Office of the Historian

823.248/250a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Peru (Norweb)

Washington, October 20, 1941—9 p.m.

412. There are several precedents for the action taken by this Government in requisitioning the 18 Peruvian airplanes. For example, on May 27, 1941, at the request of the United States Army Air Corps in the Philippine Islands, this Government seized 16 airplanes and spare parts owned by the Thai Royal Air Force of Thailand,33 having an approximate value of $872,000.

This Government has also requisitioned 111 airplanes with spare engines and parts from the Government of Sweden, several foreign merchant vessels in United States harbors and large quantities of materials owned by the Russian, Japanese and Swiss Governments. Details are being forwarded to you by airmail.

Hull
  1. In telegram No. 163, December 3, 6 p.m., the Department advised the Minister in Thailand that it had been informed by the Thai Minister on December 1 “that he had now received from this Government full payment of the awards for the requisitioned aircraft in question.” (892.248/56)↩