852.6363/805: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Spain ( Hayes )

984. Your 1098, April 30, noon; your 1086, April 29, 2 p.m.; my 982, April 30 [May 1];22 my 970, April 29, 11 a.m.; and my 958, April 27, 3 p.m. I am awaiting with interest your comments on my 958.

Let me emphasize that I contemplate no basic alteration in the policy of supporting a reasonable wartime economy in Spain nor in the provision of reasonable quantities of petroleum and petroleum products to implement that policy. However, with military operations continuing in North Africa, I am of the opinion, concurred in by the Board of Economic Warfare, that importations of petroleum and petroleum products into metropolitan Spain during the second quarter should not exceed the rate of importation of the past 6 months. The Joint Chiefs of Staff informed me 2 days ago, in response to a letter I addressed to them, that there was no military reason why my proposal to not exceed this past rate of flow should not be put into effect. I am informed that if loading authorization at Aruba is granted for the five tankers, the sailing of which you report you authorized in your 1098, the total receipts of oil by metropolitan Spain during the second quarter will approximate 135,000 tons, and there will still remain the early June loading date.

Your interpretation of my 970 and your consequent authorization of the sailing of the five tankers proposed in your 1086 may have the result of necessitating refusal of authorization to load at Aruba for a part at least of this fleet on the May 19 loading date. Such action of course is less desirable than postponing their departure from Spain. Please therefore find a way of delaying the departure of two or three of these tankers.

I will keep you informed of further word received here from the British and of any action taken with respect to loading at Aruba for the late May and early June loading periods. In the meantime, I am looking forward to your comments on my 958.

Hull
  1. Telegrams numbered 1086 and 982 not printed.