800.8836/946: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba ( Braden )
A–130. Your A–112, August 26. If higher priority cargo such as scrap, chrome, manganese, etc. is not available, the Stockpile and Shipping [Page 356] Branch of the War Production Board would prefer having sugar rather than canned pineapple or grapefruit shipped on the Seatrain even in refrigerator cars. For your confidential information, the War Production Board is preparing an amendment which will place canned pineapple under General Imports Order M–63 so that imports of this product as well as of grapefruit will be controlled.
The War Production Board is prepared to grant exemptions to M–63 permitting the importation of grapefruit on vessels of 1,000 dead-weight tons or less.