File No. 165.102/969
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page)
3380. Department’s 3316, 13th, 3359, 24th. When Department learned that assurances given last April for two cargoes dyestuffs were given under misapprehension Department cabled you these facts and asked that new assurances be given for shipment to Republic Trading Corporation. This was done, as you informed Department in your 3850 February 25.2 Negotiations were continuous and statement of Foreign Office and Lord Robert Cecil that permit had lapsed because it had not been used must have been made without full knowledge of facts. Permit originally granted not workable and had to be amended. As soon as workable permit granted matter was at once taken up with German Government. The time that has lapsed since these assurances were given and decision of Germany to allow dyestuffs to come forward has been less than two months and conditions as to American need dyestuffs have not changed in meanwhile. Department can not understand attitude British Government in regarding permit as lapsed and desires an immediate assurance that dyestuffs will be permitted to come forward without delay. German officials here have stated that they are not surprised at action of British Government as they did not believe that they would carry out their agreement.