585.61B1/579a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
2524. This Government has had under consideration for some time the necessity of utilizing to the fullest possible extent, consistent with a proper regard for the safety of the lives of crews, passengers and of property, all available tonnage facilities. This necessity is emphasized particularly by the shortage of tanker facilities which has already begun to make itself felt and unless relieved may produce serious economic results in this and other American republics which depend upon tankers to maintain the supply of oil and gasoline needed for commercial and defense purposes.
If the limitations prescribed by the Load Lines Convention of 1930 on the loading of ships were removed so as to permit the deeper loading of vessels, with due regard for the safety of life and property, the facilities available for transportation would be considerably enhanced.
The British Government was made the depositary of the ratifications of and adherences to the convention as well as the channel through which requests for modifications are to be made.
While this Government is not proposing a modification of the convention but rather a suspension for the time being of provisions relating to load lines, it is deemed desirable, in view of the fact that the British Government is the depositary under the convention, to make its wishes known to that Government and through it to the other parties to the convention.
You are therefore requested promptly to transmit to the Foreign Office a communication reading textually as follows:
“On July 5, 1930 there was signed at London a convention and final protocol concerning load lines for ships of the contracting parties engaged in international trade. While the restrictions imposed by the convention are appropriate under ordinary conditions, they are now inappropriate in view of the existing emergency and the resulting shortage of available tonnage. Moreover, it is hardly to be supposed that the convention is being observed by all of the parties to it. The result is that those parties which are observing it are greatly handicapped in being unable to utilize, with due regard for safety of life and property, the full capacity of available tonnage for the carriage of essential materials and supplies.
It is the view of my Government that the convention, so far as it restricts freedom of action of the contracting parties in fixing load lines, should be suspended during the present emergency. My Government desires that the British Government, which is the depositary of the convention, notify the other contracting parties of my Government’s proposal that the convention be thus suspended, and request [Page 488] their agreement thereto. It is further requested that the suspension which would be effective as between the assenting parties shall continue until June 30, 1943 unless, meanwhile, another date shall be agreed upon.
In view of the urgency of the matter my Government would appreciate it if your Government could take favorable action at an early date and would inform my Government as soon as possible of the results thereof.”
You should informally impress upon the Foreign Office the importance which this Government attaches to prompt and effective action and ask that this proposal be communicated to the contracting parties by telegraph. You may say that this Government is bringing its proposal to the notice of such of the American republics as are parties to the convention through our diplomatic missions in those countries31 but that it is assumed that the British Government will likewise communicate with them.
- Telegrams sent on July 11 to Argentina (No. 443), Brazil (No. 527), Chile (No. 206), Cuba (No. 178), Mexico (No. 338), Panama (No. 135), Peru (No. 170), and Uruguay (No. 135); none printed.↩