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OCR Page 1 of 2DIARY
Book 380
March 8 - 11, 1941
Regraded Uclassified
- A -
Book Page
Agriculture, Department of
"Parity price loan" (S.935): Bankhead's plan and
American Farm Bureau Federation comment thereon -
3/11/41
380
481
Allison Engineering Company
See War Conditions: Airplanes (Engines)
Appointments and Resignations
Collector of Internal Revenue - Toledo, Ohio:
Congressman Hunter's correspondence - 3/10/41.
173
- B -
Bankhead, John (Senator, Louisiana)
See Agriculture, Department of
Budget
FDR's message to Congress: Copy of Cox draft as
presented to Hopkins . - 3/9/41
120
Business Conditions
Heas memorandum on situation for week ending
March 8, 1941
315
- C -
Chen, K. P.
See War Conditions: China
China
See War Conditions
Collector of Internal Revenue - Toledo, Ohio
See Appointments and Resignations
- 7 -
Farm Parity
See Agriculture, Department of
Financing, Government
Rentschler tells HMJr of resolution passed by
clearing house banks of New York "offering
without charge all possible services in
connection with various Government issues" -
3/8/41
57
6/15/41 financing: HMJr advocates raising $5-600
million cash, at the same time as refunding
of $500 million June notes - 3/11/41
348
- H -
Halifax, Lord
See War Conditions: Purchasing Mission
Harriman, W. Averill
Bon voyage from HMJr - 3/10/41
269
Harrison, Pat (Senator, Mississippi)
Thanks HMJr for note on anniversary of thirty
years legislative service - 3/11/41
480
Hungary
See War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control
Regraded Uclassified
- I -
Book Page
Intelligence Service, Treasury
One badge with Narcotics, Secret Service, or
Internal Revenue thereon discussed at 9:30 meeting -
3/10/41
380
160
Internal Revenue, Collector of Toledo, Ohio
See Appointments and Resignations
- X -
Kreiselman, Joseph (Doctor)
See War Conditions: Airplanes
- L -
Law Enforcement Agencies, Treasury
One badge with Narcotics, Secret Service, or
Internal Revenue thereon discussed at 9:30 meeting -
3/10/41
160
- M -
Martha, Crown Princess
See War Conditions: Norway
- N - -
Norway
See War Conditions
- R - -
Revenue Revision
New program discussed by HMJr, Gaston, Foley, Bell,
Sullivan, Blough, and Tarleau - 3/11/41
398,411
- S -
Secret Service
For protection of Wallace (Henry A.) see Book 380,
page 151, and Book 381, page 79
Security Markets (High-Grade)
See War Conditions
Shipping
See War Conditions
Silver
See War Conditions
- T - -
Taxation
See Revenue Revision
Regraded Uclassified
- U -
Book
Page
Unemployment Relief
Work Projects Administration report for week
ending February 26, 1941 - 3/10/41
380
308
U.S.S.R.
See War Conditions
United Kingdom
See War Conditions: Military Planning
- W -
Wallace, Henry A. (Secretary of Agriculture)
Secret Service protection discussed at 9:30
meeting - - 3/10/41
151
a) Wallace-HMJr conversation - 3/12/41:
See Book 381, page 79
b) Gaston memorandum - 3/13/41:
Book 381, page 245
War Conditions
Airplanes:
Engines:
Allison Engineering Company: Shipments -
3/10/41
312,313
Oxygen device for flying up to 37,000 feet
(Dr. Joseph Kreiselman) discussed by Towers
and HMJr - 3/8/41
50
China:
Stabilization Committee appoints Chen as chairman:
Chen's letter to HMJr - 3/8/41
107
Kung's letter delivered to HMJr by Currie -
3/12/41: See Book 381, page 128
Exchange market resume' - 3/8/41, etc,
108,307,489
Export Control:
Exports of petroleum products, scrap iron, and
scrap steel from United States to Japan, Russia,
Spain, and Great Britain, week ending
February 8, 1941
314
Foreign Funds Control:
Hungary:
Transactions with First National Bank of Boston,
Bank for International Settlements, and Guaranty
Trust Company - 3/10/41
304,305,306
Lend-Lease Legislation:
See also War Conditions: Purchasing Mission
Senate passes bill, 60-31 - 3/8/41
106
Budget as discussed by FDR and HMJr reviewed by
Treasury group - 3/10/41
237
a) Smith-HMJr conversation - 3/11/41
440
Minimum legal steps required to be taken in disposing
of defense articles under H.R. 1776:
a) First draft - 3/10/41
247
b) Second and final draft - 3/10/41
254
H.R. 1776: Act as signed by FDR - 3/11/41
455,459
a) FDR's message to Congress and Budget: Book 381, page 2
b) HMJr thanks George and Barkley - 3/11/41
461,464
c) Hopkins' letter to Purvis - 3/11/41
467
Regraded Uclassified
- V (Continued)
Book
Page
War Conditions (Continued)
Military Planning:
Report from London transmitted by Halifax -
3/10/41
380
331
Norway:
Secret Service protection of Crown Princess
Martha discussed at 9:30 meeting - 3/10/41
152
Purchasing Mission:
See also War Conditions: Lend-Lease Legislation
"HMJr personally and solely responsible for the
fact that the British continued fighting
between Dunkirk and first of year": Dean
Acheson states this at staff meeting in Hull's
office - 3/8/41
2
British Financial Position:
Cash position estimated on certain assumptions
for near future by Phillips and discussed
by HMJr, Foley, Bernstein, White, Cochran,
and Bell - 3/8/41
2,49,349,
397,447
Peacock definitely holding back: Frank tells
HMJr that Bunker, of Lehman Brothers, who
is "195% pro-British" has just reported
this - 3/8/41
39
a) HMJr displeased with Halifax's reaction
when they discuss situation - 3/10/41
267
New York Investment Association and Securities
and Exchange Commission to consider
possibility of private organization to
take over en bloc British and/or Canadian
holdings of marketable securities and also
to consider direct investments: Cochran
tells Gifford and asks opinion - 3/8/41
48
a) Conference discussed by HMJr, White,
and Cochran - 3/11/41
445
Memorandum highlighting British financial
situation prepared by White - 3/8/41
60
Summary of contracts of $1 million or over,
as of February 15, 1941
133
Former French contracts of $1 million or over,
as of February 15, 1941
134,135,136
British contracts of $1 million or over,
as of February 15, 1941
137,138,139,
140,141,142
Former French contracts where total of
unrecovered British advances and balance of
payments due is in excess of $10 million,
as of February 15, 1941
143
British contracts where total of unrecovered
advances and balance of payments due is in
excess of $10 million, as of February 15, 1941..
144,145
Regraded Uclassified
- V - (Continued)
Book
Page
War Conditions (Continued)
Purchasing Mission (Continued):
British Financial Position (Continued):
Resume'of HMJr's assistance to Great Britain
and various sources of funds: Cochran
memorandum - 3/10/41
380
229,270
a) Discussed by Treasury group
199
FDR suggests speed in Reconstruction Finance
Corporation taking over British payments
made for plants and War Department taking
over materiel payments made by British -
3/10/41
234
a) HMJr's memoranda to Jones and
Stimson - 3/11/41
345,346
Vesting order sales - 3/11/41
488
Security Markets (High-Grade):
Current Developments: Haas memorandum - 3/11/41
491
Shipping:
Port clearance of British trade vessels: Herbert
Hoover's letter to Stimson discussed by HMJr,
Gaston, and Waesche - 3/10/41
146
a) For Coast Guard and Maritime Commission
reports, see Book 381, page 8
b) Captain Callaghan reports - 3/18/41:
Book 383, page 117
Silver:
New formula for estimating production in United
States - 3/10/41
274
U.S.S.R.:
Oumansky's "chagrin" discussed by Loy Henderson
(Assistant Chief, European Division, State
Department) and Wiley - 3/8/41
1
Work Projects Administration
See Unemployment Relief
Regraded Uclassified
1
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
STRICTLY PERSONAL
DATE March 8, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Wiley
Last evening Loy Henderson came to see me. He is Assistant
Chief of the European Division of the Department of State and the
Department's expert on the Soviet Union -- a very competent one too.
I gathered from him -- very discreetly - that Ousansky's chagria
derives chiefly from the fact that some six or seven million dol-
lare worth of oil drilling machinery has been held up. It appears
that the War and Navy Departments are responsible; not the State
Department, which for some time has been adopting a policy of con-
siderable amiability towards the Soviet Embassy. The idea, I sup-
pose, is not to assist in the further development of Soviet oil
production at a time when the Soviet Union is exporting oil to the
Reich.
Oumansky may also be very irritated that a charter of & ship
has just been revoked by the Maritime Commission. Ownansky will
probably blame Henderson. As a matter of fact the action was taken
on the sole initiative of the Maritime Commission.
Should you be interested, and should you see General Maxwell,
he could probably give you the "low down" on Soviet complaints.
Also, you would find Loy Henderson most interesting should you ever
have occasion to talk to him. He is an extremely decent and trust-
worthy person with an enormous background on the Soviet Union. His
point of view is professional rather than prejudiced.
