File No. 763.72/11099
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile ( Shea)
Your August 26, 12 a.m. You may inform Foreign Office of the following: The United States Government intends to send at least three million men to France by next spring. This additional number of men will make it possible in the opinion of the American Chief of Staff for the Allies to break through the German lines wherever planned. In order to transport these American armies and to transport food and supplies which are necessary for them, it will be necessary for the Government of the United States to make use of every ton of shipping it can secure for that purpose.
You may inquire of the Foreign Office what provisions the Chilean Government would be able to make to take care of Chilean commerce when it becomes necessary for this Government to deflect to the above-mentioned uses American shipping now used in trade with Chile.