102.1/9–1544: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 16—11:45 a.m.]
7635. For Department, Treasury and FEA. ReDepts 7080, September 1. MEW informs Embassy that in consultations with other departments, certain objections have been raised to the method of attaining the end of inducing neutrals to adopt the desired gold policy. The objections which we believe come from the British Treasury arise from (a) the use of the word “negotiations” in the Department’s instructions to the Missions which might imply that we should be prepared to bargain with the governments concerned and possibly accept a compromise undertaking which might tie our hands in the future and (b) from a fear that acceptance of undertakings might imply a condonation of past dealings in looted gold on the part of the countries concerned before the giving of an undertaking. MEW expresses the belief that you do not imply negotiation in the sense of bargaining or the offer of any inducement to the neutrals to give us an undertaking and if as they suppose the proposal is that we should propound to the governments concerned the Swiss formula and simply invite their acceptance of it they will make a further approach to the Treasury on this basis. MEW adds further that in view of other present or pending discussions it may not be expedient to make representations on the subject simultaneously to all the neutrals concerned. Embassy believes this reservation refers to Turkey alone. Embassy requests confirmation that the above conforms with the Department’s views and would point out that minor amendments of the instructions to the Missions would be necessary.
MEW points out that Nazi leaders and industrialists might use submarines to find safe haven for loot outside Europe and ask if similar approaches should not also be made in Latin America.