854.24/46
The Secretary of State to the Swiss Minister (Bruggmann)
Sir: In your note of November 28, 1939 you inform me that the Swiss Government is disposed to begin the purchase in the United States of various commodities under option contracts concluded earlier in this year. I also note that the Swiss Government is considering the creation in the United States of an organization for the purpose of supervising these purchases and the storage and transportation of the commodities so acquired.
You suggest that it seems to you desirable that the United States Government should agree to examine and discuss appropriate means by which this Government could keep in permanent touch with the projected Swiss organization. This Government will be glad through appropriate channels to maintain contact with the Swiss organization to consider all matters of mutual interest in order to eliminate, as far as possible, difficulties that may arise in connection with the organization’s operations. The specific transactions of purchasing, storage and transportation would, of course, be matters between the Swiss Government and private American interests.
So far as I understand the nature and general terms of the proposed transactions, they would appear to encounter no difficulty by reason of any existing legislation in the United States. As I stated in my note to you of May 27, 1939, it is the desire of the Government and people of the United States to maintain the friendliest and fullest possible commercial relations with the Government and people of Switzerland. As I stated at that time, however, the action that this Government may be compelled to take under any future sets of circumstances cannot be determined in advance and would have to fall within the rules of international law and the course of domestic legislation.
Accept [etc.]