800.8836/933: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba (Braden)
716. Your A–84, August 19, 1 p.m. An exemption to General Imports Order M–63 will not be granted for the importation of grapefruit on one of the Seatrain vessels. The War Production Board does not want grapefruit to move by seatrain since it believes that such movement would prevent the shipment of more important commodities. [Page 355] The Board would give more sympathetic consideration to applications for exemptions permitting the importation of grapefruit if shipment were to be made on small steamers.
Since it is now evident that if grapefruit were removed from the lists of commodities covered by General Imports Order M–63 their movement would probably not be confined to small steamers, it appears likely that they will continue to be subject to the Order.