811.114 Great Britain/436: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)
12. Under instructions from the President, Phillips yesterday saw the British Ambassador. He told Lindsay that the President had directed him to tell the Ambassador specifically that he (the President) was losing patience at the apparent indifference of the British Government to respond to our various requests with respect to liquor smuggling from British possessions; that we had received cordial cooperation from France and from Canada24 and that he was much upset at the evident lack of cooperation from London. As to Newfoundland the President was well aware that it was in the hands of the receiver and he could see no explanation why the British efforts to prevent smuggling from that area could not be successful; West Indian possessions were also largely in the hands of receivers, and there seemed to be no good explanation why they could not also be brought into line. Phillips continued that the President felt that he might have to make a report to Congress on the subject and that unless something were done by the British Government he would have to state the facts clearly.
Lindsay promised that he would at once send a further despatch to the Foreign Office. I feel, however, that it would be advantageous for you to explain in the proper quarters the direct personal interest of the President in this matter and the seriousness with which we regard the lack of adequate British cooperation.