551.A1a/10
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Kellogg)
Sir: The Department transmits herewith for your information a copy of each of the following documents regarding a proposal that an Interallied Agency be constituted to deal with questions arising out of the relief credits extended to certain European governments:1
- 1.
- Translation of note dated September 26, 1923, from the French Chargé at Washington.
- 2.
- Translation of note dated November 30, 1923, from the French Ambassador at Washington.
- 3.
- Department’s note dated December 14, 1923, to the French Ambassador at Washington.
- 4.
- Note dated February 9, 1924, from the British Chargé at Washington, and the memorandum transmitted therewith.
- 5.
- Department’s note dated March 13, 1924, to the British Ambassador at Washington.
- 6.
- Department’s note dated June 3, 1924, to the British Ambassador at Washington.
As you will observe, the Department’s note of June 3, 1924, to the British Ambassador states that “if the committee in question should be constituted, the American Ambassador at London will be instructed to keep in close touch with its work.” The Department feels that it is highly important that this Government be kept closely and fully informed of the proceedings of the proposed committee. The United States is a large creditor on account of the relief loans [Page 135] in question and is entitled to as favorable treatment, both as to payment of interest and of principal, as any other creditor government. In several instances, however, debtor governments have made payments to other creditor governments on account of these relief loans without making corresponding payments to the United States. When attention has been called to this discrimination the reply has been made that the omission was an oversight, or that the amounts due to the United States were so much greater than those due to other governments that it was impossible for the debtor governments to pay them under existing conditions.
The Department does not desire that the activities of the proposed committee should in any way result in prejudicing the position of the United States. The Department will advise you promptly of any further information received on this subject from the British Government, and in the meantime you are requested to telegraph any significant developments in connection with the proposed committee which may come to your notice in London.
I am [etc.]
- All the documents listed, except the French Ambassador’s note of Nov. 30, 1923, are printed supra.↩