711.52/452
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
As you requested, I am submitting herewith a suggested reply to the Prime Minister’s message to you, No. 649, of April 17, 1944.
Our discussions with the British regarding oil shipments to Spain and Spanish shipments of wolfram to Germany have reached a most difficult point. After the last message to you from the Prime Minister we informed the British Embassy, as you directed, that we would withdraw from the position of demanding a total wolfram embargo by Spain and would agree to resume oil shipments provided the Spanish would agree to continue the suspension of wolfram shipments until July 1 and thereafter, for the second half of the year, ship only 300 tons, the same amount which they shipped in January, 1944. The Spanish continue to insist that they must have the right to ship 60 tons before the first of July. The Prime Minister wishes us to agree to this.
As I have explained at length to Lord Halifax, I believe that this concession would have the most disastrous results. Our position in insisting upon suspension of shipments until July 1 is based on the belief that in view of pending military operations we must do everything in our power to prevent shipments from neutrals to the enemy of [Page 394] essential war materials until such time as the success of the military operations may render shipments impossible. Upon our success in maintaining this position will depend, I believe, our ability to eliminate or drastically reduce ball bearing shipments from Sweden, chrome shipments from Turkey, and also our success in negotiations with Switzerland and Portugal to reduce their contribution to the enemy.
I also pointed out that the response which has come from all quarters to the statements made in my address on April 9 on the subject of neutral trade with the enemy shows that this position represents the unanimous attitude of the American people and that to act in any way counter to it would weaken the widespread support of our foreign policy which has become increasingly manifest.
The Prime Minister stresses the danger that the Spaniards may permit wolfram to go to the enemy if our negotiations break down. My belief is that a strong and united effort to obtain a settlement with the Spanish on the basis which we have put forward has considerable chance of success and even greater chance of keeping the matter in suspension until it may be determined by the progress of events. Ambassador Hayes has just reported that he feels that the risks to us, emphasized by the British, grow smaller as time goes on and that inversely the risks to Spain of failure to reach an agreement with us are greater as time goes on.
I also said to Lord Halifax that if they believe, contrary to our view, that oil shipments should be resumed concurrently with wolfram shipments from Spain to Germany, they should undertake the responsibility and sponsorship for the oil movements. I have not yet had a reply from him on this latest discussion.
In view of the foregoing, I believe that the best course is to continue to urge our view upon the British and the reply is drafted in this sense. Would you let me know whether you approve this course.
4 For the reply, sent April 21, see telegram 529, p. 396.