Office of the Historian

810.8593/54

Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State

[Washington,] July 28, 1941.

The British Ambassador called to see me this morning upon his return from two weeks in California.

The Ambassador left with me the brief memorandum attached herewith12 suggesting that British and U. S. authorities advise their bunkering firms on the East Coast of South America to delay the furnishing of fuel to the Japanese ships now proceeding around Cape Horn to Japan. I said that this matter would be given immediate consideration.13

S[umner] W[elles]
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. In a separate memorandum, Mr. Welles recorded that he gave the British Ambassador information in regard to telegraphic reports from Ambassador Grew and also “statements made to the Japanese Ambassador in Washington during the past week by the President and by myself.” (740.0011 P. W./498)↩