800.51W89 Finland/87

The Acting Secretary of State to the Assistant Economic Adviser (Livesey)

Mr. Livesey: When the Finnish Minister called today I told him that I had not addressed to him the usual Treasury reminder of payment due on December 15th because, at the time that these communications were addressed to the other States, he had already brought forward the desire of his Government to make payment; therefore, it had not seemed to me good manners to remind him officially of the payment due; in the circumstances we had no exchange of notes on the subject; we agreed that the following statement could be published at the appropriate time:

“The Minister of Finland has informed the Acting Secretary of State that the full amount due on account of the Finnish debt to the United States will be paid in the ordinary routine at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York on December 15th. This installment amounts to $229,623.[”]

I assume that you are keeping Mr. Bell of the Treasury informed.

William Phillips