Your 258.¹ American Minister reported to Taoiseach Friday last substance of statement of Under Secretary to you on November 9. Statement much less favourable than your report. Under Secretary reported as saying we were endangering our own position by holding back ports which were apparently essential for British success. Although no approach made to American Government by British he felt obliged to express his views to you because they were the same as those of most Americans.

For your information Gray thinks on exclusively British lines and believes the Germans are really going to invade America. Taoiseach left him without any doubt whatever that we had no intention of giving the ports to anybody.