867.77/326: Telegram

The Commissioner at Berlin (Dresel) to the Secretary of State

937. From Coffin:

My 918, August 4, 6 p.m.12 The Swiss interests in the Orient Bank have become nervous because of imminent signature of Turkish peace treaty and a directors meeting has been called for August 17th. Von Stauss, director of Deutsche Bank, will attend meeting and states that he will endeavor to hold matters in statu quo but is not certain of his ability to do so. He asked me today to ascertain how Socony13 would regard a 51 percent American participation with international minority interests composed of Swiss, Germans and Italians. He leaves for Switzerland tonight and will have an opportunity to sound [Page 771] both these interests while there. My opinion is that matter is reaching an acute stage and Deutsche Bank will not be willing to await an American offer much longer.

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Dresel
  1. Not printed.
  2. Standard Oil Co. of New York.