File No. 656.119/189
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22, 3.58 a.m.]
8039. Please deliver copy of following to War Trade Board:
My 7990, December 17. Please inform me as soon as possible what progress has been made towards adoption of modus vivendi regarding Dutch shipping proposed in Taylor’s 7923, December 11, 4 p.m., and my 7990, December 17. Conference of Allies here in London has just asked Dutch to furnish full information as to entire Dutch merchant fleet. When this is obtained, when the exact ration figures [Page 1158] are determined, and when a calculation is made of the requirements of Dutch inter-colonial trade, we will immediately calculate and cable a statement of the remaining tonnage which is to be placed at the disposal of the Allies as agreed between them. The British are very anxious to commence immediately the discussion of the trades insisted upon. This surplus Dutch tonnage will be used but as we have no authorized representatives of the United States Shipping Board here it is very difficult for me to conduct these discussions.
The British are also anxious to consider a second modus vivendi which might supplement my first or in case the first fails replace it which would call into immediate operation additional Dutch vessels principally those now in Dutch ports. As this proposed British modus vivendi involves allocating considerable Dutch tonnage in various trades I am again considerably handicapped by lack of instructions and by not having in London a representative of the Shipping Board.