852.6363/830: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Hayes )
Washington
, May 14,
1943—10 a.m.
1082. Your 1214 of May 11, 9 a.m.36
- 1.
- Loading authorization is being granted by the Department and Board of Economic Warfare on May 19–20 for the five tankers named in your 1086, April 29, 2 p.m.,36 in view of possible misunderstanding by the Spanish Government.
- 2.
- I remain of the opinion expressed in paragraph 3 of the Department’s 1033, May 6, noon.37 Loading authorization for the Zorroza for the early June loading date will therefore not be granted by the Department and Board of Economic Warfare. Accordingly, please arrange for the postponement of its departure from Spain.
- 3.
- It occurs to me from my reading of your recent telegrams that you may not be giving full weight to the importance of public opinion and judgement here which I believe would view most unfavorably any increase in the actual shipment of oil to Spain over that of the highest quarter of 1942. Indeed, despite the care with which we are following the matter, there is more criticism of this oil program to Spain than of any other matter of foreign policy under my direction. I have agreed to the loading of the five tankers (which will bring the second quarter shipments well above the first quarter rate) because the sailing authorizations leave me no alternative, but I do not wish any further authorization for second quarter sailings to be given, and I regard it of utmost importance that the prescriptions from the Department respecting all tanker movements be scrupulously adhered to.
Hull