841.6362/2–1747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
us urgent
785. This is Lasco 276. US will release following press release unless you indicate otherwise within twenty-four hours of date of this cable:
“In furtherance of the President’s program to offer to assist the Brit in their present fuel crisis, the US Govt decided, on its own initiative, to offer to bunker Brit ships at US ports for round trip voyages.
“Simultaneously, the Brit Govt through its representative on the Combined Coal Committee, which sits in Washington, presented a request to officials of the US Govt for round trip bunkering privileges. Since the US Govt had already agreed to do so on its own initiative, the UK was informed that its ships may obtain a round trip supply of coal at US ports. The UK Govt has accordingly instructed Brit ships to obtain a double supply of coal at US bunker stations.
“This measure will relieve the UK’s fuel shortage to the extent that ships plying between the US and European North Atlantic ports will not need to refuel at Brit ports. It is estimated that the adoption of this practice will relieve the Brit fuel position by 75,000 to 100,000 tons per month.
“The coal for double bunkering Brit ships in US ports will not reduce the volume of export coal because coal shipped to US bunkers does not normally compete with export coal for port facilities.”