Personal code telegram from Joseph P. Walshe to Robert Brennan (Washington) (No. 121)

If any communication made to you following yesterday's statement by Roosevelt about ships say that you doubt whether we would be prepared to take over recently seized French German or Italian ships; that we much prefer purchase to charter and that if payment for purchase in sterling is not acceptable we would hope to have the goodwill of U.S. authorities towards obtaining necessary dollar credit. Ask may you transmit assurances on these.¹

Are you quite sure Undersecretary had full text Gray's memorandum.² If so he could hardly have said no conditions implied. See in particular passage beginning 'any policy followed by Ireland' and ending 'directly to you'.