600.119/1724: Telegram

The Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin ) to the Secretary of State

4158. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]: Number 1963. Your 1700. Department’s 3037 November 25. Board of Trade view here is substantially as follows. While your proposal is ultimately desirable attention is drawn to the following considerations: (1) The general license for imports into the United Kingdom of articles referred to in your 1706, Department’s 3006, November 2320 is operative only until March 1st; (2) at present British import control still covers a number of important articles received from the United States such as cotton, hosiery, leather goods, boots and shoes et cetera. A blanket license such as is proposed would restore the former difficulties which were removed by the permit system; that is, difficulties arising out of goods being sent to United Kingdom without an import license having been promised and consequently had upon arrival. From this point of view it would seem preferable [Page 745] that until British import restrictions have been removed to a far greater extent than has hereto been found possible the War Trade Board, instead of a blanket license, should give general permission to export to this country only articles for which a general license to import has been issued on this side.

Laughlin
  1. Not printed.