File No. No. 763.72113/504
The Secretary of State to the Alien Property Custodian ( Palmer)
Sir: The Department has received your letter of March 30,1 reporting certain transactions between Mr. John Simon of New York and Dr. H. Albert,2 resulting in Mr. Simon’s indebtedness to Doctor Albert in the sum of reichsmarks 2,760,750.76.
The Department’s letter of January 19 on the subject of seizure by the Alien Property Custodian of property belonging to persons on the Diplomatic List had reference only to property actually belonging to those persons, and if the Alien Property Custodian is satisfied that the sum of money which Mr. Simon owes Doctor Albert is in fact the property of the German Government, this Department perceives of no reason why the Alien Property Custodian is not authorized to demand it.
I am [etc.]
Assistant Secretary