File No. 102.1/393a

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)

[Telegram]

5825. For Crosby from Treasury:

1.
Reading wrote Canadian Government will come into purchasing arrangements here but its consent conditioned upon not being required to obtain the endorsement of its requirements by the Inter-Allied Council in Europe. I hesitate to accept this condition. What is your view?
2.
Reading wrote that moneys reimbursed in respect of British expenditure on ships are to be applied to $400,000,000 overdraft. This I should be willing to assent to provided that the United States is subrogated to the rights of British in respect to a proportionate part of the collateral for the overdraft.
3.
The British Government consider that a coordination of financial policy appears to be the first essential for any cooperative action in Greece. They further feel that a joint enquiry should be instituted at the earliest possible moment, and they are suggesting to the French Government that the committee which was recently sanctioned at a conference in Paris, in order to control the purchase and distribution of supplies, should in the first instance undertake a joint [Page 580] enquiry into the facts of the Greek financial situation, and into the financial policy generally that the Allies should adopt. The British Government feel that it would be in the highest degree advantageous were the United States Government to be represented on this committee, which would then consist of three members. Crawford enquires whether this Government would agree to this proposal, and whether they would designate a representative on the committee, which it is hoped would convene at Athens in the immediate future. The United States Ambassador in London has been furnished with a copy of the general instructions which will be issued to the British delegate. Please let me have your views.
4.
Suggest you discuss possibility of Japan joining in assisting financing Allies. Am unofficially informed that Russia has spent 100,000,000,000 yen in Japan.
5.
At Hoover’s suggestion have taken up with Blackett and Simon proposal that United States should increase its advances to Belgium for Belgian relief by $1,500,000 per month, that France should increase her advances in the United States for Belgian relief by $1,000,000 per month and that Great Britain and France should provide an additional $5,000,000 per month for purchases in Europe.
6.
The $3,000,000 credit granted to Serbia has been exhausted. Serbian Minister asks now for establishment of a new credit of $5,000,000 to be employed as formerly. What do you advise?
7.
London Embassy advises that new Roumanian Minister plans to leave for Washington about November 18. Advisable that you see him before he leaves if possible. W. B. Poland.

Lansing