File No. 855.48/797
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain ( Laughlin)
2003. For Crosby from Rathbone:
Treasury No. 484. Embassy’s 2728, October 11, 5 p.m. Your 706. For Davis: Commission for Relief in Belgium is entitled to reimbursement from British Government in dollars approximately [Page 489] 2,200,000. See our 499.1 For flour C.R.B. is obligated to reimburse Wheat Executive in dollars about one million. See cable of Relief Commission in London of October 10 to Relief Commission here.1 Proposed reimbursement of British Treasury for 20,000,000 rations should be net amount after figuring reimbursements for freights and for flour above mentioned. C.R.B. states it can make this net reimbursement without increasing its dollar demands on French and Belgian Governments. In view of urgency and importance and without constituting precedent we will consent to such net reimbursement up to f.o.b. cost on advices that rations purchased in United States actually delivered on understanding that replacement will be made from United States. Distribution of rations should be made under such supervision or by such agencies as Crosby approves.