300.115(39)/21: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

2192. Your 1203. We have asked Ministry of Economic War[fare] for information requested your cable. In informal discussion they have stated that they would endeavor to furnish us with statement showing dates of arrival at place of detention and dates of requisition, release, reference to Prize Courts or other disposition in regard to American war [sic] vessels, that this would entail considerable work and that they could promise no date when such information could be compiled. With regard to American cargoes they did not believe this would be humanly possible as there had been several hundred ships detained and it was in many cases difficult to tell whether the cargo consisting of many items was American owned or not, legal proceedings in Prize Court at times being necessary to determine that fact. See our cable No. 203078 and No. 2098.79

Kennedy
  1. Not printed.
  2. October 19, 6 p.m., p. 795.