Letter from WSC to Lawrence Holt on shipping problems; does not think laying up ships in Canada or the United States would be advisable.

Letter from WSC to Sir Herbert Williams enclosing a report on the trans-shipment of goods into fast freighters when passing through shipping danger zones; schemes have been put into operation wherever possible. [See CHAR 20/21B/185 for initial answer to Williams's enquiry].

Old file cover: "Norway" and "Operation Paul" [mining of Scandinavian shipping channels to prevent ore being exported to Germany].

Minute from WSC to [Major-]General [Hastings] Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence] on obstructing German ships from removing ore from Lulea [Sweden]; suggests planting "vegetables" [mines]. [copy].

Letter from WSC to the First Lord [of the Admiralty, A V Alexander, later 1st Lord Alexander of Hillsborough] informing him that it is: "the duty of the naval authorities to carry out the approved policy of the transference of men from other shipbuilding and ship-repairing tasks to merchant ship repair work". [typescript copy].

Letter from WSC to Averell Harriman [former Special Representative of Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, in Britain] thanking him for his government's generosity in making available 6 DC2s and 14 Lodestars for the service between Takoradi [Gold Coast, later Ghana] and Cairo [Egypt], with suggested routes for delivery of the aircraft.

Letter from WSC to Averell Harriman [former Special Representative of Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, in Britain] thanking him for his letter on the delivery of 6 DC2s and 14 Lockheed transports for Bathurst.

Letter from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to WSC with information as requested advising that the air route between Takoradi [Gold Coast, later Ghana] and Khartoum [Sudan] should be made a permanent passage; praises Indian troops.

Letter from WSC to Emanuel Shinwell agreeing that something should be done to reduce the size of convoys and the matter is under review by the First Lord of the Admiralty [A V Alexander].

Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC concerned at the agreement with Pan-American Airways over African routes.

Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC on need to alter railway between Safaga and Nile Valley [Egypt] to metric gauge.

Telegram from Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC thanking him for help on the railway projects (standardising gauges).

Telegram from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt], President of the United States, on improvements to railway linking Persian Gulf to Caspian Sea; asks for loan of United States ships to transport British troops to Middle East.

Telegram from Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, to WSC promising maritime assistance to reinforce the Middle East.

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] requesting option of British troops being dispatched from Halifax in Canada with United States ships and escorts.

Telegram from [Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada] to WSC on restrictions to the offer of transport and food for the Middle East by the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] so as not to prejudice revision of the United States Neutrality Act.

Telegram from WSC to Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on alterations in transportation of troops by United States ships through British waters so as not to prejudice revision of the Neutrality Act; will soon have squadron of battleships in Indian Ocean.

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of South Africa [General Jan Smuts] on alterations to transportation of troops by United States ships through British waters do as not to prejudice revision of the United States Neutrality Act; will soon have squadron of battleships in Indian Ocean.

Telegram from the Viceroy and Governor-General of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] to WSC regretting port statistics cannot be provided until Admiral Turner [? Vice-Admiral Frederick Turner, Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet] takes office; visit by [Reginald] Stewart Mactier [Deputy Director of Port and Transit Control, Ministry of War Transport] to review allocation of ports to increased volume of shipping.

Letter and memorandum from Stanley Bruce [High Commissioner for Australia in London] to WSC urging greater defence to maintain convoys to the Soviet Union.

Letter from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt], President of the United States, thanking him for the gifts from the people of the United States but emphasizing that the shipping lanes are required for military purposes.

Letter from WSC to [William] Averell Harriman [United States representative in London of Combined Shipping Adjustment Board] thanking him for the figures on number and type of merchant ships completed in the United States in September.