"In case there should be, as a result of the destruction 
      of the oil fields, oil shortages in the British Empire and in 
      the Netherlands, the Government of the United States will of 
      course be prepared to assist by every legal means in its power 
      the British and the Dutch governments in obtaining the delivery 
      of oil or oil products in or available to the United States for 
      use in the present struggle against the common enemy; also for 
      the use of carrying on the work of reconstruction in the Straits 
      Settlements and in the Netherlands East Indies after the occasion 
      of hostilities on a basis at least as favorable as that on which 
      similar products will be made available to other countries which 
      have consistently made sacrifices in their efforts to overcome 
      the forces of aggression. The Government of the United states 
      will adopt a similar attitude with regard to the obtaining of 
      any needed oil extracting and refining machinery in the United 
      States to replace that which the British and the Dutch Governments 
      have destroyed."
 
      
 
 
The British Ambassador was informed some days ago that the 
      British Government agrees with the views of the United States 
      Government as set out in the first communication referred to 
      above. So far as British territories were concerned the demolition 
      scheme had been completely put into effect. The British authorities 
      in Singapore had too been instructed to take the necessary steps 
      to ensure early action by the Dutch authorities.
 
      
 
 
The British Ambassador has furthermore been instructed to 
      express the warm appreciation of His Majesty's Government for 
      the second communication quoted above. He has also been instructed 
      to express 
 
      
 
 
The/