Ireland buying American ships according to the Dutch newspaper Delftsche Courant dated Wednesday 21 May 1941

An item reported that the American president Roosevelt during his press conference on Tuesday said that his cabinet offered the Irish cabinet to buy or charter two ships and food with a value of 500.000 dollars for the Irish citizens. Both ships were to be Irish flagged and manned. There were none conditions connection with this offer.(1)

The Dutch newspaper Dagblad van het Zuiden voor Eindhoven, Meierij, Peel en Kemperland dated 27 November 1941 published an item dated Washington 25 November reporting that the maritime commission of the House of Representatives approved the sale of 22 years old freighters to the Irish government. Both ships were to be used for transporting food from the USA to Ireland. The newspaper Arnhemsche Courant dated 26 November confirmed this item.

Note

1. Ireland was at that moment under heavy pressure from England to allow ships transporting war stores from the USA to England to enter Irish harbours. Ireland was at that moment neutral.