Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.00112 European War 1939/2593: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Beirut (Engert)

Washington, April 25, 1941—5 p.m.

61. Your 116, April 28, 12 a.m. Treasury is issuing license permitting establishment with Chase National Bank of special account to be known as “Banque de Syrie et du Liban, Special Account A.”

Treasury is also issuing licenses permitting transfer to the new “Special Account A” of balances amounting to approximately $190,000 held at Chase National Bank and French American Banking Corporation in “special free accounts” of the Banque de Syrie et du Liban. It will, of course, be necessary for the Banque de Syrie et du Liban to instruct Chase National Bank and the French American Banking Corporation to make such transfers.

As indicated in our 51 of April 5, the funds in “Special Account A” may, under specific license, be used in payment for permitted exports to Syria and Lebanon. Applications for licenses to make such payments will be filed by Chase National Bank upon receipt of proper instructions from the Banque de Syrie et du Liban.

Hull