would call your attention in this connection to Morris [Page 975] telegram 1620, March 5, 5 p.m.,1 stating: “The local joint committee will report constantly to Allied ministers who will take such steps as they deem proper with the Swedish Government to carry out its recommendations.” While undoubtedly the local joint committees should have considerable latitude in developing the most efficacious method of handling importations, I think in principle the Foreign Office agrees with me that they should not have the power to take any decisions outside the scope determined upon by the Allied Blockade Committee sitting in London. In other words the Allied Blockade Committee would occupy the same position regarding the northern neutrals that the Inter-Allied Committee in Paris occupies regarding Switzerland. Please consider foregoing and send me your approval or comments.

Page
  1. Ante, p. 969.
  2. The first meeting, as recorded in the Committee’s minutes, was on Mar. 15.
  3. Ante, p. 970.
  4. Not printed.