740.00112 European War 1939/1591
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
In the altered situation following the capitulation of France, His Majesty’s Government regard it as vitally important for the success of their war effort that supplies of all kinds should be denied to Germany [Page 53] and Italy and to all territories, including France, now occupied by them. A corollary to this is that all supplies to “dangerous” neutral destinations, i. e. to countries from which supplies could reach Germany and Italy and occupied territories, should also be strictly limited.
Hitherto the Allied Governments have sought to achieve this end by contraband control. On account of recent developments, however, the prevention of shipments to Europe by naval action may become increasingly difficult and incomplete. It is therefore extremely desirable and it may soon become essential to relieve as far as possible the actual machinery of the blockade. The only effective means of doing this is by the strictest possible control at the source.
His Majesty’s Government realise that the immediate economic export problem confronting the United States and other American Governments is different in origin from their own, which is one of blockade. The two do, however, overlap. The sole object of the blockade is to embarrass totalitarian aggression and to bring the war to the earliest possible successful conclusion. His Majesty’s Government, who have no intention of using the blockade for their own commercial interests, believe that the deterioration of economic conditions in Europe will be the most important influence in rendering German successes illusory, and in lessening their capacity for economic, political and military aggression on the American continents or elsewhere. This is the object of their policy, and a review of the factors as they exist today has convinced them that success can only be attained with the active cooperation of the United States Government. They therefore earnestly hope that the United States Government will regard it as an American interest to extend to the Allies full economic support by denying all supplies, direct or indirect, to Germany and Italy and to countries under German and Italian control, and by endeavouring to induce other American countries to take the same line.