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

800.515/12–1344: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, December 13, 1944—9 p.m.

10399. For Embassy and Aarons⁶⁴ from Department and Treasury. The following is the text of a message which we propose to send to our missions in Egypt, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, South Africa, Chile, Ecuador, Liberia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela:⁶⁵

• “1. Reference is made to the Department’s circular telegram of February 22, 1944 in connection with the gold declaration issued simultaneously by the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• 2. The efforts of the Axis to realize value for looted gold have greatly intensified as a result of military developments in recent months. Accordingly, it is extremely important that every effort be made to prevent the marketing of looted gold in neutral countries and thus reduce the shipment to Germany of materials essential to its war industries. This can be accomplished if all of the United Nations subscribe to the gold declaration making it clear to the neutrals that they will be deprived of markets in any of the United Nations for gold which they have acquired from the Axis or which they have been able to release as a result of acquisition of gold from the Axis.
• 3. It is noted that the government to which you are accredited has not adopted the gold policy set forth in the declaration of February 22. An immediate approach should, therefore, be made to that government. You should indicate to that government that this Government considers it extremely important that the gold policy be adopted. You should state that this Government will be required to take measures designed to effectuate the gold declaration. In addition to requiring a high degree of proof before purchasing gold from neutral countries, the United States will be compelled, as a matter of good faith with regard to the declaration, to require any member of the United Nations which has not adopted the gold policy and which offers for sale to the United States gold not physically located in the United States on February 22, 1944, to submit a certificate with each such offer stating that the gold offered has not been acquired directly or indirectly from the Axis and is not gold which it has or is enabled to release as a result of the acquisition of gold directly or indirectly from the Axis.
• 4. Please report the reaction of the government to which you are accredited as soon as possible.”

It is requested that you inform the British of its contents and request the British Government to make a similar approach at the same time. It is our view that this matter is of sufficient importance to require the United States to take action immediately even should the British appear unwilling to join us at this time. The message will be sent to our missions on December 20.

Our no. 692 to Paris⁶⁶ is repeated to you as no. 10319. We expect to send a similar communication on December 20 to our missions in or near countries which have been occupied by the enemy and which have not yet adopted the gold declaration, namely Norway, Greece, and Luxembourg.⁶⁷

Stettinius

64. Lehman C. Aarons, assistant to the Treasury representative, William H. Taylor, in the United Kingdom.
65. According to Department records, the Governments of India, Iran, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Liberia during 1944 either issued public declarations or declared to the Department their intention to implement the gold policy.
66. This telegram, dated December 9, 1944, 10 p.m., referred to the Department’s circular telegram of February 22, p. 213, to Algiers, in which the United States had requested the French Committee of National Liberation to join in the declaration of policy with respect to the purchase of gold; expressed hope that the French would issue a similar declaration of policy and would participate in attempting to secure the cooperation of other United Nations which had not yet adopted the gold policy; and instructed the Ambassador in France to approach the French Government on this matter (800.515/12–944). Accordingly, a note on this subject (not printed), dated December 26, 1944, was forwarded by the Ambassador in France to the French Foreign Office (800.515/12–2744).
67. According to Department records, Norway and Luxembourg issued public declarations in conformity with the Department’s wishes. Although the Greek Government did not make a public declaration, it took steps to implement the gold policy.