840.51FC/7–1344
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
Sir: A copy of the Embassy’s despatch no. 15,937 of May 29, 1944, was transmitted by the Department to the Treasury Department with a request for it’s comments on the matter.
For the Embassy’s guidance in replying to the communication from the British Foreign Office of May 26, 1944, excerpts from which are quoted in the Embassy’s despatch above-mentioned, the Department quotes the substance of a letter from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury, dated July 13, 1944, in response to the Department’s inquiry:
“It is noted that the British Foreign Office has found exception to the Treasury’s suggestion that consideration be given to adding a statement to sub-paragraph 4 I of the proposed draft, indicating that notification should be transmitted to the Government of the United States of America as and when the proposed measures are put into effect. In view of the arguments set forth by the British Foreign Office in the above-mentioned document, the Treasury has no objection to the omission of this particular suggestion provided that inclusion of explicit mention of the loan agreements between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the United States of America, dated May 10, 1929 and May 24, 1932, remain as a part of the text of the proposed draft.
“Inasmuch as provision for notification to the United States Government by the Greek Government concerning final acceptance of the agreement is to be omitted from the draft, it is suggested that the American Embassy in London be advised by the British Foreign Office when the proposed measures are put into effect. Upon receipt of such information, this Government will be in a position to communicate directly with the Greek Government with respect to the status of its indebtedness to the United States under the agreements of 1929 and 1932 if such action should be deemed necessary at any time.”
Very truly yours,
[In the ensuing months, there is no further correspondence in the Department’s files concerning the desire of the Greek Government to abolish the International Financial Commission. Italy was eliminated from membership as an aftermath of World War II, membership thereby being reduced to Great Britain and France.]