Josephus Daniels to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Creator
Identifier
Date
Source
Text
CONFIDENTIAL.
Op22B
My dear Mr. President
There is quoted below for your information two despatches which have just been received from Vice Admiral Sims:
"146. Following is the text of a memorandum prepared at a combined allied military and naval conference in Paris after a statement before the conference by the British Minister of Shipping and a general discussion initiated by the French Chief of Military Staff. The memorandum was unanimously agreed to."
"The review of the maritime situation and the very clear explanations given by Mr. Graeme Thomson show that we have to face a total monthly reduction of allied and neutral countries which can be estimated at 500,000 tons for the high seas tonnage. In the first instance Graeme Thomson on behalf of the British Ministry of Shipping is of the opinion it will be possible to meet the requirements of the supply of United Kingdom (limited to those that are absolutely necessary) until October 1918 provided that new construction amounts to 3,000,000 tons from the first of January 1918. For prevention it is essential that the necessary labor should be called back from the British Army and the steel required provided. Mr. Graeme Thomson states that for the period extending to October 1st 1918 the continuous reducing available tonnage will suffice for imperative needs but the people of Great Britain will undoubtedly have to suffer serious privations. It will not be possible to make an increase of imports into allied countries with British tonnage. From November 1918 and with the help of the Americans presuming their shipbuilding program comes up to expectations we may hope that the total construction will approximately compensate for the losses caused by submarines. It appears from the above that the situation will only begin to improve from November 1918 and that until then the total available tonnage of the allies may be insufficient to cover all their requirements. It is therefore indispensible to establish a general list of available tonnage for each of the allies and to put against it the figure of their requirements. Only then will it be possible to take a decision as to the amount and the nature of the restrictions which will have to be made in the various kinds of traffic. Further, transport of American Army to France has created fresh needs which we have to face. On this particular account, it is indispensible to draw a complete statement of the total allied tonnage, and it is only when this is done that it will be possible to get an idea of the available tonnage if any which can be put at the disposal of the American Army in France; it about seems, on a first examination, that these means will be limited solely to the rresources of the American merchantile marine as supplemented by their shipbuilding program. Members of the meeting consider that is a most important point which must be cleared up without delay and ask that the allied Governments should take at once the necessary measures to that effect; with this end in view a meeting of the representatives of the transport services of the allies should be held in London at the earliest opportunity. 18028."
-----oooOo0o-----
"147. Following naval and military conferences this week at Paris 136 representatives France Great Britain and U. S. under chairmanship chief of French Army Staff it has been decided to hold allied shipping conference in London August 10th for general exchange of positive information regarding shipping situation present and during next twelve months and upon which allied success fundamentally depends stop No definite information is available as to part which United States may be expected to play either as to relieving critical merchant shipping situation or in increasing military forces in France and particularly as American plans concerning shipping necessary to maintain overseas forces stop French are very much concerned as to military support from America they may rely and plan upon and particularly to demands which such support may make upon their already seriously depleted resources stop At present 585 ships or over one million two hundred thousand tons of British shipping is allocated to supplying France and similarly large amounts to Italy and other European allies stop Naval and military conference clearly established that it will be impossible to increase imports or ships serving France or other continential allies before November 1918 and even then additional support will be dependant on withdrawing 80000 shipwrights from British army and obtaining necessary materials stop In view of allied war experience as to amount of shipping necessary to maintain overseas forces and possible effects on general allied shipping situation of American primary object maintain her forces the need of coordination of allied effort is considered imperative stop For example withdrawal by America of its present shipping with South America or other countries would immediately place new demands upon other allied shipping which probably could not be met stop Most serious crisis confronting allies and upon which ultimate success will undoubtedly primarily depend is shipping situation as produced by enemies submarine campaign stop All future naval and military policies and operations are dependant thereon stop Early steps toward allied coordination of shipping is considered to be the most vital military necessity of moment stop All measures contemplated cannot be safely considered without sufficiently complete information of American proposed plans stop I am therefore requested by French and British Admiralties in agreement with French and British chiefs to urge United States to send to London by August 10th responsible shipping representatives who will be competent and authorized to discuss above questions with similar representatives France Italy England and United States stop Instructions now enroute through British Ambassador but may be delayed 19028.SIMS."
Josephus Daniels
The President,
The White House.
To
Files
