800.515/10–1644: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Harriman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 16—7:03 a.m.]
3944. ReDept’s 2427, October 13, 8 p.m. On September 11 as indicated in my 3440, September 12, 4 p.m.,5 I informed Molotov in a letter that American troops would be paid in Allied military marks at the rate of 10 marks to the dollar and that this was not a general rate of exchange and would not be announced publicly.
The British Embassy sent a similar communication on September 22.
On October 4 our radio bulletin contained an item to the effect that a joint announcement had been made by the War and Treasury Departments to the effect that an Allied military mark had been distributed to troops invading Germany on a provisional basis of 10 marks to the dollar. In view of these circumstances I do not think that it would be advisable for us to make any further communication to the Soviet Government at this time on this subject.
Molotov has not replied to my letter referred to above, and I have no information as to the policy the Soviet authorities intend to follow in this respect.
- Not printed.↩