File No. 855.48/860
The Commercial Adviser of the British Embassy ( Crawford) to the Counselor for the Department of State ( Polk)
[Received November 24.]
My Dear Mr. Counsellor: We have received a cable from the Foreign Office stating that the Commission for Belief in Belgium [Page 468] anticipate a shortage of tonnage amounting to 10,000 tons for December and 17,000 for January.
The Inter-Allied Chartering Executive cannot see their way to assign ships definitely to make up this shortage and we are instructed to enquire whether the United States Government can assist.
I am sure that the situation in which the Relief Commission finds itself is already being fully represented to you by the Commission’s officers here, but it seems desirable that we should make clear that, in the present general tonnage position, the I.A.C.E. cannot be relied on to supply the deficit in the Commission’s programme.
I shall be glad of any information or discussions which would tend to an understanding between the Shipping Board and the I.A.C.E. for a joint tonnage programme for this important work, as I feel that there is at present some danger of duplication and confusion between the Commission’s officers in London and here in this matter.
Believe me [etc.]