340.1115A/735: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:54 p.m.]
1433. Passengers for the Roosevelt are proceeding in an orderly way to Eire. All available space will be occupied above decks and we expect to put about 100 men between-decks. The United States Lines have about 300 people who wish to go home and who could not be accommodated on the Roosevelt. A telegraphic canvass of all consular districts in Great Britain and Northern Ireland shows a total of 900 who have indicated their desire to go home at once. Of these people, 400 are willing and able to take passage at rates charged on the Roosevelt. The remainder state that they will be unable to go home unless they can get much cheaper rates. Gray reports that they have a minimum of 300 or 400 people in Eire who would go home “if the price were right”. Few of them can pay a $300 minimum. If another vessel is sent over, some provision should be made for cheap fares. It would take a lot of people out if fares could start at $150. In any event, the minimum should not exceed $200. Many of these people, especially those in Ireland, came over on £18 tickets. They cannot possibly go home on £75 tickets. I do not believe that loans will be of much use, as many people will not obligate themselves for such a sum as $300 and could not repay it if they did.