862.48/122: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Commissioner at Berlin (Dresel)
88. Following telegram received from Mr. Hoover: “It appears to me that the Ebert Government has now reached a point indicating stability and that it should not be deprived of the support that is coming to it from making available to them the surplus realization on the gold that came into my hands while acting as an interallied official in dealing with food for Germany. This gold arises from the necessary delay in the supply of food provided under the Brussels agreement22 pending final realization of the gold paid by Germany for this purpose, and I would suggest that in the interest of all concerned it should now be made available. Would you confirm and if so communicate the fact to the German Government that payment of $14,510,219 in accordance with authority from Herr von Bergmann Under Secretary of the Treasury to Mr. Hoover is now being paid over to their agents the Guaranty Trust Company for purchase of food”.
Mr. Hoover holds $14,510,219 which constitutes surplus due German Government after value ascertained by assay of gold which came into Mr. Hoover’s hands as allied food director pursuant to Brussels agreement. It is considered wise the German Government should have the support that would come from availability of this gold and unless reports which have reached Department indicating that Ebert Government is firmly established, are false, you may therefore state that payment of the above amount is now being made by Hoover to Guaranty Trust Company, agent of German Treasury, for purchase of food.
- Not printed.↩