File No. 652.119/1995a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Willard )

[Telegram]

1687. For Chadbourne [from War Trade Board]:

No. 311. Please consider whether it may not be advisable for us to resume bunker control of Spanish ships in the interests of Spain herself. Large amounts of cotton and petroleum which we have licensed for export are not being lifted and at the same time we are aware of Spanish vessels being employed to lift cargoes of less essentials such as tobacco, etc. It occurs to us that the Spanish Government might welcome an exercise by us of control over Spanish ships which would ensure at least a certain amount of her shipping being kept in trade between the United States and Spain to lift essential commodities.

Lansing