In the British War Cabinet meeting of 11 April 1917 proposed the First Sea Lord admiral Sir J.R. Jellicoe (1) to stop the sending of more supplies to Russia for the time being. At that moment were 69.000 tons of stores in ships waiting at Romanoff waiting to be unloaded. The harbour of Archangel at that moment ice-free was able to unload ships far faster. Shipping Controller Sir J.P. Maclay reported that 19 ships were underway from England towards the USA to pick up there ammunition for Russia. He instructed in the mean time that 11 of these ships would load wheat in stead of ammunition and to transport this to England. Although the War Cabinet approved his instructions it decided that Lord Milner ‘s Committee was to investigate what freight in USA was waiting to be transported to Russia and to inform the Shipping Controller.
Notes
1. John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe (5 December Southampton, England 1859-Kensington London, England 20 November 1935), served in the Royal Navy between 1872-1919 ending his career in the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, First Sea Lord between 30 November 1916 and 10 January 1918 and commanded the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Governor-General of New Zealand 27 September 1920-12 December 1924.
2. . Joseph Paton Maclay, 1st Baron Maclay (6 September 1857-24 April 1951), Minister of Shipping 10 December 1916-1918.
Source
The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England, CAB 23-2-35
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