Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, Europe, Volume II

862.24/386a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul at Casablanca (Stanton)

Washington, April 30, 1941—4 p.m.

113. Please urgently request Reed of Socony Vacuum⁴⁵ to endeavor to check through his organization a report which has reached the Department to the effect that under German pressure French authorities in Tunisia have advanced for use of Axis forces in North Africa considerable quantities of petroleum products, particularly from French naval reserve at Bizerte, as well as a number of tanks and other equipment.

The subject^45a of the Department’s telegram No. 21 of January 29⁴⁶ might also be consulted in this regard.

Hull

45. A. G. Reed, General Manager of the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company at Casablanca.
46. Lt. Col. Robert A. Solborg, observer for the Military Intelligence Division, War Department, in North Africa.
46. Not printed.