FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19-12, VOLUME VI



ping Branch of the War Production Board would prefer having sugar
rather than canned pineapple or grapefruit shipped on the Seatrain
even in refrigerator cars. For your confidential information, the War
Production Board is preparing an amendment which will place canned
pineapple under General Imports Order M-63 so that imports of this
product as well as of grapefruit will be controlled.
  The War Production Board is prepared to grant exemptions to
M-63 permitting the importation of grapefruit on vessels of 1,000
dead-weight tons or less.
                                                            HULL


800.8836Y981
  The Ambassador in Cuba (Braden) to the Secretary of State

No. 1024                              HABANA, September 15, 1942.
                                         [Received September 19.]
  SiR: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 707 of August
13, 1942,47 relative to certain suggestions made to the Cuban Govern-
ment, at the instance of the Department, for more economic utilization
and handling of vessels engaged in Cuban-American commerce, and
to report that I took up this problem during a conversation with
President Batista on September 11.
  While I believe that the President is well disposed in principle,
there is considerable reluctance to take action in matters which may
involve opposition of Labor elements, such as increasing the per sling
load of sugar bags or abandoning the newly established system of ro-
tation for port workers in Hlabana. I again pointed out that not only
was more efficient and expeditious handling of vessels necessary for
our mutual war effort, but I said that a continuance of existing condi-
tions would discourage authorities elsewhere from sending ships to
Cuba when a quick turn around was required, thus labor was prejudic-
ing itself.
  I shall continue to press for favorable action on these proposals, but
I anticipate that the Government may be somewhat reluctant to adopt
our suggestions because of its unwillingness thus far squarely to meet
the Labor issue.
  Respectfully yours,                           SPRUILLE BRADEN

  47 Not printed.



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