The
Regraded Uclassified
2
March 8, 1941
9:30 a.m.
RE BRITISH PURCHASING PROGRAM
Present:
Mr. Foley
Mr. Bernstein
Mr. White
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Bell
H.M.Jr:
Dean said at a staff meeting in Mr. Hull's
office that he didn't see how anybody could say
that Morgenthau didn't have anything to do
with foreign affairs when he personally was
entirely responsible for the fact that as
between Dunkirk and the first of the year
that the English kept on fighting. He says,
"How can you say that Morgenthau has nothing
to do with it? He has single-handedly kept
things going." He said he said it at a staff
meeting in Mr. Hull's presence. He said Mor-
genthau was solely responsible for the thing
having continued. That is a pretty nice thing
to say.
Bell:
Very nice to say among enemies.
H.M.Jr:
Well, that is what he told them for, so we will
give him a chance.
Now, Mr. Bell, if somebody could start in and
bring me up to date on - this is what happened.
Sir Frederick Phillips comes in here and says
to me, "What are you going to do about our
financial situation," and I said I didn't under-
Regraded Uclassified
3
- 2 -
stand it and so forth and so on and asked him
to give me a written memorandum, which I have
not yet seen, and also that the Canadian thing,
to sum up, the Canadians want to get in on the
Lend-Lease, and they have asked me what they
should do about their 350 million dollars worth
of American securities and they have asked this -
the English have asked, should they or should
they not sell their gold to Canada, or should
they sell it to us. I don't know how many
other problems there are, but that is about all.
Bell:
That is enough.
H.M.Jr:
This is handed by Pinsent to Cochran in the
Treasury and marked 7, noon. Yes. (See attachment 1)
"In response to the invitation of the Secretary
of the Treasury, an attempt has been made below
to estimate the British cash position in the near
future on certain assumptions.
I. Assumptions and their possible errors.
1. It is assumed that the new system to be
set up after the passage of the Lend-
Lease Bill will start coming into effec-
tive operation by 1st April, 1941."
And to digress a minute, there is a memo for
Bell and Foley on that that you will get this
morning. What, if anything, have we done in
our shop on how this thing should operate from
a financial standpoint. Has anybody worked on
that?
Bell:
Well, I take it that you have been working with
McCloy on the things, haven't you?
H.M.Jr:
I mean has any work been done in the Treasury,
if you want to let them have a. thousand planes.
Foley:
You mean from an organizational standpoint or
Regraded Uclassified
4
- 3 -
from the standpoint of how the thing would
operate and how you could do it?
H.M.Jr:
How it would operate and how the swaps and
contracts and all that would be made. Has
anybody worked on that?
Foley:
Yes, Oscar has b een working on it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you will get a memo. We will take it up
Monday. I don't think the President or Hopkins
has done anything about it, and I think that
that could very well be my end of the four-man
Board.
White:
It should be.
Bell:
Are Oscar and McCloy working on that together?
Foley:
Well, McCloy has been concentrating more on
the bill, but Oscar has done several things in
the way of memos on this very thing. He has
got a draft of an open-end agreement to cover --
Bell:
The over-all agreement?
Foley:
Yes, kind of an open-end mortgage, and he has
got in mind what could be done first.
H.M.Jr:
What did you say?
Foley:
I didn't say anything. I say Oscar has been
working on that and has had that in mind for
two or three weeks.
White:
One of the important aspects of that would be
in relation to this to see the kind of goods
that the British will want, food stuffs and
other materials which cannot fall under the
Lend-Lease Bill, because that is important be-
fore a decision is made, how much they will need
Regraded Uclassified
5
- 4 -
for current purchases.
H.M.Jr:
"As regards the goods to be included under the
Bill, the assumption made is that the whole of
the supplies referred to in the statement of
requirements already filed with the U.S. Treasury
will be covered. We do not yet know how far that
assumption is correct.
3. It is an extreme assumption that the system
can be brought into perfect and complete opera-
tion from the 1st April. Delays are inevitable
particularly in such matters as regulating the
procurement of foodstuffs and miscellaneous
goods. In many cases goods which could be
bought under the Bill if purchased by the U.K.
Government from the U.S. Government are at
present the subject of contracts between suppliers
in the U.S. and traders in the U.K. and existing
contracts will have to be worked off. Probably
some residue of orders, such as small rush orders
for goods over the counter to meet some special
emergency, will never get effectively covered.
We shall have to continue buying for cash to
whatever extent is necessary. No allowance has
been or can well be made for these factors at
present and the figures of deficits given below
are therefore minimum figures which will be ex-
ceeded to an unknown extent in practice.
4. It is assumed that we continue to meet our
existing commitments as they are estimated to
stand on April 1st.
5. It is assumed that newly-mined African gold
can go on being made available either by shipment
or by switching. But our ability to ship is in
fact very limited, and the amount we have avail-
able to switch is probably less than the new
production of March, April and May.
6. We think we should be enabled to accumulate
Regraded Uclassified
6
- 5 -
within a reasonable time a cash working balance
of $250 millions. Of this we propose that say
$100 millions in gold should be reserved out of
our new gold production and accumulated over the
next year to meet any calls from the Balkans and
Near East, and $150 millions made available in
U.S. dollars as soon as possible.
7. Our liabilities in gold to third countries
amount to about $100 millions a year (apart from
liabilities in dollars of about $130 millions a
year). After allowing for this and the accumula-
tion of a small gold reserve as above, there
should be on the production figures an amount of
free gold remaining equal to $360 millions a year
or $30 millions a month.
8. It is very difficult to make any safe assump-
tion as to the rate of sale of our capital assets.
We feel it unsafe to rely on more than $300
millions in the period March-August.
9. It is assumed that the exports of the whole
sterling area are maintained at their present
level but this may be optimistic in the case of
United Kingdom exports in view of war conditions.
10. It is assumed that at least the great part of
our current obligations to Canada (roughly $1200
millions a year) will be met by the repatriation
of debt owed by Canada to the United Kingdom or
by Canada buying and holding sterling.
At this point --"
I take it you have all got copies of this.
"At this point, two alternative assumptions are
made according as we pay something or nothing in
gold to Canada:
Either (1)
The available newly-mined gold, at
a rate of $360 millions a year or
Regraded Uclassified
7
- 6 -
$30 millions a month, is paid to
Canada and used by her to reduce the
deficit in her balance with the
U.S.;
or
(2)
The available newly-mined gold is
applied towards covering our obli-
gations in the U.S., instead of in
Canada (this would, of course,
accelerate the realization of Canada's
U.S. assets, and no doubt advance the
date at which Canada might have to
ask for the benefit of the Lend-
Lease Bill)."
White:
These figures are substantially higher in many
more effects than those they gave us a few months
ago of the expenditures required.
H.M.Jr:
Let me get this first. What is the asterisk after
that thing?
Bell:
The figures are too low, "as the wide and immedi-
ate application of the Lend-Lease system which
has been assumed could hardly be reached in
practice." That is a footnote, sir.
H.M.Jr:
You mean they figured from 650 to - oh, no.
White:
No, they are high. Their figures of their out-
payments. I can just cite one illustration.
They say, for example, that they will need a
hundred million dollars in gold for liabilities
to third countries. Now, on our January 1st
statement which they gave us, that figure was
exclusive of Canada, one-fourth of that - was
21 million. British Empire payments excluding
Canada and Newfoundland outside of the U.S.,
21 million. For the year as a whole, it was
240 million whereas now they have upped that
12 hundred million. If they include Canada,
they have doubled it, but they use that figure
Doaradod ie
8
7 -
in such a way that when they get to the Can-
adian ones, it is not clear that it includes
Canada, but I will take that up when I get to
Canada. That is one of the figures that they
have upped. Are you interested?
H.M.Jr:
What? Well, I just - I don't want to get
too many details. "To cover our shortage up
to August 1941 and to provide a cash balance
on the lines proposed in assumption 6 --"
Where is assumption 6?
Bell:
On the first page.
White:
On the first page.
H.M.Jr:
I,see.
White:
Bottom of the first page.
H.M.Jr:
I see. Well, can somebody sum this up for me?
There is an awful lot of stuff. I mean -
Harry, can you sum this up?
White:
I can sum the problem up. I can't sum their
figures up, because I just got it about 20
minutes ago.
H.M.Jr:
Why didn't you get it yesterday?
Cochran:
I started them around last night. We didn't get
out of the meeting on China until 5:00 o'clock.
H.M.Jr:
Well, why should I have to sit here when some-
body hasn't got these things?
Cochran:
Well, they were around at 9:00 o'clock this
morning.
H.M.Jr:
I like people to be prepared for me. I don't
want them to do their home work in my presence.
Regraded Uclassified
9
- 8 -
White:
I can sum the general proposition up.
H.M.Jr:
I came down here just for this thing this morn-
ing, and I thought that everybody would be
ready. I don't like to sit here and wait. It
arrived yesterday at 12:25.
Bell:
But, Mr. Secretary, everybody, I think, thought
that you were going to have a conference on
Sunday and we did go into this Chinese agree-
ment until right late last night.
