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

800.515/9–2944: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives ⁴⁷

Washington, September 29, 1944—6 p.m.

Re Flight of Axis Capital to Neutral Countries: Bretton Woods Resolution VI

Resolution VI adopted by the delegates at the Bretton Woods Financial and Monetary Conference of July, 1944, recommended that the United Nations call upon the neutral countries to take measures designed to carry out the objectives of the Resolution, among which are the disclosure of Axis assets, in particular flight capital and looted property. Reference is made to the Department’s circular airgram of August 22 [19], 1944, containing the text of Bretton Woods Resolution VI.

It has now been decided that this Government will endorse the Resolution and will call upon the governments of the European neutral countries, in the manner recommended in the Resolution. Instructions are being sent to the American missions in Bern, Stockholm, Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, Tangier, and Ankara,⁴⁹ to present on October 2 or as soon thereafter as possible, a note the text of which is quoted in the following circular telegram dated September 29, 5 p.m.⁵⁰

The British missions are being instructed to present a note couched in similar terms, with the omission of the last sentence of the above-quoted note, at the same time. Discussions are also being held in Moscow with the government of the USSR with reference to the possible presentation of a similar note by that Government to those neutral governments to which the USSR has representatives.

You are instructed to bring immediately to the attention of the Government to which you are accredited the fact that action is being taken by the United States to endorse Bretton Woods Resolution VI, to point out that it may be desired by that Government to take parallel action, and to indicate the importance which is attached to this matter by this Government.⁵¹

The American Embassy in London has been informed of this procedure, and it seems reasonable that the British will wish to take similar action. However, after informing your British colleague of the action which is described herein, you should proceed independently. It is felt to be important that the other United and Associated Nations be informed of our proposed action before it is taken. Similar steps on their part would of course be very welcome.

Hull

47. The diplomatic representatives in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt (repeated for Greece and Yugoslavia), El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Great Britain (repeated for Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland), Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Union of South Africa, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
49. Circular telegrams, September 29, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m., pp. 235 and 236, respectively.
50. See fourth sentence of footnote 42, p. 236.
51. During 1944 the following Governments informed the Department that they would take parallel action in the neutral countries where they had representatives: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, and Venezuela.