711.52/404a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain (Hayes)
979. British Embassy here has shown us a copy of London’s telegram of April 6 to Sir Samuel Hoare in which they outline Alba’s proposal to restrict wolfram exports to Germany to a total for the year 1944 of 450 tons, which means an additional 150 tons for the remainder of this year. We are prepared to accept an agreement with the Spanish Government on the basis of this proposal. Every effort should be made to delay the first shipments until after June 30 but we are prepared only as a last resort to agree to shipments beginning now on the basis of monthly allotments not exceeding 17 tons. Any agreement on this basis must comply with the same conditions as those outlined in Department’s 936, April 4, 8 p.m.