340.1115A/2413a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle)
188. Department’s 439, December 31, 6 p.m.,13 to which no reply has yet been received. Department is being pressed to make private money transfers to Americans in enemy and enemy-occupied territories. The Department is accepting such private deposits and in requesting you to arrange through Swiss Government for their payment [Page 255] will employ following language and procedure unless immediately informed by the Legation that some other procedure is preferable:
“Pay John Doe one hundred dollars ($100) for account of Sallie Doe.”
This will mean that the Swiss Government from United States advances for representation of its interests will pay the equivalent of number of dollars stated to indicated payee against individual receipt in triplicate which should include name of depositor and reference to authorization by date and number. When such receipts reach Department the private deposit will be transferred to the credit of the United States Government.
Department is anxious to put this procedure into effect immediately in order to allay anxiety of relatives and friends in this country and to reduce need for official relief payments.