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President Roosevelt to the Secretary of State
Dear Cordell: I refer to a letter from the Acting Secretary of State dated September 29, 1943 in regard to a proposal from the British Government that the United States and the British Governments share the financial responsibility, on a fifty-fifty basis, of making certain emergency advances to Italian diplomatic representatives abroad who are cooperating with our two Governments.
I approve our Government’s joining with the British Government in this undertaking as set forth in Mr. Berle’s letter and the British aide-mémoire which is enclosed.79 I also approve the allocation of funds from the President’s Emergency Fund, not to exceed one million dollars, to cover the United States’ share of the financing of such advances. I have noted your statement that the repayment of these advances will be sought through diplomatic channels as soon as conditions permit.
I look to you to see to it that arrangements are made which will insure that no part of these funds is used to benefit any Italian officials about whose loyalty and devotion to the principles for which we are fighting there is any question. I suggest that no advance be made to Italian diplomatic representatives in any country unless the American and the British Chiefs of Mission in the country concerned both approve such advances and that they both certify that the official in question is wholeheartedly cooperating with the American and the British Governments in the conduct of the war.
I am sending a copy of this letter to the Director of the Budget for his guidance in working out the necessary financial arrangements with officials of the Department of State.
Sincerely yours,