07/01 Mon. Navy awards contracts for 44 vessels. Headquarters, Marine Corps Air Wing, is established in San Diego, Calif. 07/02 Tue. Export Control Act is passed. The President may, whenever he deems "necessary in the interest of national defense," prohibit or curtail the exportation of military equipment, munitions, tools, materials, etc. 07/03 Wed. British attack and damage naval vessels at Oran and Mers-el- Kebir, and seize French men-of-war in British ports. 07/05 Fri. President invokes the Export Control Act against Japan by prohibiting exportation, without license, of strategic minerals and chemicals, aircraft engines, parts, and equipment. France breaks off diplomatic relations with Great Britain. 07/10 Wed. Battle of Britain begins with first concentrated air attack. 07/11 Thu. Frank Knox of Illinois takes office as Secretary of the Navy. 07/19 Fri. President signs Naval Expansion Act providing, among other things, for 1,325,000 tons of combatant shipping, 100,000 tons of auxiliary shipping, and 15,000 aircraft; this "Two Ocean Navy" act will expand the Fleet 70 percent. 07/26 Fri. President invokes the Export Control Act and prohibits exportation, without license, of aviation gasoline and certain classes of iron and steel scrap; this halts flow to Japan. 07/30 Tue. Act of Havana calling for unified action is signed by 21 nations at the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics.