811.3310/1605½
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: With reference to the attached telegram from our Minister in Montevideo,5 I realize that the specific suggestion [Page 1154] made is impracticable. However, I do feel strongly that something more is required than a visit every ten days or so by one of our naval vessels. I still feel that if some way can be found by which at least three or four heavy cruisers and a reasonable number of destroyers can be kept on the East Coast this summer, the insurance value of such a step will be very great.
May I ask if it is not possible to let at least another two cruisers be sent to those waters, bringing them from Pearl Harbor for that purpose.
Believe me
Faithfully yours,