800.85/292a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Diplomatic Missions in the American Republics23
Department’s circular telegram of June 24, 1941. The Inter-American Financial and Economic Advisory Committee today adopted in principle the plan transmitted in the telegram under reference. It further resolved that the plan should go into effect upon being agreed to by all of the American republics, and that the Special Subcommittee on Immobilized Ships should continue to work out details for placing the ships into operation and to consider specific points raised by a few governments. The Committee is transmitting by airmail to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of each of the other American republics a complete report of the Special Subcommittee, including the plan and the comments received from virtually all of the nations in whose ports there lie immobilized vessels. The Committee is requesting the reply of the governments within a 2 weeks period,24 in view of the extreme urgency of the shipping situation, and the obvious desirability of placing all possible ships immediately into service. A copy of the Subcommittee’s report is being transmitted to you at once by airmail.
[Page 204]Please discuss this matter informally with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and explain fully to him the urgency of the shipping situation and the necessity for an immediate reply in order to make the plan work in the interests of all of the American republics.