Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General: Economic and Social Matters, Volume II

800.515/8–1944: Circular airgram

The Secretary of State to All Diplomatic Missions

Washington, August 19, 1944—2 p.m.

In connection with efforts to defeat the methods of dispossession used by the Axis, the following text of Resolution VI, adopted at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, is sent to you for your information:

“Whereas, in anticipation of their impending defeat, enemy leaders, enemy nationals and their collaborators are transferring assets to and through neutral countries in order to conceal them and to perpetuate their influence, power, and ability to plan future aggrandizement and world domination, thus jeopardizing the efforts of the United Nations to establish and permanently maintain peaceful international relations;

“Whereas, enemy countries and their nationals have taken the property of occupied countries and their nationals by open looting and plunder, by forcing transfers under duress, as well as by subtle and complex devices, often operated through the agency of their puppet governments, to give the cloak of legality to their robbery and to secure ownership and control of enterprises in the post-war period;

“Whereas, enemy countries and their nationals have also, through sales and other methods of transfer, run the chain of their ownership and control through occupied and neutral countries, thus making the problem of disclosure and disentanglement one of international character;

“Whereas, the United Nations have declared their intention to do their utmost to defeat the methods of dispossession practiced by the enemy, have reserved their right to declare invalid any transfers of property belonging to persons within occupied territory, and have taken measures to protect and safeguard property, within their respective jurisdictions, owned by occupied countries and their nationals, as well as to prevent the disposal of looted property in United Nations markets; therefore

“The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference

1. Takes note of and fully supports steps taken by the United Nations for the purpose of:

(a) uncovering, segregating, controlling, and making appropriate disposition of enemy assets;

(b) preventing the liquidation of property looted by the enemy, locating and tracing ownership and control of such looted property, and taking appropriate measures with a view to restoration to its lawful owners;

2. Recommends:

That all Governments of countries represented at this conference take action consistent with their relations with the countries at war to call upon the Governments of neutral countries

(a) to take immediate measures to prevent any disposition or transfer within territories subject to their jurisdiction of any

(1) assets belonging to the Government or any individuals or institutions within those United Nations occupied by the enemy; and

(2) looted gold, currency, art objects, securities, other evidences of ownership in financial or business enterprises, and of other assets looted by the enemy;
as well as to uncover, segregate and hold at the disposition of the post-liberation authorities in the appropriate country any such assets within territory subject to their jurisdiction;

(b) to take immediate measures to prevent the concealment by fraudulent means or otherwise within countries subject to their jurisdiction of any

(1) assets belonging to, or alleged to belong to, the Government of and individuals or institutions within enemy countries;

(2) assets belonging to, or alleged to belong to, enemy leaders, their associates and collaborators;
and to facilitate their ultimate delivery to the post-armistice authorities.”

Hull