740.00112 European War 1939/2890: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17—6:15 p.m.]
2511. My 2410, June 12, 7 p.m.8 Sir Alexander Cadogan9 has informed me that he has looked into the question of the relations between the British Chargé d’Affaires at Monrovia and the Firestone subsidiaries in Liberia. He says he finds that as a result of the representations made to the British Embassy at Washington by the Department of State, the Foreign Office recently telegraphed to Mr. Routh impressing on him the importance of maintaining on this as on other questions the closest relations with his American colleague. The Foreign Office also instructed Mr. Routh that if any further points arose concerning the application of British economic warfare procedure to the Firestone companies he should refer them to the Foreign Office so that they might be taken up with the head office of the Firestone Company. Sir Alexander says that from evidence available here he feels sure that Mr. Routh never intended to be obstructive to American interests and he hopes that the Foreign Office instruction will help to prevent further friction.