863.51 Relief Credits/512: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany (Gilbert)

250. On December 23 the Department, by request of the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitted to the German Embassy a statement of the amounts due and payable by the Government of Germany on account of the indebtedness of Austria. No publicity has been given to this, which is the customary routine before debt instalment due dates.

Your 706, December 9, 11 a.m. The Department desires and intends to respect the right of every government to withhold the texts of its diplomatic communications from publication and would not knowingly disregard the wishes of the German Government in this respect. The notes published November 26 contained information which the American Government and public had been endeavoring for nearly 8 months to obtain, and which was of especial urgency because of inquiries from American bankers, fiscal agents and others feeling responsibility for informing bondholders regarding the German offer of October 24, the possible American bearing of which came to the attention of the American financial community (and of the Department) only about November 15 when mail advices were received from Europe. The Embassy, which was informed by the Department’s telegram of November 23 of contemplated publication, may judge how far to go in explanation to Wiehl.

The Department does not perceive that the fact of publication need cause any difficulty to the German authorities in their consideration of the American reply and their action on its suggestion that the German Government proceed to negotiate with bondholders’ representatives.

Welles