300.115(39)/245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—2:11 p.m.]
539. The Genoa manager of the American Export Line has brought to my attention the serious inconveniences to the line resulting from the detention of their ships at Gibraltar. I have this morning discussed the situation with the British Ambassador87 making it clear that I was doing so without instructions from Washington and only with a view to avoiding serious complaints in the future. Loraine assured me that he had expressed himself forcibly on the subject to the control authorities in London during his recent visit there and would take the matter up with them again. Furthermore, he was spending next week end in Malta with the British Admiral and together they would discuss the situation in the hope of obtaining the necessary relief.
- Sir Percy Loraine.↩