H.M.Jr:
When did you get word that I was going to do
this?
Bell:
Five minutes before I left last night.
White:
I didn't get word until I got home.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you can't - I did it today to save every-
body so you wouldn't have to work on Sunday.
Well, who can sum this up for me?
White:
Well, I can sum it up without having reference
to specific figures which we may or may not
agree with. The summation is that they are in
a position of being unable to pay the adverse
balance which they have with Canada, which they
now say will be over a billion dollars if they
meet the schedule of payments which they were
supposed to have met with us and Canada states -
stated to you, Mr. Clark stated, that they didn't
feel that they would be able to assist England
to the full extent. Phillips says they have a
certain amount. I think it is about 400 million
dollars of gold, which hey can give to Canada,
but if they give that to Canada, they will not
be able to meet their commitments here and their
current expenditures. Therefore, there may have
to be found some way, I think, of taking - or
give them increased aid under the Lend-Lease
Regraded Uclass
10
- 9 -
Bill or possibly taking over some of the com-
mitments. They are not clear, or at least I
am not clear on that point.
Cochran:
"For the rest it should not be difficult to
select suitable contracts up to the amount
required." That is the main point of the
whole thing.
White:
They estimated it at what?
Cochran:
Well, they vary. It is 365 on one basis and
185 on the other. It is whether or not we take
the gold from Africa and so on or permit it to
go to Canada.
White:
Well, I say that is the problem. Therefore, if
they utilize all their gold to meet their com-
mitments here, which they feel they will need,
then Canada will have to come - will be unable to
meet her exchange commitments, dollar commit-
ments here, and it will be necessary sooner than
was expected, I think, by any of us, to help
Canada out, and the amount of help to Canada
will have to be larger, so that the question of
policy, it appears to me, is whether you want
to increase your assistance to England and no
assistance to Canada during the first year or
whether you want to have England pay more gold
and dollars here and render some assistance to
Canada.
H.M.Jr:
Now, do you (Cochran) differ any from Harry?
Cochran:
No, I think there are just these three points.
There is that one. I think you have the choice
of letting the gold go from South Africa to
Canada, or should we send a ship over there,
say in another two or three weeks, and bring
over about a hundred and twenty million dollars
and permit a switch so that they could take care
of their commitments here.
Regraded Uclassified
11
- 10 -
White:
But that is a subsidiary detail, isn't it?
The main problem would still remain, whether
they are to pay Canada or us?
H.M.Jp:
Well, I can give & horseback opinion on that.
Foley:
Pay us.
White:
Well, I prepared a memorandum giving the pro's
and con's on that point. (See Attachment 3.)
Foley:
I think as a political, public relations, prob-
lem, it is much better for them to be paying us
as much as they can and for Canada to be under
the Lease-Lend Bill.
(Mr. White passed prepared paper to conference
participants.)
Bell:
The net effect of it really doesn't make much
difference, but you told the people on the Hill
Canada would not need any help, and I take it
in those figures there was payment by Great
Britain to Canada which enabled her to get
by this year so that if you switch now, I think
you will have to explain it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I made another statement, that England
was going to give us every bit of gold that she
could lay her hands on.
Cochran:
You mentioned South Africa particularly.
Bell:
And they asked about that, and you pointed out
on the statement it was in there.
H.M.Jr:
And as I remember, I said it was three or four
hundred million, didn't I?
White:
It was about 400 million, the African and Aus-
tralian gold.
Regraded Uclassified
12
- 11 -
H.M.Jr:
And I said, "We are going to get everything."
White:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
And if I don't do it, then this fellow, a man
who is riding along like Flynn, would have --
White:
That is just the point he is making much of.
He claims that the British Empire, using part
of its gold and dollar assets to meet its
debts to its Empire and it will be owing us
more.
H.M.Jr:
Well, it seems to me that that thing is fairly
simple, don't you think so, Dan?
Bell:
I think you have got to do that.
White:
I have listed the numerous arguments in favor of
having England pay us all and there are only a
few, that I could find, that are the other way
around.
H.M.Jr:
What are those?
White:
They are very minor, but they are the only ones
I could find. One is that, if we extend the
Lend-Lease arrangements to Canada now, we will
soon have other dominions up, and it may be
easier to deal with the United Kingdom alone than
with several units. I don't think that is impor-
tant, but that is one item. A second one is,
taking a stand either way does mean that you are
getting involved in Empire relations, that if
you ask the British to pay all their gold here
that there may be people in England and Canada
who might feel that you are trying to get the
best of the deal.
H.M.Jr:
I think the thing to do is to prepare a letter
on this based on my testimony, to get my testi-
mony out, it was before the Senate Committee,
Regraded Uclassified
13
- 12 -
wasn't it? And simply say, "Inasmuch as I
said so and so, the answer can only be that
we expect you to send us all of your free
gold, wherever it is mined."
Cochran:
And you have the other suggestion to carry on
with the Canadians, in which they asked us if
they should begin to liquidate their American
securities.
H.M.Jr:
That will come next. Supposing, after we break
up, Merle, you draft a memorandum for me on this
point 1, with the help of whoeveryou want, which
can be circulated before I get around to it
again. Point 1 being that we feel that, inas-
much as I expressed myself along those lines on
the Lend-Lease Bill, we expect them to send us
all of their gold. Wouldn't you do that, Dan?
Bell:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
That is Point No. 1, isn't it?
White:
Well, that presupposes that they were going to
pay 600 million to Canada, so that would have to
be explained. You said all they had left after
that.
H.M.Jr:
No, no. Wait a minute. They told us that they
were going to sell so much gold to Canada, and
they haven't done it. Well, that is none of our
business.
Bell:
Well, it was in the statement that you prepared.
There was a Canadian British payment, wasn't
there?
White:
That is right.
Bell:
How much money?
Regraded Uclassified
14
- 13 -
White:
Six hundred twenty million. Eight hundred
eighty was what they owed them, and the
Canadians were going to take care of 260.
Bell:
And the rest gold?
White:
Six hundred twenty million of gold and dollar
commitments which the British were presumably
going to pay to Canada and would not have
available to pay us. I may say, I think, after
an examination of these figures, we will find
that they will be able to pay a good deal to
Canada as well as to us.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Harry, that is beside the point and
separate for the minute. The question is &
matter of public policy. The Secretary of the
Treasury of the United States - they are
offering me, do I want them to sell us the
gold or do they want us to sell it somewhere
else, and I think the answer is here, isn't it?
It is unanimous that they should sell it to us,
isn't it?
Bell:
I think that certainly to the extent that you
explained to the Committee, that they would sell
it to us.
H.M.Jr:
That is right.
Bell:
You have got to keep faith with your commit-
tees.
H.M.Jr:
That is right. I think the thing to do is to
look up the testimony. Bernstein, you can get
it for him, can't you?
Bernstein:
Yes, I can.
Cochran:
I can get it.
White:
Not only the testimony, but in the table we have
15
14 -
a specific amount which they were going to
sell to us.
Cochran:
Four hundred eighty.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Cochran and Bernstein and White can
collaborate on this thing and have something
for me - I mean, there is no sweat. If I
have it Tuesday morning, so that nobody has to
work on Sunday.
White:
Five hundred fifty million dollars of gold,
Australian and South African gold, in addition
to what they currently have, was indicated by
the British as to be paid over to us.
H.M.Jr:
Well, anyway, I want something Tuesday morning.
Now, the next question - all right, Dan?
Bell:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Now, the next question is, is the question -
what other questions are the English asking us?
White:
The other questions --
Cochran:
Taking over the existing contracts in this
final thing.
H.M.Jr:
Well, they haven't answered me. I asked them
how much is the R.F.C. doing. They were going
to give me a figure. I said "How much are the
R.F.C. going to do?"
Cochran:
They just said "provide part of the subsistence."
H.M.Jr:
I asked them.
Cochran:
Yes, sir.
Foley:
What does that mean, Mr. Secretary? I didn't
know the R.F.C. was doing anything.
Uclassified
16
- 15 -
H.M.Jr:
Oh yes, the R.F.C., for instance, have put
up capital assistance for a powder plant and
they are buying it.
Foley:
Oh yes, I remember now.
H.M.Jr:
And there is 8. whole group of those. I don't
know if any of them have gone through, but
there was a whole group, you know.
Foley:
Yes, I remember it now. I had forgotten what
it was.
H.M.Jr:
As I understood, they were going to do all of
those things.
Foley:
There is no reason why that shouldn't be done.
White:
As I understand it, there may be some reason.
You have already stated that they have commit-
ments on January 1st on contracts that have
already been made of a billion four - a billion
twenty-seven falling due this year, 119 million
due. That is what the statements said, and they
said they were going to meet those commitments.
Foley:
We are talking about something else, Harry,
plant investment in this country that the
British have put out that can be refinanced now
by the R.F.C.
Bernstein:
The R.F.C. is going to buy it back.
White:
The plants which are supposed to be owned by
them?
Foley:
By the British.
Cochran:
Well, there would have to be some contracts in
addition to make up the total.
