File No. 855.48/624

The Second Counselor of the British Embassy ( Hohler) to the Assistant to the Counselor for the Department of State ( Auchincloss)

Dear Mr. Auchincloss: I am enclosing a memorandum embodying the points which I dwelt on in my conversation with you this afternoon about the Belgian Relief,3 which I hope will make the [Page 460] present state of our negotiations in this question perfectly clear to you.

We have received further instructions to inform the United States Government that His Majesty’s Government have agreed in principle to abandon the examination of relief ships to and from the United States at Halifax, etc., providing that there be an examination in American harbours which will furnish the necessary safeguards both as to the ships and their cargoes. If this is done and ships sail direct between America and Holland, it is calculated by the Committee of Belgian Relief that over 30,000 tons of cargo capacity will be saved monthly, and that there will be a reduction in the round trip of about 16 days—that is to say, instead of 76 days about 60. We are instructed to consult the United States Government on this point, and to invite them to undertake the examination. It is of very great importance to initiate the new method without delay.

Yours sincerely,

T. B. Hohler