740.00112 European War 1939/8698: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant ) to the Secretary of State

4021. Your 3614 of June 10. Riefler was under the impression that you had been informed of the memorandum. The text was as follows:

“The Swiss Government are already aware of the grave view which His Majesty’s Government take of the Swiss Government’s proposal that fresh credits should be granted to Germany.

[Page 848]

In order that there may be no misunderstanding over the position of any such credits in the post-war settlement, His Majesty’s Government feel that it is right to put on record that they must of course reserve the right to refuse to treat any credits granted during the war as in any way a legitimate charge on Axis assets, and that in any case they would regard such credits as ranking below all Allied claims against the Axis countries. Moreover His Majesty’s Government would in no circumstances facilitate the collection of such debts due to neutral countries by Germany.”

There was no time to clear the message with Washington because it was desired to deliver it to the Swiss before the arrival of the German delegation in Bern. It has not yet been decided whether or not to use the same memorandum in connection with other European neutrals.

We will advise you of developments.

Winant