861.51/831
The Third Assistant Secretary of State (Merle-Smith) to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Gilbert)
My Dear Mr. Gilbert: I beg to acknowledge the following letters:18 From Mr. Gilbert to Mr. Merle-Smith, September 30, (five enclosures) and from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Secretary [Page 723] of State, October 9 (1 enclosure), relating to two anticipated shipments of Russian gold roubles from the Swedish Diamond Rock Drilling Company to Messrs. Brown Brothers and Company, in which inquiry is made whether the State Department would have any objections to the purchase of this gold by the Treasury, and as to whether it would be prepared to assure the Treasury that title to this gold would not be subject to attack internationally, if purchased by it.
In reply to the first of these inquiries the Department feels that it would be inadvisable in the present circumstances for any branch or agency of the Government to assume the responsibility involved in the possession of gold which on its face indicates Soviet origin.
In regard to your second inquiry the Department cannot give assurances that the title to such gold would not be subject to attack internationally.
I am [etc.]
- Not printed.↩