611.6231/1094
The Assistant Secretary of State (Sayre) to the State Secretary, German Ministry of National Economy (Brinkmann)89
My Dear Dr. Brinkmann: Ambassador Wilson has written me about his talks with you and has sent me a copy of your letter to him of October 31, 1938 enclosing your memorandum setting forth your suggestions concerning German-American trade, together with a copy of your letter to him of November 5, 1938. I remember well our pleasant contacts here in Washington in the summer of 1936 and, because of our personal associations, I am writing you this quite unofficial note rather than transmitting an official reply through our Embassy to the thoughts expressed in your memorandum.
I want you to know, as I have said to you more than once before, that we are glad as always to give sympathetic consideration to any proposal for improving and advancing the general commercial relations between the nations of the world upon a basis of genuine nondiscrimination and equality of treatment. I think we both agree that these are the only possible bases upon which a liberal world trade can be built.
I have considered the proposal which you were good enough to suggest in your memorandum of October 31. Unfortunately, there would seem to be no possibility at the present time of entering into fruitful conversations about the matters dealt with in your memorandum. I hope, however, that you will not desist in your efforts to discover means of improving the relations between your country and mine, and that in due time these efforts will bring results of far-reaching importance to both countries and the world.
With kind personal regards [etc.]
- Transmitted by Assistant Secretary of State Sayre to the Chargé in Germany in a personal letter dated December 16, with a request that it be delivered informally at an early opportunity.↩