T«IffriBu: " SH1PM1NDER, WES DO, LONDON."
. Any further communication on thin
H    ect should be add NMM to :—
The Secretary,
(addreaa a» opposite)
Ministry ok Shipping,
Berkeley Square House,
Berkeley Square,
London, W.l.
;.:.W>71A0.
let February 19U0.
Sir,
I an directed by the   inister of shipping to refer to
your letter, A,890i+/7729A5 of 6th January transmitting
copy of Despatch ito.1380 of 6th I ecember from His -ajesty's
preventative at V/ashin^ton, and to previous correspondence
on the subject of the discriminatory effect of the United
States neutrality Act, 1939, upon British shipping.
In reply I am to enclose, for the information of
Viscount Halifax, copy of a letter and enclosure received
from the chamber of Shipping.       I am to state that
Sir John Gilmour is in agreement with the views expressed
by His Majesty's -onbassador in his telegram of 7th December
and subsequently by Sir Ashley oparks in telegram iio«82
of 23rd December and by  Ir.Kees of the   inistryfs Hew York
Office in a letter of 28th 1 ccember to this Department,
copy of which is enclosed herewith.       It is accordingly
proposed to inform the Chamber of Lihip_>ing that the
Minister is at.vised that it would not be desirable for
The Under-Secretary of iJtate,
Foreign Office,
/British
British interests to press for amendment of the Aot« He
considers, however, that the position as regards affidavits
raised in the final paragraph of the Chamber's letter and in
the enclosure should be investigated and I am. to surest that
provided Lord Halifax sees no objection, Lord Lothian should
be asked to furnish a full report upon the present situation
in general and in particul r, in collaboration with   ir »shley
tiparks, upon the points regarding the system of affidavits raised
in the chamber's letter; and, if he considers that such action
uight usefully be taken, to press the dtate Department to take
action as suggested by the Chamber.
At the same time His .'.ajesty's Ambassador might be asked
for a fuller and clearer explanation of the amendment regarding
the estoppel and transfer of title regulations of the Act which
is referred to by air ^shlcy -parks in telegram Mast iio.82 of
23rd December as being the present objective of the American
organisations interested in securing an alteration of the Act,
and in particular to state what effect, if any, this proposal
would have on the position of British as compared with mcrican
and other neutral shipping in respect of the transfer of
title provisions of the Act. • •
*
The Minister of Shipping would be glad to be kept
informed of the progress from time to time of American
opinion interested in securing amendment of the Act
and of any proposals or suggestions in that connexion
which may arise,
I have the honour to he,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) T. Q. JENKINS*