Uclassified
17
- 16 -
Foley:
Well, how would that work?
Bernstein:
Is it likely to be anything like a hundred and
eighty-five million?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, I am giving you an appointment to continue
this at 10:15 on Tuesday. Well, look, don't
take up too much of my time, you see. Let me
tell you just the thing which is missing. I
asked them to say how much of the money was
the R.F.C. going to give them. How many more
contracts are there that could be bought, which
means capital assistance? So I think between
now and Tuesday we can get that figure. But
they don't give it to me. In other words,
how much are in the works? Didn't the Army do
some, too, over there? Didn't the Army buy
up some contracts? Wasn't that what they call
the McCloy Plan?
Cochran:
They figured the maximum would be 50 million
dollars, didn't they?
H.M.Jr:
But McCloy was buying some.
White:
A hundred and fifty million, wasn't it?
H.M.Jr:
Let's find out for Tuesday, what is - one, the
total amount of capital commitments plus down
payments that they have made. That is question
one. A, and under this, how much is the Army
going to take over; and B, how much is the R.F.C.;
and C, how much is left over that can be taken
over, and that is what they wanted to find out.
I would like to have that by Tuesday. Shall I
say it again?
Foley:
Bernstein has got it.
H.M.Jr:
Total amount for capital assistance down pay-
ments, how much is the Army taking over, and B,
the R.F.C., and C, how much does that leave that
Regraded Uclassified
18
- 17 -
could be taken over. There is no use of
our guessing at it. I asked him that question.
Now, what is the next thing?
Cochran:
You have a second memorandum on there which
shows the position of their gold and so on as
of March. (See attachment No. 2)
H.M.Jr:
Gold? Explain that, will you?
Cochran:
That is the balance sheet for the whole month
of March. Now, they count the official dollar
balances as of March 1 at 82. That has gone
up quite a bit since then because of shipping
down that 75 from Ottawa. Then the gold as of
March 1 was a hundred and two million. They
say there is a total of a hundred and twenty-
three, but they deduct from that 21 made up of
10 in South Africa and 11 in London and
scattered localities, which they say is ex-
cluded because part is needed as & reserve
against agreement liabilities, and the balance
can probably not be shipped to North America
during March. Now, of that balance, I know
part of it is in Cyprus, part of it is in Paris,
and odd places where they couldn't get it out
at all. They switched shortly after March 1,
52 million down from Canada, and they have in
transit to North America six million, and in
South Africa they have another eight million.
In the newly-mined gold for the month, they
figure that at 40 million. That is the rate
they have been calculating for sometime, but
Pinsent told me yesterday that the gold produc-
tion in South Africa has fallen off in the last
month and is running only about 400 million a
year instead of 480, but they have left it at
40 there instead of the new estimate of 33.
White:
I don't know to what extent it is our affair,
Uclassified
19
- 18 -
but gold production in Africa can very easily
be speeded up. They have been saving some of
the rich ores for sometime.
H.M.Jr:
Just let's pigeon hole that for the minute.
Let me just get this, Harry. I haven't got it
yet. That is 299 -
Cochran:
May I explain that one point? Sales of market
securities and direct investments. They have
been figuring market securities at 40 million,
you see, 10 a week, 40 a month, and they have
added on there 35 which they thought was a fair
guess at the average, immediately, of direct
investment sales, but that figure is a guess.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
White:
We have got some further information that we
got yesterday --
H.M.Jr:
Harry, please let me run through this thing, and
then you take it up.
White:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Go ahead, Merle.
Cochran:
That shows their cash and gold for the month of
March. Then below you have the debit. They
divide up the expenditure by the British Pur-
chasing Missions for this month, and the two
items on contracts placed by March 1, 175, and
on contracts to be placed in March, under your
rationing system, 40.
H.M.Jr:
But, Merle, that 40 isn't out of pocket.
Bell:
Advance payments?
Cochran:
They say that they have some down payments to
make, not just commitments.
Regraded Uclassified
20
- 19 -
H.M.Jr:
Oh, I see. Then the second balance is all the
other gold and dollar items. That is 24. They
still don't include in there their 16 million
payment to Canada - not 16, but 52, it should
be. That was the payment we calculated if they
paid 620 million dollars a year, but they are
leaving that out.
Bell:
They are continuing to enter into contracts.
Are those the things Phil Young brings to you?
H.M.Jr:
Every night.
Bell:
It is that big, is it?
H.M.Jr:
Well, it runs 35 million a week.
Bell:
Really?
Cochran:
And then they would have on hand at the end of
March, 60 million dollars. Now, those figures
don't take into account this new 100 million
dollars of gold that they are going to borrow
from Belgium.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Cochran:
And if I could make a suggestion there, I would
put it in that memo. I was talking to Pinsent
the other day. Now that they have that Belgian
gold or can get it in Canada, it might offer a
good opportunity to effect a switch whereby
we would get this gold which is in South Africa
now ear-marked for the French. I mean, rather
than leave it there where someone could eventually
say it has gone to France, if we could get a
ship to bring that over - it is now 8. hundred
and 20 million, you see, and sell it to us here,
we couldn't transport it from South Africa to
Canada or any other place, only to New York, and
let the British switch the hundred million of
Belgian to France in Canada, you see, to offset
the switch that has already been made in Africa
21
- 20 -
so that would leave a hundred and twenty million
free to come over here. Then they could start
switching again in South Africa against the
whole amount of the French gold and do that
whole process over again.
H.M.Jr:
Wait a minute, I am only a simple-minded farm
boy. Let me just go through this thing. Let's
start - how much gold have they mentally ear-
marked in South Africa?
Cochran:
One hundred and twenty million.
H.M.Jr:
Your proposal is that they take that hundred and
twenty, sell it to us on board a battleship, and
that would give them a hundred and twenty million
dollars additional funds. Right?
Cochran:
Well, they have to - they can only ear-mark
against 280 million dollars of French gold.
H.M.Jr:
Why?
Cochran:
That is all the French gold they have. They could
ear-mark against the Belgian. They could start
doing that.
H.M.Jr:
But the hundred and twenty we take, that would be
fresh money for them here?
Cochran:
Yes, give them fresh money.
White:
But it wouldn't be additional.
H.M.Jr:
What?
White:
It wouldn't be additional.
Cochran:
No, it wouldn't be additional.
H.M.Jr:
Why wouldn't it be additional?
Regraded Uclassified
22
- 21 -
White:
Because they are just going to switch that,
but his proposal makes it possible for later,
if they want to switch again, to do so, and
that might be additional.
H.M.Jr:
Well, then, through selling us they have got
to cancel or mentally ear-mark - they cancel that
by replacing the French gold - let's say, to
use round figures, to the extent of a hundred
and twenty million of Belgian gold. Then every-
thing on the slate would be wiped clean, wouldn't
it?
Cochran:
Yes. It would mean that they have mentally
expended that amount of Belgian gold, but they
would get the hundred and twenty million pro-
ceeds here of the gold which they bring from
South Africa.
H.M.Jr:
The Belgians would be out a hundred and twenty,
and they would replenish the French with a
hundred and twenty.
Cochran:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
And how much of the French is up there?
Cochran:
Two hundred eighty, and 351 of the Belgian.
H.M.Jr:
So they could use the French all over again up
to an amount of 280?
Cochran:
That is right. You see, we have to figure --
White:
And they haven't touched the Dutch yet.
Cochran:
Well, there is no arrangement with them yet.
White:
Not yet?
H.M.Jr:
No. Well now, what is the argument to bring up
that 120 a year? Why is it better to have it here
Regraded Uclassified
23
22 -
than in South Africa?
Cochran:
Well, we ordinarily don't hold the gold abroad,
and we could still carry out that promise that
we get the South African production.
White:
If you don't make the switch now, the gold may
be stuck in South Africa, and when they want
to switch it and give you the gold, they may be
in no position to move it, and you may not be
in & position to get it, whereas now with 8.
battleship, I take it, you could get it, and
that means that there is that much more easily
available if they want to switch in the future.
H.M.Jr:
How much more?
Foley:
I am stupid. I didn't get all of the thinking
that was behind it, whether it was new money or
whether it wasn't.
H.M.Jr:
Let me give it to you.
Foley:
What is the arrangement with the French and the
Belgians?
H.M.Jr:
I don't blame you. What they have done is this.
They have got 280 million in gold with the Bank
of Canada, which is on deposit there, to the
credit of the Bank of France, you see. Well,
they got pressed for money, so they sold us a
hundred and twenty of that, and they said,
"Well, we didn't take it, "and they set up on
their books, "Credit to the account of the Bank
of France a hundred and 20 of gold", but the
gold is no longer in Canada, it is down in
South Africa. Now, Belgium has some gold up
in Canada, and I told them to get it. So they
have made arrangements with Belgium that they
can borrow a hundred million of that gold and
they put a piece of paper - they have put on
their ledger, "We owe Belgium a hundred million
dollars.'
