800.8810/1203
The Consul at Berlin (Geist) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s instruction of August 24, 1934, (File No. 800.8810/1200) enclosing a copy of a letter dated August 16, 1934, with enclosure, from the Department of Commerce, United States Shipping Board Bureau, concerning the suspected action of the German authorities in diverting passenger trade to German vessels through making available German marks at a discount. The Department requests that a report be rendered on the situation and that all appropriate assistance be given to the representatives in Germany of American shipping interests.
It appears that a comprehensive report in the premises was mailed a few days before the Department’s instruction of August 24, 1934, was written. I refer to despatch No. 2146 dated August 17, 1934, from this Consulate General, entitled “Assistance rendered by the Consulate General to the United States Lines and other American shipping interests”. In the despatch above mentioned various problems raised in the Department’s instruction under acknowledgment have been discussed and, as pointed out in the despatch, it is considered that a definite achievement has been made in getting the German authorities definitely to commit themselves in every respect, to a policy of non-discrimination.
Since writing the despatch of August 17, 1934, I have been advised by Director Scheuerl that he has ordered the word “deutschen” to be eliminated from the form making application to the German Reichsbahn for the use of scrips in connection with the payment of additional [Page 442] freight business (zusaetzliches Frachtgeschaeft). His letter in the premises reads as follows:
“With reference to our recent conversation I have the honor to inform you that I have sent instructions to the various Devisenstellen that in connection with applications for the use of scrips for the payment of transit freight, the word “deutschen” on the form is to be dispensed with.”
I am taking the opportunity of quoting herewith two letters from the United States Lines, one dated August 18, 1934, and the other dated September 1, which indicate the satisfactory results which I have been able to obtain in connection with the negotiations with the German authorities:
“Letter of August 18: Many thanks for your letter of August 14, confirming your conversations with Director Scheuerl of the Reichsstelle fuer Devisenbewirtschaftung.
I am of the opinion that our position has been materially advanced by reason of the categoric assurances that you have received from this gentleman, as we shall have a very definite basis upon which to proceed in the event we ascertain that discrimination of one kind or another is being practiced in the allocation of Devisen, etc.
Needless to say we shall immediately advise you in the event of further difficulties in this connection and it would be interesting to hear from you regarding the decision of the Reichsbahn on the matter of changing the form of application now used by them.
Please accept my personal thanks and the thanks of our organization for the very energetic and successful manner in which you have approached this very difficult and important question, (sign.) T. A. Monroe, General Freight Manager.”
“Letter of September 1: Many thanks for your letter of August 25 from which I am delighted to note that Director Scheuerl has now advised you that the word “deutschen” is to be eliminated from the form of application “Antrag zur Foerderung eines zusaetzlichen Frachtgeschaeftes”. This very clearly indicates the definite progress that has been made as a result of your intervention with the German authorities, and I want once again to express our very sincere thanks for your successful action, (sign.) T. A. Monroe, Continental General Manager.”
Respectfully yours,