857.0011/82: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom
(Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
London, July
31, 1940—5 p.m.
[Received July 31—1:30 p.m.]
2489. Your 2001, July 24, 5 p.m., and my 2380, July 25.34 Following signed
note dated today received from Foreign Office:
- “1. I did not fail to refer to the competent
authorities of His Majesty’s Government in the United
Kingdom Your Excellency’s note No. 2436 of the 25th June
regarding the voyage to Petsamo of the United States
army troop ship American
Legion.
- 2. I now have the honor to inform you that the
necessary instructions have been given to ensure that
this vessel will not be intercepted or molested on her
outward journey by the armed forces under the control of
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.
- 3. I have the honor to observe however that the ship
in question would appear to have been routed across mine
fields, to the laying of which I invited your attention
in my note No. W8843/98/49 of the 16th July owing to
fortuitous circumstances, the existence of which I
should be grateful if you have any reason regard as
confidential, the ship will not on this account be
endangered on her outward journey, but she is likely to
incur the gravest risk if she returns by the same
route.
- 4. It is with the object of obviating this contingency
that I beg you to be so good as to inform me of the
vessel’s proposed departure from Petsamo as long in
advance as possible in order that I may be in a position
to inform you of any alteration in her route which it
may be necessary to suggest.
- 5. I have at the same time the honor to request that
ample notice may in future be furnished to me of the
movements of United States ship for which safe passage
is sought in order that a recurrence of the above
dangers may be avoided and that the competent
authorities may be enabled to take all the precautions
necessary in order to ensure as far as is possible the
safety of the ships concerned.”
The Foreign Office circular note referred to in numbered paragraph 3
above repeated to Department in my telegram No. 2220 of July
17.35