Regraded Uclassified
24
- 23 -
Now, the suggestion that Merle is making,
in order that they can repeat this operation,
is that we buy the hundred and twenty in South
Africa, give them the credit, then they take
and say, "Well, we can't mentally ear-mark
it, so we pay back to the Bank of France a
hundred and twenty of gold, but we do it with
the Belgian gold. Instead of owing it to
France, we owe it to Belgium." Right?
White:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
I don't blame you, because it makes --
Bernstein:
Why do they owe it to Belgium, Mr. Secretary,
because of what is happening in Africa?
White:
No, Belgium has gold on ear-mark with England
in Canada. Now, England is going to borrow it.
It is a different operation from the French
gold. The French gold, they didn't borrow,
they merely got France's permission, presumably,
to ear-mark gold in South Africa instead of the
gold in Canada.
H.M.Jr:
No, they never told France.
White:
Well, I thought they were going to.
H.M.Jr:
Harry, they created a new term in international
banking, which - the shades of whatever is left
of BIS would roll over and die. A mental ear-
mark, nothing appears.
Bell:
In the ground.
Cochran:
No, it is not in the ground, Dan.
H.M.Jr:
Nothing appears. It is just like this, Harry,
you give me a hundred dollars for safe keeping,
see, and I don't say a word to you. I just take
the hundred dollars cash, you see, and I just
25
- 24 -
take it and spend it, but I say, "Well, it is
all right, I mentally ear-marked another
hundred in my bank up at Fishkill for Harry,
so he is all right. I have got a hundred
dollars up in the bank in Fishkill which is
mentally ear-marked for Harry." In the mean-
time, I spend your cash.
Cochran:
They have gone ahead, and they have mentally
ear-marked an additional 52 million not in
South Africa, you see. For awhile that is what
threw out our figures last week, but now they
are mentally ear-marking in Australia and Argen-
tina.
White:
Under the assumption that the French can read
their minds.
Foley:
Well, how far can this process go? Can it go to
the point instead of having a mental ear-mark for
gold somewhere, they end up with a piece of
paper?
White:
That is the next step.
Foley:
I can see that.
White:
They have done that with Belgium, but with
Belgium's permission.
Cochran:
But with this 52 now ear-marked in various
places, that makes 172 they have done this with,
so that only leaves 108 clear up in Canada in
the French account, against which they can
mentally ear-mark further; so that makes it a
little urgent to start moving some of this from
South Africa.
White:
There is a difference between shifting the ear-
mark and taking the next step. They have got
a better chance of getting their gold back if
it is ear-marked in South Africa than they have
got if it is ear-marked for future delivery, to
Regraded Uclassified
26
- 25 -
be acquired in the future.
Bell:
Merle, have they got good facilities in Africa
for keeping the gold?
Cochran:
Yes.
Bell:
I mean outside of the mine, I mean vault facili-
ties? It is well off in the mine, I appreciate.
Cochran:
We got the gold from a little port just outside
of Capetown, you see. I don't know how the
facilities are, but the gold has been held in
Durban, Capetown, and Johannesburg.
Bell:
Why is it so essential to ship - why can't we
take over all the gold from Canada that is
earmarked up there for France and Belgium and
have Canada hold that gold in South Africa for
accounts of Belgium and France and Holland?
Cochran:
Canada hasn't entered into this agreement at all.
Bell:
Why not?
Cochran:
Well, they have some reservations on permitting
the mental earmark of gold which has been ear-
marked with them by the Bank of France. This
that they are working on now was earmarked by
the Bank of France with the Bank of England,
and the Bank of England moved that to Canada.
H.M.Jr:
Let me make that a little simpler. There are
two kinds of gold.
Bell:
I appreciate that.
H.M.Jr:
Let me explain it to you, because they may not
have got it. This thing has been kept fairly
quiet. There is French gold on deposit with
Canada, and there is French gold on deposit
with the Bank of Canada for the account of
England. Now, when it comes to taking the French
Regraded Uclassified
27
- 26 -
gold which is on deposit for the account of
Canada, Prime Minister MacKenzie King has
refused twice at least to do it on account
of his French population. I wanted you to
get that. It is MacKenzie King personally
that says he hasn't been able to move it, but
when Canada sees this gold coming to us and
gets no gold from England, which she has some
now, and has got to sell her securities, Mac-
Kenzie King will not be so worried about his
French population.
White:
He may be able to do some switching for Canada
instead of selling it. There is just one point
I am wondering if it is clear. There is
another mental ear-mark which is a half-way
step, and that is to ear-mark the gold in South
Africa, only ear-mark it below the ground.
There is a lot of it there, and they can
allocate some of it to --
Foley:
Just don't take that much out of the mine.
(Laughter.)
White:
You leave that much in.
Foley:
This sounds like an agricultural plan.
Bernstein:
Well, but why can't they --
Bell:
I don't see why they can't take all that gold
up there and not only ear-mark the gold down
in Canada but give them a - or hypothecate the
securities and direct assets in the United
States and let them pay it back when they sell
them.
White:
You can.
H.M.Jr:
Let me tell you something. If they would take
all the gold that is in Canada, and that was the
Regraded Uclassified
28
- 27 -
assumption I went on originally, then they
had enough money to pay for all the contracts
they had placed up to the first of January.
White:
Oh, without using even their --
H.M.Jr:
Securities.
White:
Direct investments.
Bell:
They have got enough to take care of both the
Canadian and British?
H.M.Jr:
That is why I have never been worried. When
I told Bill Knudsen the money was there, the
gold was there, I just think this, to answer
Bell's question, why bring it up here. I
think as long as we take every step to get it
up here - they might change their minds.
The communications from South Africa up here
get more difficult. A battleship might not
be available three months from now, and I
think all of those things - that with my
record, "I have never left a stone unturned,
gentlemen of the Senate, to get everything
that we could in our interest."
White:
Moreover, three months from now a battleship
from South Africa might involve a risk of
a submarine attack, because we may be involved.
Foley:
More involved than we are now.
Bell:
It would still be our gold, on the bottom of
the ocean.
(Telephone conversation with Secretary Stimson
follows.)
Regraded Uclassified
29
March 8, 1941
10:22 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Henry L.
Stimson:
Hello, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
How are you?
S:
I'm ashamed to call you for what I am, but
I wanted to know the name of that commentator
that was mentioned yesterday at the table by
Claude Wickard. Don't you remember?
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes, just a second. Oh, it was Max Jordan.
S:
What?
H.M.Jr:
It was either Max Jordan or Max Gordon.
S:
Max Jordan or Max Gordon.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah. I couldn't tell from his pronunciation
whether it was a "J" or a "G", but 1t was the
N.B.C. commentator in Berlin and either Max
Jordan or Max Gordon, I don't know which.
#
S:
Yes, I see. Well, that's near enough.
H.M.Jr:
And he's the N.B.C. commentator in Berlin.
S:
Well, that can be identified that way.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
S:
I think Claude was right in his emphasis on
the necessity of getting that picture over to
the people before we get them mad enough to
do anything.
H.M.Jr:
Right.
S:
All right. Well, thank you.
H.M.Jr:
As good a way as any 1e to do the way Bill
Schr irer did it; he did it through LIFE
Magazine.
S:
Bill Schoirer, yes.
Regraded Uclassifie
30
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
He did it through LIFE. They ran two stories
written by him in LIFE and everybody saw that.
S:
How does he spell his name?
H.M.Jr:
I think it's S-c-h-r-e-1-r-e-r.
S:
S-c-h-r-e-1-r-e-r.
H.M.Jr:
Don't ask me on spelling. Just a minute -
I'm writing it out. Just let me see.
S:
I'm trying to do the same.
H.M.Jr:
I think it's S-c-h-e-1-r-e-r. William Scheirer.
S:
Yes, all right.
H.M.Jr:
I think that's the way it's spelled. That's
pretty close.
S:
Yes. What was he?
H.M.Jr:
Well, he was also commentator in Berlin and
S:
For N.B.C.?
H.M.Jr:
No, I think for Columbia - Columbia Broadcasting
Co. In any case he's in Westchester County
writing a book, a condensation of which was run
in LIFE Magazine, and they ran a series of two
articles, very well done, in LIFE, and they got
enormous publicity on it.
S:
Well, thank you very much.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
Regraded Uclassified
31
- 28 -
H.M.Jr:
For once I can remember. My memory for these
last few weeks has been terrible. Does any-
body know whether it is Max Jordan or Max
Gordon?
White:
If the first name is Max, probably the last
name is Gordon.
Foley:
That is what I was thinking about, too.
Bernstein:
That is the name of the --
Cochran:
Waxie Gordon, wasn't it?
Bernstein:
I was going to try and suggest a preferably
legal method of acquiring that French gold of
the Bank of Canada. The Bank of France owes
a lot of gold to the Belgians and to the Poles,
which apparently is somewhere in West Africa
or other points, and if those claims were to
be assigned to Canada, Canada would be able to
set it off against the gold which it holds.
Bell:
That is true with the English gold in Paris,
I take it, that eight or ten million, whatever
it is.
Cochran:
That is pretty small.
Bell:
But you could get it.
Bernstein:
This other sum runs up to 260 million held for
the Belgians.
H.M.Jr:
Well, as they say on the farm, "Ruminate on it
from now until Tuesday." Do you know what that
means?
