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,

Sumner Welles
  1. Telegram No. 90, May 31, noon, p. 1152.