832.852/89
The War Shipping Administrator (Land) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 15th35 with which you enclosed photostatic copy of memorandum from the President37 suggesting that Brazil be supplied [Page 646] with cargo ships to replace the many Brazilian ships which have been lost by enemy action.
May I say very candidly that the shipping position, in so far as we can see it, for the next five or six months is as tight as it has been at any time since the war started. The reason for this is that as each theatre of war has become active, huge tonnages have been necessarily retained for operational purposes. Beyond this, the relief requirements, which the Army inform us are as essential to the success of the military operations as the requirements for the armed forces, have imposed an additional and heavy strain upon our resources.
I am sure you would not want us, nor would our gallant ally, Brazil, ask us, to transfer to their registry any ship which otherwise would be carrying the sinews of war with which it is to be hoped the Axis powers will be as speedily as possible brought to their knees and crushed. When our position is easier, we will be glad indeed to give sympathetic consideration to the suggestion.
For your information, we have now completed arrangements to return to the complete control of the Brazilian Maritime Commission the remaining nine Brazilian ships which we had under charter from the Brazilian Government. As you know, three of the twelve Brazilian ships which we had under such charter arrangement have been lost. Beyond returning such vessels to the Brazilians, we do not see what we can do now without affecting the conduct of the war.
Very truly yours,