Foley:
Ruminate?
Cochran:
Sure, they chew their cud.
32
- 29 -
White:
Is it a real agricultural term?
H.M.Jr:
Sure, & COW has seven stomachs, and the food
goes down and comes up again, and they chew
on it.
Bell:
Chews her cud.
White:
It is a process of re-vegetation and re-absorp-
tion.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, it is a pleasant idea. In & COW the stuff
comes down and comes up, and she chews it over,
and the cow ruminates. So just re-digest that,
will you?
Bell:
Don't founder.
White:
I think you would be interested in one of the
items which we learned at S.E.C.
H.M.Jr:
Can you just hold that S.E.C. business for a
minute?
White:
Yes, if I can hold it.
Foley:
Have you got the time, Harry?
H.M.Jr:
I wanted to just go on - just hold that a
second. Now, are we all right so far? Now, I
won't attempt to getany battleship until Tuesday,
until we hear about it.
Cochran:
Well, they would have to subscribe to the idea.
I think they are sounding their people out on
it already.
H.M.Jr:
All right. Now, the other thing is this. I
would like to go from this to Canadian securi-
ties, and before I do the Canadian securities,
can I have a report on what has happened at
the S.E.C. about my idea of forming a corpora-
Regraded Uclassified
33
- 30 -
tion to buy the English securities?
White:
Do you want to?
Foley:
Go ahead, Harry.
White:
Well, I had three meetings, and as a result of
the three meetings the feeling was that there
were too many difficulties, some of which would
run definitely counter to your own wishes in
setting up a corporation to handle the direct
investments. They made another tentative pro-
posal to set up a committee which would function
in a certain manner to assist the British in the
disposition of those securities, and it was
unanimously felt after consideration of that,
that it wouldn't do the trick. They abandoned
that, and they finally concluded that it was
possible to set up a group that could take over
the listed securities and provide cash very
quickly in B. manner which I will indicate in
a moment and that that would provide time during
the next few months for the disposition of their
direct investments. They seemed certain that
the - that several hundred million dollars of
direct investments could be disposed of within
the next few months.
oley:
If the British were willing.
hite:
If the British were willing. He cited one case
of a reputable man who has a hundred million
dollars in cash to pay for the Viscose Company,
which they said - which this man said was
worth from 90 to 100 million dollars. We had
valued it at 108 million dollars in our books,
so that they may be boosted up to that. And
the man likewise said, in response to a question,
that they could complete the transaction within
two weeks. They were already familiar with some
aspects of the plan, that they would not run
Regraded Uclassified
34
- 31 -
into any trust problem because they didn't
represent any of the large rayon producers,
but some small interests, and they also spoke
of some other items. There seemed to be a
considerable question in the minds of several
there as to why insurance companies should be
excluded from the sale. Pike particularly
seemed to feel that they should not be ex-
cluded, that they could get a market for it
and could be sold.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I didn't take that seriously. They are
serious about it, but I am not.
White:
But the sum total of that - the consensus was
that if they really meant business, they could
raise several hundred million dollars in the
next few months on the direct investments
alone, and on the listed securities, they could
arrange some groups, not necessarily corpora-
tions, to take over the listed securities along
your idea of making an advance payment with
title to pass. That created two difficulties
which I think should be mentioned. One was,
they thought that such a group would not wish
to have the decision, when to sell, how much
to sell, rest with the British, but rather with
the group who took it over and made the advance
payment; and that was one of the difficulties,
they didn't know whether the British would
accede to that.
H.M.Jr:
Let me just get this thing, because this thing
is awfully important. To sum up, as I get it
from the S.E.C. - who sat in on this?
White:
Jerry Frank, Ganson Purcell, Schenker, who is
head of the Investment Division, Pike was in
at 8. couple, and their legal counsel, chief
legal counsel was in on one.
Foley:
Chester Lane?
Uclassified
35
- 32 -
White:
Yes, on two.
Foley:
Walter Louchheim and Ted Sheridan.
H.M.Jr:
Who from here?
Foley:
Well, Harry and Huntington and --
White:
Kamarck.
Foley:
And I went once.
H.M.Jr:
Now, let me get - the reasons we will put again
to one side. They are not going to do anything
about the direct investments, you see. Purvis
was at the house. There is no question that
they are going to sell that stuff. They are
having the managements from all these concerns
come over from England. They are terribly up-
set over the thing. They feel that their word
of honor is at stake, the whole question, and
they have got to keep faith with me.
Foley:
It seems to me that it is really a political
problem, and the amount of help they get is
directly attributable to the --
H.M.Jr:
Well, they appreciate it.
Foley:
To the amount of cooperation.
H.M.Jr:
They appreciate it. Now, let's put that aside
for the moment. The S.E.C. says there is a way
of forming a group on the New York thing?
White:
Yes, Mr. Frank said if you give him the green
light, he can contact two of the - a group of
leaders from the important associations to get
their advice on which way they think would be
best to handle it and whether a group would be
willing to take it over and still leave some
decision on the part of the British as to the
rate at which to sell, and then if their advice
Regraded Uclassified
36
- 33 -
is satisfactory, he could contact that group
a second time with your permission to arrange
to get the groups with the necessary capital
to go forward with the arrangements.
H.M.Jr:
Well, is there any reason why I shouldn't call
up Frank right now and talk to him?
Foley:
None at all, except I don't think he is there.
H.M.Jr:
Where is he?
Foley:
Well, they called up Thursday, Thursday after-
noon, Jerry did.
Cochran:
The only thing, do you want to speed up --
Foley:
....and wanted to know whether you wanted him
to do this over the weekend, because if so, he
would stay here, and otherwise he would go, and
I told him I didn't think we would get a chance
to get to you until Saturday or Sunday, and he
said under those circumstances, he would go out
of town.
H.M.Jr:
He will be back Monday?
Foley:
Yes, he will be back Monday. You might try him.
H.M.Jr:
I will try him anyway. What is the matter?
Cochran:
The question is whether you are satisfied with
the rate at which they are selling now.
H.M.Jr:
I am satisfied with the rate they are selling,
if they were selling their direct investments,
which they are not.
Cochran:
Yes, but I think you have to handle them separ-
ately. I mean, this last week they had this
one transaction of 11 and 8. half million dollars,
and they have some others lined up.
Regraded Uclassified
37
- 34 -
H.M.Jr:
I am not satisfied, is the answer.
Cochran:
Well, we can start on the Canadians. We
haven't even told them to go ahead yet.
H.M.Jr:
But I would like to explore this thing. I
don't want to leave the thing undone. I want
to explore everything, and if all the thing -
I think it would help our markets, too.
Foley:
I think SO.' Getting that out of the way would
relieve a good deal of apprehension on the
part of investors who are awfully worried about
buying any kind of listed securities now for
fear that this will be dumped, and the price
will go down and they will get hooked.
White:
There is one other difficulty that he mentioned
for your consideration, and that is that, if
these groups are to function on the listed
securities, that they felt rather certain that
they would want to handle all and not parts,
and that they would want to know what the
securities were before they took them over.
That was one of the other difficulties.
H.M.Jr:
Well, that is all right. Because the reason
that - I just don't feel- I mean, that - I
mean - I didn't like Phillips' attitude the
other day at all, where he comes in and says,
"What are you going to do about our financial
situation, and if there is a way of organizing
a group now to take over these things, I would
like to do it.
(Telephone conversation with Jerome Frank
follows.)
Regraded Uclassified
38
March 8, 1941
10:36 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Mr. Frank in his office.
Jerome
Frank:
Hello, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
How are you?
F :
Pretty good. Are you out of town?
H.M.Jr:
No, I'm at the Treasury. I got to my own
group on this list of securities quicker than
I thought I would and they are sitting here
with me and they've told me about the three
meetinge with you.
F:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Now, I would be delighted if you could sound
out some people as to whether they would care
to take this stuff over
and I'm particularly anxious to find out what
is possible because Canada has approached us
about their selling $350 millions worth of
American securities.
F:
Well, do you mean, Henry, the idea of our
getting some committees of these fellows
together, I mean, of the investment associations.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
F:
All right. Well, I'll get after it right away
and try to arrange it for Monday.
H.M.Jr:
Yes. Now, I just think this. I haven't told
Gifford that we were going to do this. Don't
you think we ought to tell him?
F:
Yes, I think 80. You are now talking of the
listed securities.
H.M.Jr:
I'm talking of the listed.
F:
Yes, I think Gifford ought to know it first.
39
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
What?
F:
Yes, he ought to know it, otherwise he'll hear
it indirectly.
H.M.Jr:
Yes. Well, I'll get word to him that I've
asked you to explore this.
F:
Well, then I'll wait until I hear from you
that you've done it before I start.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
F:
I'll try to get it going Monday.
H.M.Jr:
That's right. I'll have Cochran call him up
at once and report directly to you what his
conversation is.
F:
Now, on the direct investments, Henry, the
boys feel that there are some of those things
they've got that could be worked out with
considerable promptness.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I agree. They're having a hell of a time.
I still think that they didn't want to do it.
