860h.51/171: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes ( Boal )
13. Your no. 15, May 12, 6 p.m. The Department has received inquiries from Blair & Co., Bertron, Griscom & Co., and Hallgarten & Co., the latter in connection with British associates, asking whether the Department has any objection to make to the proposed Yugoslav loan. You are informed confidentially that the Department has not yet expressed its views in this matter to any of these three firms, and before it makes a reply it is anxious to have your answer to Department’s no. 12, of this date.
You will make it clear to the Prime Minister that with respect to competing American banking firms the Department’s attitude is one of strict impartiality.
The assent of this Government to foreign loans by American bankers is not obligatory, but the Department desires that they consult it in view of the possible national interests involved.