711.00111 Armament Control/Military Secrets/922
Memorandum, by the Secretary of State
During his call, the Ambassador47 said that he would like to speak to me about the sale by this country of the component parts of a battleship and the obstruction being made by certain influence in this country to its purchase and completion. I replied that within the last 24 hours I had discussed this obstructionist phase with my associates;48 that of course the State Department does not deal with projects of any kind, but only with policies; that it would be consistent, however, for me to call attention to the nature of the reported obstruction to trade in order that those more directly possessing jurisdiction might give the matter such attention as their judgment suggests. I added further that I would call the White House and inform them of the Ambassador’s mission here. This I did, and the Ambassador left for the White House on this mission.