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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Herbert Hoover, Director, United States Food Administration, to Joseph Cotton, Head of Meat Division, American Embassy in London

OPERATIONS

OL 2458       

October 1, 1918.   

VICE ADMIRAL SIMS.1

FOR COTTON AMERICAN EMBASSY, Urgent

(B-1 CODE)     The curtailment of overseas transport in our wheat movement is creating grave difficulties in finance the grain corporation has now financed up to its limit of appropriations and borrowing possibilities stop I wish you wouald at once take up with wheat executive and Crosby2 the necessity of the Allies immediately purchasing from the grain corporation fifty million bushels to be delivered at seaboard and to pay cash therefore stop If necessary the wheat to be earmarked by warehouse receipts representing this quantity in hands of trustees stop Treasury here approve and will make advances to Allies for this purpose stop Will you act quickly as possible as we are a great deal pressed stop You will understand that whole wheat policy of our government is directed solely to support Allies in stimulation of production price control and all other features and I do not assume there will be any difficulties in securing this cooperation. Signed Hoover. 19001 2458

OPNAV,        

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: VAdm. William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

Footnote 2: Asst. Secretary of the Treasury Oscar T. Crosby.

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