800.515/8–1144: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
6775. Refer yourtel 6472, Aug. 11, 11 p.m. Resolution VI of Bretton Woods Conference is being distributed by airgram to American missions, and there is clearing in the Department a proposal to put this Government on record as supporting it. Consultation with [Page 222] British would be initiated before taking a stand with the neutrals on the resolution, and it would be hoped that simultaneous notes might be delivered by the British and U.S. missions to the European neutrals, calling for action of the type outlined in the resolution.
In view of the fact that the resolution calls largely for action by the neutrals themselves, it is not felt that support of the resolution will necessarily imply support of post-war censorship, blockade and navicerts. The continuation for a period of controls over importation of securities and similar controls designed to prevent realization on looted assets may be worked out; but in general the Department’s tentative attitude is that wartime extraordinary and burdensome controls should be relaxed immediately after the war to the extent compatible with post-war security, supply conditions, and the like.