File No. 658.119/360
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 11, 7.17 p.m.]
10002. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 561. Referring my 440, Embassy’s 9558, April 18, 10 a.m., and especially my 544, May 9.6 Carlsson informs me that the steamships [Page 1227] Stockholm, Axel Johnson, Prinsessan Ingeborg and Pedro Christophersen are ready to leave Sweden for loading cereals in the Plate. Owners would like to have option on the outward voyage (a) to go direct from Sweden to the Plate or (b) call at Hampton Roads for bunkers, in which case they would take coal or general cargoes depending on speed with which loading could be accomplished, to approved consignees at the Plate. On the return trip they would call at United States port and wait for signing of general agreement, failing which the grain should be sold at cost to the United States Government if the agreement be not signed by July 15 and thereupon bunkers be furnished to the boats and they be allowed to return forthwith to Sweden provided that they were not playing the rôle of replacing boats for Swedish boats which, had been in the United States and allowed in exchange to return to Sweden. While I feel I have in general your authority to agree to this, please cable your approval immediately.
- Neither printed.↩