I don't think that the man they brought over
is too good at it.
F:
Well, Dave Schenker told me a story that was
amazing yesterday. He spoke to Bunker, that's
Lehman Brothers, who I guess wouldn't like to
get his name dragged in but, I don't know, maybe
he wouldn't care. He went to see that gentleman,
Mr. P., yesterday and he left; he was absolutely
disgusted; he said the fellow doesn't want to
sell. He gave him hell. He said, "You just
don't understand this country and if you take
that attitude you're going to be in terrible
shape." I mean that's very interesting because
Bunker is 195% pro-British, but he thinks this
fellow is deliberately dragging his feet. Now
would you like to hear from him? From Bunker?
H.M.Jr:
No, because I - both Purvis and Phillips have
lighted a bonfire under this fellow Peacook
and they are both just as disgusted 8.6 I am.
F:
Well, Peacock had better show his tail.
Uclassified
40
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, if he doesn't show some results, I'm
going to ask to have him recalled. See?
F:
Fine.
H.M.Jr:
I'm going to give him another week or 80 and
then if he doesn't make a sale, I'm going to
ask the Ambassador to have him recalled.
F:
Now, this fellow Bunker is loyal to the American
Administration effort, he's all for it, but if
that story got out you'd ruin the Lease-Lend
Bill.
H.M.Jr:
Well, as I say, if they don't show me something -
I got a letter from Peacock, I think it was
yesterday, he's got five deals that he's trying
to get through, but if he doesn't get one or
two of them through next week, I think I'm
going to have him recalled.
:
Very good. Now, Henry, yesterday the Swiss
Minister called on me as a result of something -
I had been chatting with Henry Wallace, you know,
who 18 related to him.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, I know.
F:
He said that he would like to discuss their
situation and I said, "Well, it's not my
business - it's State and Treasury - - we're
simply giving them a little assistance." Well,
he said, would it be possible to arrange to
have some of your fellowe, like Harry White and
Bernetein and 80 on, and somebody from State
and somebody from our shop sit down with him
and one of their bankers and candidly discuss
the situation.
H.M.Jr:
Well, they've all done that.
F:
Well, he says he has never had an opportunity -
for instance, he'e never talked at length and
in detail with some fellow, like & Swiss banker
who is here and knows the situation
.....
H.M.Jr:
Which one? Which bank?
41
- 4
F:
I've forgotten. Somebody that's in New York,
and he wondered whether - - he thought it would be
helpful if we understood their point of view
and 60 forth.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we understand it fully. I'll talk to my
crowd about it but, personally, I think it's
just a waste of time.
F:
You do.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, that's just a - what do they call it - a
fence.
F:
That's what I think they are.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we know 80.
F:
That's what I told him.
H.M.Jr:
They're just a fence and we've been over it
and I've - he got, practically, hysterics here
in my office.
F:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
But let me talk to my crowd. If you don't hear
from us, it's just that they've been over it once.
F:
Well, I told him it wasn't my business and I
couldn't do anything unless you wanted to.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I'll talk to them. If you don't hear,
then it means that we think it's a waste of time.
F:
All right. Well, I'll get busy as soon as I hear
from your having contacted Gifford.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Cochran will call up Gifford and tell him
what we're doing and he will call you within the
hour, and I'm very much obliged.
F:
Fine.
42
- 35 -
Bell:
Jay Crane says they are interested in Shell.
H.M.Jr:
You see, if you people will read McCormick's
article on the fifth page of the New York
Times today, if we don't do everything
possible like this - and I don't like the
idea - the R.F.C. will do it, and they have
even got the forms drawn up.
White:
That is the point that Ed made at the meeting
there, and Ed thought that maybe if they knew
that, it might help.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you (Cochran) are my contact with
Gifford, aren't you?
Cochran:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Simply call up Gifford and tell him that I am
going to go ahead. I have asked Mr. Frank to
go ahead and contact various groups to see
whether they would be interested in taking,
not only the English, but the Canadian securi-
ties, over en bloc.
Cochran:
Are these investment bankers that he has con-
tacted?
H.M.Jr:
I don't know what they are.
Cochran:
What are they, Ed?
White:
They are the heads of investments associations.
They presumably are men who would not, themselves,
be interested, but they are leaders of the pro-
fession who would give them their opinion as to
how it might be handled under these conditions.
Cochran:
And that you are telling the S.E.C. to go ahead
with it?
H.M.Jr:
I am telling the S.E.C. to go ahead, that this
doesn't mean that I am dis-satisfied with these
43
- 36 -
day-to-day operations, which I am not, but
that I feel in view of this and the request
from Canada and in view of the fact that Mr.
Peacock has been a complete failure so far,
I have to see that there is more money coming
forward than the ten million dollars a week,
because I don't know - if I thought that
Peacock was going to produce, I wouldn't be
pushing this, but inasmuch as Peacock - I see
no signs of his getting anywhere, plus the
Canadian's wants to do it, I have got to move
on this front, but I am entirely satisfied with
his day-to-day operations, and then after you
talk with him, would you call Mr. Frank, please?
Cochran:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Anybody disagree with me? I mean --
White:
I think he should make it clear that you have
asked the S.E.C. to investigate the possibili-
ties and not go ahead and form the groups.
H.M.Jr:
No, no, that they are going to investigate,
and they are going to do it, and that just as
soon as they have anything, the S.E.C. and the
Treasury will have Mr. Gifford come down and
consult with him.
Cochran:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Do you see?
Cochran:
I understand.
H.M.Jr.
But the thing is, one, Canada's desire to sell,
and two, Mr. Peacock is unable to produce any-
thing.
Cochran:
Incidentally, part of Gifford's staff is now
working with Peacock trying to shove it along.
44
- 37 -
H.M.Jr:
If we did this, maybe Gifford could devote
all of his time to it, and they could send
Peacock home. I think We have covered 8. lot
of ground, don't you?
Foley:
Don't you think if you told these fellows that
unless progress was made insofar as these
direct investments were concerned, we would
have to canvass the possibilities of operating
through a corporation to be set up by the R.F.C.
to take over all of this stuff and then sell
the stuff - I think if you told them that,
that would force them to do it or else, but I
think you have got to show some progress before
we go down on the Hill on this stuff.
H.M.Jr:
Ed, let me decide one time to use the big stick.
I have really got Purvis and Phillips really
exercised on this thing, you see, and let me
make the move now on the S.E.C.
Foley:
Sure.
H.M.Jr:
And you know I have the letter from the British
Ambassador giving me - wanting to put it all
in my hands, and Purvis said last night he
thought it was one of the smartest letters he
ever saw. He says, "You do and you don't, and
you haven't given up anything." He liked the
letter very much. He thought it was very smart.
So let's just move on this. I am satisfied, and
we will meet again Tuesday, and then on Monday
if you could have something for me, I would
like to discuss the mechanics on the Lend-Lease
Bill. Is that pushing you fellows too hard?
I mean, on the theory that the bill passes?
Foley:
Well, there is a chance the bill may pass to-
night at a night session.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, they say it is very good.
Regraded Uclassified
45
- 38 -
Foley:
I think if they had held a night session
Thursday night there would be no question
about it.
H.M.Jr:
Halsey was positive, last night, to me, that it
would go.
White:
I don't think you should wait until the bill
passes.
Foley:
No, I think you ought to have a meeting any-
way.
H.M.Jr:
I am going to have a meeting Monday morning
with you gentlemen at 10:45. Have you got
anything at 10:45, Bell?
Bell:
I don't think SO. I will change it if I
have.
H.M.Jr:
Ten forty-five. I am going to put down Lend-
Lease. Now, who sits in on that?
Foley:
Cox.
H.M.Jr:
I see.
White:
Wouldn't Young sit in? Doesn't he sit in?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, Young. Would you (Foley) be in on that?
Cochran:
I will come if I can be of any help.
H.M.Jr:
And Harry and you people come, plus Philip
Young. Would you (Foley) tell Philip?
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
All right?
White:
On your meeting on Tuesday, I take it, you
were going to see us before you saw the
British again.
46
- 39 -
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes.
Bell:
This is only with us, isn't it, at 10:15?
Foley:
That is 10:15, and the other one Monday is
10:45.
H.M.Jr:
There is nothing to inform the State Depart-
ment about, is there?
Cochran:
I am to ask the British now for this addi-
tional information and to draw up a note to
them for you to see Tuesday.
H.M.Jr:
But the first thing to do is talk with
Gifford.
Thank you all.
47
March 8, 1941.
TO:
MR. KUHN
FROM:
THE SECRETARY
I'll be glad to see this English movie in my
dining room at 11:00 o'clook this morning if you can
arrange it.
Movie, "London Can Take It," shown in
Secretary's dining room at 11:00 a.m.,
March 8, 1941.
