863.51 Relief Credits/77
The Assistant Secretary of State (Castle) to the Minister in Austria (Washburn)
Dear Mr. Minister: I am glad to have your letter of March 7 referring to the Austrian loan. I think you will find that the material which the Department is sending by this pouch to you, taken in connection with the Department’s telegram of March 20, will adequately explain the points which arose and which had to be cleared up before the formal recommendation of the President could be forwarded to Congress.
It is, of course, too early to predict the reaction in Congress. I may, however, say that the general impression is that nobody expected to get very much out of Austria in the way of debt payments after the action was taken under the Lodge resolution. Both the Treasury and this Department will do what is possible in helping legislation through Congress. You will, however, appreciate that we can give no assurances as to what Congress may do.
I am [etc.]