Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

740.00112A European War, 1939/8383

The Minister in Ireland (Gray) to the Secretary of State

No. 275

Dublin, February 9, 1942.
[Received March 10.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s strictly confidential mimeographed instruction of October 17, 1941, File No. 740.00112A European War 1939/2776A, concerning the proposed extension of the proclaimed list of certain blocked nationals to countries outside the other American republics and, in reply thereto, to submit the following:

1. At the present time, so far as can be learned, there is no German-, Italian- or Japanese-owned firm importing goods from the United States, exporting goods to the United States, or acting as an agent for American firms; and the only firms in Eire known to be pro-Axis are either German, Belgian, Irish or of undetermined nationality.

2. All imports into Eire, except those from the British Empire, are required to be covered by British navicerts.

3. All exports from Eire, except those to the United States or the British Empire are required to be covered by British navicerts. Although vessels of Irish registry ply between ports in Eire and ports in Spain and Portugal, on their outward-bound voyages from Eire they invariably proceed to a port in South Wales where they are subjected to examination by the British authorities and take on cargoes of coal for Lisbon and Gibraltar; as a general rule they sail from Eire in ballast, although on occasion they have been known to carry luggage belonging to officials of foreign governments. Thus, it is practically impossible at the present time for any item exported from Eire to find its way to an Axis country, or be utilized for the benefit of an Axis country. Vessels of Irish registry proceeding to the United States and vessels of other registry departing from Eire are, of course, subject to British control and frequently sail under British convoy.

4. A careful investigation has been made here with a view to ascertaining the names of all firms which might, under the terms of the Department’s instruction under reference, be included in an extension of the proclaimed list of blocked nationals or a confidential blacklist. The results of this investigation are embodied in the enclosed list of firms,¹¹ in the preparation of which careful consideration has been given to the strictly confidential instruction to offices in the American Republics, dated August 28, 1941, and the chart appended thereto, which were received as enclosures to the Department’s circular instruction under reply. While all firms named in the enclosure are listed in current British Statutory Rules and Orders, sources other than local British officials have been consulted in the preparation of the list.

5. No American-controlled enterprise in Eire is known to have any affiliations, connections or ideological sympathies with Axis powers, firms or agencies. A list of firms in which American capital is known to be invested will be found in the following reports from the American Consulate General, Dublin: Report No. 76, dated August 6, 1941, entitled “United States Investments in Eire” and despatch No. 620, dated August 12, 1941, bearing the same title.¹²

6. The inclusion in an extension of the proclaimed list or in a confidential black list of the names appearing in the enclosure hereto would not have any serious adverse effects upon Eire’s national economy, since the firms in question are already included in the British list and consequently barred from participation in foreign trade transactions.

7. I do not believe any serious political consequences in respect of Irish-American relations would result from the publication of the names of such firms in a proclaimed list or confidential black list.

The factual information for this despatch and the enclosure hereto have been furnished by Mr. Francis H. Styles, who is assigned to Dublin as Second Secretary of Legation and Consul in Charge of the Consulate General. The American Consul at Cork has, of course, been consulted.

As further data become available, the Department will be informed.

For completeness of reference, I have the honor to cite in this connection the Department’s circular telegraphic instruction of July 24, 5 p.m.,¹³ and the Legation’s telegraphic reply thereto, No. 79 of July 29, 1 p.m.¹⁴

Respectfully yours,

David Gray

11. Not printed.
12. Neither printed.
13. Not printed; this circular telegram to certain missions and consular offices instructed offices to prepare and forward a list of the names of all German, Italian, and Japanese firms which were acting in the capacity of agents for United States concerns or which were relatively large importers of American goods or exporters to the United States (740.00112A EW 1939/188a).
14. Not printed.