A- ... ... 2- No. 370 FOREIGN OFFICE, S.V.I. (K 6577/4643/250) 10th April, 1940. u My Lord Marquess, I have to inform Your Lordship that the assistance of Kis Majesty's Consular officers on the East Coast of North America has been invoked by the Air Ministry in connexion with the desirability of obtaining information about icebergs in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. We ( d^a^ *r the advancing ice menace, and in determining the date for /U. h%ytopf.W'c commencing the International Ice Patrol. Owing to the outbreak Oj^f ¦ I of hostilities, however, many vessels are now maintaining radio silence, and it is anticipated that the amount of information ^ to be derived from this source will consequently be extremely meagre. ^//f. 3- ln view of the importance of obtaining early z\ **" information in regard to ice conditions, it has been considered desirable for reports from ships to be rendered to the United States Hydrographic Office immediately upon arrival in port. In order to avoid disclosing the ship's position on a particular date, it is proposed that masters of British ships arriving at a port on the east coast of the United States should report to Eis Majesty's Consul at the port the most easterly and southerly positions of any ice sighted during the voyage. Such reports by could/ His Excellency The Most Honourable IJVll/ The Marquess of Lothian, C.H., V etc., etc. , etc. , Washington. could then "be transmitted immediately by Kis Majesty's Consuls at these ports to the United States Hydrographic Office, omitting the ship's name and nationality. 4. I have to suggest that if Your Lordship has no objection to the performance of this duty by His Majesty's Consular officers at the appropriate ports, they may be instructed to obtain and submit the desired information to the United States Hydrographic Office either direct or, if you would prefer, through His Majesty's Embassy, Copies of the reports made should be sent immediately to the Director, Meteorological Office, Air Ministry, Kingsway, London W.C.2. 5. It would appear that the officers concerned are His Majesty's Consuls-General at New York, Boston and Philadelphia, His Majesty's Consuls at Baltimore (to include Norfolk) and Jacksonville, and possibly His Majesty's Consul-General at New Orleans and Kis Majesty's Consul at Houston (to include Galveston)- I am, with great truth and respect, My Lord Marquess, Your Excellency's obedient Servant, (For the Secretary of State)