On The Week of 29 January – 3 February 1940

US NAVY

Sunday, 28 January 1940

            U.S. freighter Sarcoxic is detained temporarily at Gibraltar for several hours by British authorities; freighter Waban, bound for Italy and Greece, is also held there briefly but is allowed to proceed after one item of cargo is seized as contraband and 34 detained for investigation.

Monday, 29 January 1940

            British Admiralty orders that no American ships should, under any circumstances, be diverted into the war zone delineated by President Roosevelt in the provisions of the Neutrality Act.

            Light cruiser Helena (CL‑50) steams from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Montevideo, Uruguay, on her shakedown cruise (see 2 February).

            U.S. freighter Exochorda is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 1 February).

Tuesday, 30 January 1940

            U.S. freighters Examelia (detained at Gibraltar since 20 January) and Cold Harbor (detained there since 27 January) are released by British authorities.

Wednesday, 31 January 1940

            U.S. passenger liner Washington is detained for several hours at Gibraltar by British authorities, but is allowed to proceed the same day; freighter Jomar is also detained there (see 1 February).

Thursday, 1 February 1940

            President Roosevelt writes First Lord of the Admiralty Winston S. Churchill, concerning the detention of U.S. merchantmen, and frankly informs him of adverse American reaction to the British policy. "The general feeling is,” Roosevelt informs Churchill, "that the net benefit to your people and the French is hardly worth the definite annoyance caused to us.”

            U.S. freighter Exminster is detained by British authorities at Gibraltar (see 9 February); freighters Exochorda (detained since 30 January) and Jomar (detained since 31 January) are released.

Friday, 2 February 1940

            Light cruiser Helena (CL‑50), at Montevideo, Uruguay, on her shakedown cruise, sends party to inspect wreck of German armored ship Admiral Graf Spee.

            U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is stopped by French auxiliary patrol vessel Vaillant about 25 miles southeast of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, and ordered to proceed to Gibraltar for examination (see 3‑4 February).

Saturday, 3 February 1940

            Light cruiser Helena (CL‑50) departs Montevideo, Uruguay, for Brazilian waters as her shakedown cruise continues (see 5 February).

            U.S. passenger liner Manhattan is detained at Gibraltar by British authorities (see 4 February).