Office of the Historian

Article Concerning Control of Exports in National Defense40

February 1, 1941

The following circular telegram from the Secretary of State was sent to all collectors of customs:

“[Washington,] January 29, 1941.

“Reference is made to the Department’s previous circular airmail letters in regard to the interpretation of the regulations issued pursuant to the Export Control Act approved on July 2, 1940.

“It has now been determined that until further notice the term ‘Aluminum’, as used in the regulations referred to above, shall be interpreted in such manner as to include aluminum foil. Accordingly, licenses shall henceforth be required for the exportation of aluminum foil.”

Applications for articles and materials in the following list, for destinations other than the British Empire, must be accompanied by affidavits in addition to a copy of the order from the foreign purchaser.

The affidavits should report statistics regarding exports to the country concerned since January 1, 1937, except as noted by asterisks:

1.
Abrasives
2.
Aluminum compounds (urea, uramon, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate)
3.
Ammonium
4.
Antimony
5.
Asbestos
6.
Bromine
7.
Ethylene
8.
Ethylene dibromide
9.
Chromium
10.
Copper*
11.
Brass*
12.
Bronze*
13.
Nickel*
14.
Methylamine
15.
Nitrates
16.
Platinum
17.
Quinine
18.
Rubber
19.
Silk
20.
Strontium
21.
Tin
22.
Toluol
23.
Tungsten
24.
Zinc*
25.
Potash†
26.
Cobalt
27.
Cotton linters
28.
Dimethylaniline
29.
Industrial diamonds
30.
Iron and steel*
31.
Magnesium
32.
Manila fiber
33.
Manganese
34.
Mercury
35.
Hides

  1. Reprinted from Department of State, Bulletin, February 1, 1941 (vol. iv, No. 84), p. 128.↩
  2. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩
  3. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩
  4. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩
  5. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩
  6. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩
  7. Also for the Union of South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.↩
  8. Affidavits for exportation since Jan. 1, 1935.↩