File No. 763.72111/4704
The British Chargé ( Barclay ) to the Secretary of State
Memorandum
His Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the honour to inform him that he has been instructed by his Government to call the attention of the United States Government to the undesirability, in present circumstances, of publishing information regarding the sailings of [Page 568] Allied vessels, based on returns which the masters of such vessels are obliged to make to the United States customs authorities. In the Panama Canal Zone, for example, masters of Allied vessels have been required by officials of the United States Government to furnish information regarding the cargo and destination of vessels passing through the Canal, and this information has been widely published.
The Chargé d’ Affaires has the honour to request that, should there be no objection, information of this nature should be withheld until at least seven days have elapsed after the departure of the vessels from United States ports.