Fitting out Portuguese cod-fleet threatened in July 1941

In his letter No. 894 dated Lisbon 17 July 1941 reported the German naval attaché in Portugal to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine at Berlin that for the ongoing fitting out of the Portuguese cod-fleet which was to fish off Newfoundland Portuguese credit accounts were opened in the USA. Due to American measures were the accounts now blocked casing a lot of concern in the fishery how to pay for the further victualling and fitting out of the fleet.