File No. 652.119/1709
The War Trade Board Representative in Cuba ( Morgan) to the Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs ( Stabler)
[Received August 15.]
My Dear Herbert: Immediately upon my return here I took up the matter of coaling the Spanish boats with the agents of the different companies here and from the representations which I made to them regarding the possibility of there being a scarcity of coal here in this Island to enable us to bunker their boats in compliance with the agreement of March 7, 1918, made with them by the War Trade Board, to the effect that it would be to their advantage to consent to take all the coal they needed either at Porto Rico, where [Page 1743] we have an abundance of coal, or at some other American port, both the agents seemed to be greatly impressed with the suggestion, and advised me that they would at once communicate the same to their respective companies through the Spanish Minister here with the recommendation that the plan suggested be adopted. This would settle the question as far as we are concerned and would bring about the results which you desire.
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Yours very sincerely,