740.00111A Combat Areas/64: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—2:12 p.m.]
2568. Department’s 1565, December 7, 8 p.m. This Embassy knows of no American ships which have been taken into the combat area and which sailed from the United States subsequent to the approval of the Neutrality Act. The Scanmail was taken in to Kirkwall on November 5. Others which sailed from the United States prior to November 4 entered the combat area while proceeding to neutral ports in Holland and Belgium and were detained at control bases as reported in Embassy’s [Page 715] number 2563, December 8,77 and previous cables. Sometimes a few days elapse between the time an American ship arrives at control base and the date we are notified by the Minister of Economic Warfare but subject to this delay we believe they have notified us of all American vessels detained.
The Nishmaha while not taken into the combat area was detained at Gibraltar on November 11 and about November 19 was given an option of submitting to further detention or of proceeding to Barcelona and from there to Marseille and discharging detained items at Marseille when she would be free to proceed. The Nishmaha left Barcelona on November 27 arrived at Marseille November 29 and should finish discharging detained items December 10. In the meantime the Ministry of Economic Warfare have not yet decided which of the detained items are ultimately to be seized and which released in spite of representations from this Embassy urging them to do so. All seaport Consulates in the United Kingdom have been asked to report to this Embassy immediately any cases of American ships being taken into the combat area.
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