File No. 658.119/524b

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

[Telegram]

1284. For Chadbourne, Smith [from War Trade Board]:

No. 132. Consider very important to arrange that vessels not touching American ports proceeding to Spain from South America, Central America, Mexico, West Indies, etc., be compelled call at Porto Rico for examination to avoid necessity Allied blockade fleet requiring vessels proceed Kirkwall or Gibraltar for examination. Confidently reported Mexico assembling quantity Mexican coal at Tampico to enable Spanish vessels proceed direct between Mexico and Spain for frank purpose of evading our jurisdiction.

Lansing