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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Charles Day, Liaison for United States Shipping Board to Department of War, to Edward N Hurley, Chairman, United States Shipping Board

Chronological Copy.                         File No. <42-2-4>

              Cablegram Sent      18th Sept Y-5

To Discom-New York.                    Serial No. SM 567

Prep. by C-3                 Curtis.

                                      B.

     Shipmission 567 to Hurley. From Day. Immediately after our arrival here Hines1 and Myself in conjunction with Stevens and Rublee2 held preliminary conference with British for cargo tonnage assistance. After Secretary Baker’s3 arrival he held conferences with Stevens and Rublee as well as with Reading and Maclay.4 A substantial amount of tonnage, the exact figure not yet determined, is to be put at once at the disposal of America for the October movement. A special meeting of the Allied Maritime Transport Council is to be held Thursday, September 25th, to take up the whole problem. Secretary Baker as well as General Hines will be present.

     Secretary Baker and Hines went back to France today, returning next week. During the Secretary’s absence he has requested me in cooperation with the delegates of the Allied Maritime Transport Council to go ahead with working out the details. Secretary Baker is in closest touch with Stevens and Rublee and has expressed to me his appreciation of the assistance they are rendering in this important transaction.

     Suggest you see cable from Hines to War Department sent today.5 Stevens. Rublee. 184018 SM 567.

SIMS     

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

Footnote 1: Maj. Gen. John L. Hines, Chief, Embarkation Service.

Footnote 2: Raymond B. Stevens, Vice-Chairman, United States Shipping Board and United States Representative, Allied Maritime Transport Council, and George Rublee, United States Representative, Allied Maritime Transport Council.

Footnote 3: Secretary of War Newton D. Baker.

Footnote 4: British Ambassador to the United States Rufus Isaacs, Earl of Reading, and Sir Joseph P. Maclay, Minister of Shipping.

Footnote 5: This cable has not been further located.

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