855.24/53
The Belgian Ambassador (Van der Straten-Ponthoz) to the Secretary of State
The Belgian Ambassador presents his compliments to the Honorable the Secretary of State. Acting upon instructions from his Government and with reference to this Embassy’s note No. 6061, dated October 13th, 194265 has the honor to confirm to the Department of State that the Belgian Government has been pleased to note that the interim procedure suggested in the communication of September 25th, 194266 enabling the Belgian Government to proceed with its; purchasing plans in harmony with the United Nations’ procurement of materials necessary to their war effort, is in full conformity with [Page 152] the principles it has previously followed. Never has the Belgian Government effected any direct purchase in order to accumulate supplies for post-war relief in Belgium. Its negotiations towards this end have been carried on with the full knowledge and approval of the interested Allied Governments. As it is the intention of the Belgian Government to pursue the same policy in the future, the latter is in complete agreement with the procedure outlined in the Department of State’s note of September 25th, 1942 and will be glad to co-operate with the American and British Governments along these lines in order to fulfill its program of procurement of commodities for immediate post-war relief.
The Belgian Government avails itself of this opportunity to call the attention of the United States Government to the fact that, in view of immediate post-war relief in Belgium following the liberation of Belgian territory, it is imperative that the necessary stocks of commodities be laid aside—within the limit of possibilities and subject to coordinated action. The Belgian Government intends to follow its program provided that its execution will not hamper the common war effort and in conformity with the procedure outlined by the United States Government. It would be particularly gratified to see the United Nations adopt a solution embodying a common policy in the realm of post-war relief, according to the principles of the Resolution adopted at the Conference held at St. James Palace on September 24th, 1941. In the opinion of the Belgian Government, such policy should be followed if the numerous problems which are bound to arise in the future are to be solved.