740.0011 Pacific War/1443
The Department of State to the British Embassy and the Netherland Legation 73
In case there should be, as a result of the destruction of the oil fields, oil shortages in the British Empire and in the Netherlands, the Government of the United States will of course be prepared to assist by every legal means in its power the British and the Dutch Governments in obtaining the delivery of oil and oil products in or available to the United States for use in the present struggle against the common enemy; also for use in carrying on the work of reconstruction in the Straits Settlements and in the Netherlands East Indies after the cessation of hostilities on a basis at least as favorable as that on which similar products will be made available to other countries which have consistently made sacrifices in their efforts to overcome the forces of aggression. The Government of the United States will adopt a similar attitude with regard to the obtaining of any needed oil extracting and refining machinery in the United States to replace that which the British and the Dutch Governments have destroyed.
- Handed on December 14 to the British Ambassador (Halifax) by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) and to the Netherland Minister (Loudon) by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck). This action was taken after reference to President Roosevelt.↩