Reference (a): Conference with Honorable Harry Hopkins, General
Somervell, Colonel Gross and Rear Admiral Land on February l4, 1942.
 
        The War Department has submitted the request for the immediate
assignment by the maritime Commission of the following four (4)
passenger vessels required for military movement:
 
URUGUAY, SANTA LUCIA, SANTA CLARA and SANTA PAULA.
The War Department proposes to furnish three (3) oassenger
vessels (making a total of 7), as follows:
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PANAMA, PRESIDENT MONROE and QUEEN ELIZABETH.(British).
 
The military movement also contemplates the assignment of approximately
16 cargo vessels.
 
        We have also received a request from the Department of State
looking to the assignment of two passenger vessels for the
transportation of various Axis officials and non-officials from Latin
American countries to the United States, and a third passenger vessel
for the transportation of these officials to Lisbon. The same vessel
would return to the United States, American officials now awaiting
transportation. The same vessel would subsequently perform similar
voyage to and from Lourenco Marques (American and Japanese
interchange).
 
        For this interchange of diplomats, etc. the War Department
proposes to furnish two of the three vessels required, namely, the
ETOLIN (Army Transport).and the ACADIA (maritime Commission charter
assigned to Army). The third snip is the S.S. BRAZIL which it is
proposed should make the trip from the United States to Lisbon and upon
completion of thattrip make a second trip from the United States to
Lourenco Marques.