Office of the Historian

800.515/768

Mr. H. D. White, Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury (Morgenthau), to the Adviser on International Economic Affairs (Feis)

Washington, June 28, 1943.

Dear Mr. Feis: I am transmitting herewith a copy of a memorandum sent to the Secretary of the Treasury by the Norwegian Embassy [Page 1040] and a copy of a letter to the Secretary by the Belgian Minister of Finance.18

Very truly yours,

H. D. White
[Enclosure]

The Norwegian Embassy to the Treasury Department

Memorandum

With further reference to conversations regarding use of Norwegian currency during invasion of Norway by Allied expeditionary forces (Memoranda by representatives of the Norwegian Embassy, dated March 30 and June 5, 194319) the Norwegian Embassy have now received a further communication from the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in London, stating that so far no formal agreement has been concluded between British and Norwegian authorities. It is understood that such agreement would need the acquiescence of the proper American authorities.

During the conversations which have taken place in London the British Treasury have stated that they agree to use Norwegian currency during the invasion and that they would have no objection to an exchange rate of 20 Norwegian kroner to 1 pound sterling.

The Norwegian Embassy venture to hope that the American authorities will see their way to take the same standpoint in these matters as those expressed by the British.

Washington, June 24, 1943.
  1. Latter not printed; the Belgian Minister of Finance (Camille Gutt) stated in part: “Confirming my conversations with Mr. Bell, I wish to advise you of the fact that my government has deposited with the Bank of England, in agreement with the British Treasury, for use in Belgium by any expeditionary force (British or American), an amount of 750 million Belgian francs in notes. The object of this is to make available to the military authorities upon landing the amount of Belgian currency required for their expenses.”↩
  2. Latter not found in Department files.↩