WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION
 
      WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
 
      May 24, 1943
 
      Mr. Harry L. Hopkins, 
 
      The White House.
 
      
 
 
Dear Harry:
 
      I have your letter of May 24th regarding the bareboat chartering 
      of some of our ships to the British Government.
 
      I understand that it was agreed late in 194l and early in 1942 
      that we were to be the shipbuilding nation for the two countries 
      and that accordingly the British not only did not expand their 
      merchant shipbuilding program as they had previously contemplated, 
      but in addition actually substantially reduced their program 
      as it then was.
 
      
 
 
I understand, too, that there are approximately 10,000 unemployed 
      British seamen in the British pool.
 
      
 
 
It is on this statement of fact that I have drawn the attached 
      draft of a proposed communication from the President to the Prime 
      Minister.
 
      
 
 
There is, of course, one further thought that I had not included 
      in the draft. The use of this body of unemployed seamen provides 
      insurance to us against a deficiency in similarly trained men 
      that may well develop here in the light of the extraordinarily 
      heavy expansion in our merchant shipping fleet
 
      
 
 
The proposals in the attached draft have been agreed to by 
      Lord Leathers as within the capabilities of his available crews. 
      I consulted Admiral Land before he left for the West Coast and, 
      although he has not seen the draft, it was prepared in accordance 
      with the program that we discussed and that he approved. Mr. 
      Harriman has seen the draft and joins me in recommending its 
      acceptance by the President for the reasons expressed therein.
 
      
 
 
Sincerely yours,
 
      L. W. Douglas,
 
      Deputy Administrator.