811.20 Defense (M)/150: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Murphy)

173. Your 194, July 27, 4 p.m. It is essential that these ores be released for shipment on the Puerto Rican now loading at Haiphong, then proceeding directly to Saigon. If there is any further hesitation to release the ores in question, please state that this Government expects prompt action to clear this matter up since it has been given a clear statement of the Chinese Government’s title to the ores and has never received from the French Government any factual statement as to the basis of the contention that the title rests with the Soviet Government.

Welles