860C.515/111
The Polish Ambassador (Ciechanowski) to the Secretary of State 64
Sir: During the past three years I have had the honor of informing you, on several occasions, with regard to the Polish gold which had been shipped to French West Africa and had been lost to the control of the Bank of Poland.
Lately, Mr. Michalski, Manager of the Bank of Poland, who, thanks to the assistance of the Department of State, proceeded to Algiers at the beginning of 1943, had the opportunity of negotiating with the French authorities in Algiers. I have been informed that these negotiations resulted in the signing of an agreement between the Bank of Poland and the French National Liberation Committee on December 17th, 1943. In accordance with the terms of this agreement, the Polish gold in question is to be repossessed by the Bank of Poland and concurrently the suit which has been instituted in New York against the Bank of France is to be discontinued and the attachment of Bank of France assets resulting from such suit vacated.
In view of the sympathetic consideration which the Department of State and the Treasury Department have given to the position of the Bank of Poland in this matter, it gives me particular pleasure [Page 496] to advise you of this development and I would be grateful if you would inform the Secretary of the Treasury thereof.
Accept [etc.]
- This note was acknowledged on January 19, 1944.↩