740.00112 European War 1939/1509
The British Embassy to the Department of State
His Majesty’s Government is aware that the Germans are making the greatest possible efforts to increase the supply of certain essential materials via the Trans-Siberian Railway; and it is much concerned at the increasing volume of imports through Far Eastern ports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, a great part of which are clearly destined for Germany.
For instance in the last six months the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has imported through Far Eastern ports at least 70,000 tons of copper and brass, which is equivalent to their normal annual import from all sources and through all ports. Again, in the first five months of the war the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics imported 32,000 tons of rubber as against a normal import for five months of 12,500 tons. Again, from November to March a supply of molybdenum has passed through Far Eastern ports equivalent to eighteen months’ normal import for the whole Soviet Union. His Majesty’s Government regards it as imperative that this source of supply to Germany should be closed.
[Page 570]It is possible that the negotiations for an Anglo-Russian trade agreement recently suggested by the Soviet Government may bring about a restriction of these imports into Germany;79 this however does not seem to be at all probable. His Majesty’s Government understands that there is no possibility of the United States under present circumstances itself restricting the export of copper, oil, etc. to Far Eastern ports. His Majesty’s Government therefore has reached the conclusion that the only method whereby it can prevent vital materials reaching Germany is to prepare to ration Japan in those commodities which are in Allied control and thereafter make an arrangement with the Japanese Government whereby it will undertake to prevent goods destined for Germany from being carried on Japanese ships or on Japanese controlled railways or, if carried on other neutral ships, being trans-shipped at ports controlled by the Japanese, in return for the release to Japan of certain products of the British Commonwealth.