Regraded Uclassified
48
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Regraded Uclassi
\ 1 you
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE Harch 5, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Cochran
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Following our Group Meeting this morning, I telephoned Mr. Gifford in New
York at 10:45 a.m. I told him that the Secretary vas quite pleased with the way his
sales of marketable securities had been going, and he wanted me to let Mr. Gifford
know it. On the other hand, the Treasury has now been approached by the Ministry of
Finance of Canada with respect to the possible liquidation of some $350,000,000 of
Canadian-held United States securities. Furthermore, no liquidation has yet been made
of British direct investments. The Secretary is anxious to explore every possibility
for insuring an orderly and rapid liquidation of British and Canadian investments
toward the end that the needed dollar proceeds may be flowing in, and that at the seas
time the securities market may not be adversely affected. In this spirit V6 are having
the cooperation of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
I then told Mr. Gifford that the Secretary has spproved the idea that Chairman
Frank of the Securities and Exchange Commission call to Washington 8 group from the
Jev York Investment Association to consider the possibility of setting up of scall private
organization to take over on bloo British and/or Canadian holdings of markstable securi-
ties, and also to consider whether anything can be done with respect to direct invest-
ments. I assured Mr. Gifford that the Secretary did not want any conversations started
between the Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Investment people on this
subject without Mr. Gifford being first made aware of the 1dea. Furthermore, there
would be no thought of carrying through the idea of setting up a group, if this appears
feasible after the initial conversations, without again consulting Mr. Gifford.
Mr. Gifford asked no to thank the Secretary for authorizing as to acquaint
him with developments here. Ho offered no objection whatever to Mr. Frank getting
into contact with the investment group along the lines above set forth. Mr. Gifford
Vas also gratified to know that the Secretary was pleased with the manner in which
marketable securities are being liquidated. In turn, I let Mr. Gifford know that we
are happy to learn that his organization vas assisting Sir Edward Peacock in the
latter's difficult task,
Immediately after this conversation, I telephoned Chairman Frank of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. I told him that I had been present when the
Secretary had spoken with his from our meeting this morning, and I also recounted By
conversation with Mr. Gifford. Mr. Frank said he would, therefore, proceed with his
plan and endeavor to have a group from New York meet at the Securities and Exchange
Commission on Monday.
BMP
49
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Mischt
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
in
DATE March 8, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Cochran
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
In accordance with the decision reached in our Group Meeting with the Secretary
this morning, I telephoned the British Treasury officials at 11 a.m., and spoke with
Mr. Playfair. I referred to the conclusions reached on page 4 headed "Final Result"
of the memorandum on the British cash position which had been submitted to us yesterday.
I told Mr. Playfair that it would facilitate the Treasury in reaching an understanding
of the situation if the British would make available to us, preferably on Monday,
another statement showing the total amount of commitments and down-payments for the
period under consideration, together with as accurate information as possible as to
how much relief can be expected from the Army and how much from the R.F.C. This should
show then how much assistance would be required from the Treasury along the lines sug-
gested in the British memorandum. Playfair promised to have this for us by Monday.
B.M.
50
March 8, 1941
11:03 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Admiral Towers.
Admiral
Towers:
Good morning.
H.M.Jr:
How are you, Admiral?
T:
Very well, thank you, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Admiral, have you got a pencil?
T:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
There 18 a Dr. Joseph Kreiselman, K, like in
kitty, K-r-e-i-s-e-l-m-a-n, who has come to me
and says that he has a device which has been
proven to make it possible for an aviator to
fly up to 37,000 feet. Hello?
T:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
He doesn't want any money, he is willing to
give the patent to the Navy and everything
else. Hello. He 1sn't interested in the
manufacturing rights or anything, you see.
The thing has been tested at Harvard University.
He is a man who 18 a reputable doctor
......
Operator:
Hello. Have you been cut off?
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Were you cut off from Admiral Towers?
H.M.Jr:
Yes,
Operator:
Go ahead, please.
H.M.Jr:
Admiral?
T:
Yes, sir. I got up to 37,000 feet and we
were out off.
H.M.Jr:
The man wants to give it to the Government.
He doesn't want any money, no interests in the
manufacturing rights, or anything. It has
51
2
been tested at Harvard University. Hello?
T:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Would you give him time enough yourself to
listen to the story because he tells me he
has been unable to get anybody interested.
T:
I'd be glad to. Is he in town now?
H.M.Jr:
He lives in Washington and his name 1s in
the telephone book. Dr. Joseph Kreiselman.
He's an anesthetist. The man has had
heart trouble 80 he can't practice any more.
T:
I see. I'll communicate with him.
H.M.Jr:
Would you see him personally?
T:
I will.
H.M.Jr:
And if the Navy is not interested, then I
want to have him see Bob Lovett because Lovett
has told me about this new plane that the
Army is getting to go up 40,000 feet.
T:
Yes. Of course we are - confidentially, we
are quite confident that's what happened to
our test pilot here three days ago, who was
killed.
H.M.Jr:
Well, that's what Dr. Kreiselman says.
T;
That it was oxygen failure.
H.M.Jr:
Well, he invented this thing for resuscitating
babies which is used all over America.
T:
Well, I have some very able specialists here
that I'd be delighted to have him talk with.
H.M.Jr:
Who is that?
T:
One is Commander Poppin of the Medical Corps,
who has made a specialty on this, and the
other is Lieutenant Commander Sullivan, who
has only recently joined the Naval Reserve,
I mean he's an engineer.
52
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, if you would take a few minutes to talk
to him yourself and then let me know, would
you, what you've done about it.
T:
I will. I'll try to get hold of him this
morning.
H.M.Jr:
Because, frankly, he has been given the run-
around.
T:
I see. I'll get hold of him this morning.
H.M.Jr:
Right. Thank you.
53
March 8, 1941
11:44 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Harry?
Harry
Hopkins:
Hello, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
Are you 80 you can talk for five minutes?
H:
Yes. I've got a terrible confession to make
to you though.
H.M.Jr:
What's that?
H:
Well, I accepted a week ago a dinner invitation
for tomorrow night and now my secretary reminds
me of it.
H.M.Jr:
I see. Well, that's my bad luck.
H:
Yeah, I'm awfully sorry, Henry. I find I
promised to go out to the Librarian's - what's
his name
.....
H.M.Jr:
MacLeish.
H:
Archie MacLeish's.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes.
H:
I'd forgotten all about it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we can get together - Monday night I'm
out, but you wanted to settle this sooner,
don't you?
H:
Well, I want to talk to you - no, it doesn't
have to be done until the first of the week.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I think the sooner the better. Well,
let me tell you what I have on my mind and
then you suggest a time.
H:
Go ahead.
H.M.Jr:
I told you I had Purvis last night and I've
been working with Phil this morning and this
is a suggestion I'd like to make and then I'd
like to have Phil come over and talk to you
further about it if it's agreeable to you.
54
- 2 -
In order to get rid of this foreign thing,
we divided it up into sort of three blocks:
those countries which will come under the
Lend-Lease, which is the British Empire and
any countries that are fighting with them,
I mean, for the moment Greece, Norway or any
of these countries which are part - have their
governments in London, you see. Hello?
H:
Yeah. What about China?
H.M.Jr:
China too. Any of these countries who would
come under the thing. Then one of the worst
headaches is South America, see, and we were
thinking for a better place to hand that all
over to Nelson Rockefeller - his group. I
mean, I'm just giving that as a suggestion,
you see.
H:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr'
There are about eight different committees
working on South America. Somebody else may
say give it to somebody else, but I don't see
why you'd want to be bothered with that.
H:
No, I'm sure I don't.
H.M.Jr:
Then things like Russia, Portugal, Iran or
any of these others, just give them back to
Sumner Welles.
H:
Let him handle the whole business.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let him handle anything that isn't
Lend-Lease - you'd let him handle South America
too?
H:
No, not necessarily. Here's one of the -
did Young talk to you about what we talked
about?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, he did.
H:
These countries are all coming to him now
and apparently he's got three or four people
to do it very easily and seem to get results
and if you're going to change all that -
Nelson Rockefeller, those fellows, God it'll
55
3 -
take them weeks to find their way around.
I'm just thinking outloud.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we haven't accomplished anything for
South America anyway.
H:
What do you mean you haven't accomplished?
H.M.Jr:
Well, very little. You've got to spend a
month getting them two engines. It's all
damn nonsense. See? And that would leave
Philip
H:
It isn't worth doing is your point, 80 let
somebody else do it.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, and that would leave Philip and his
crowd free to be entirely at your disposal.
H:
Yeah. Of course, that would be much better.
H.M.Jr:
And they wouldn't be fussing with South
America, or Russia, or Portugal or anything
else, but they would be on the funds of
people of these democratic countries that we're
going to help under the Lend-Lease. Now,
from an ideal standpoint it - on paper it
doesn't look 80 good, but from a practical
standpoint .....
H:
Well, now, Phil knows all about this.
H.M.Jr:
I've talked with Phil twice today.
H:
Well, I'll see him before the weekend 1s out.
H.M.Jr:
All right. Now, if you want to
.......
H:
Let me find out what my plans are. I'll call
you this afternoon sometime, Henry, sometime
when you are free.
H.M.Jr:
All right. And I'll have Phil call you or
.....
H:
Oh, I'll get in touch with him. I know how
to get him.
H.M.Jr:
But how does that sound to you?
56
4
H:
Well, I'd like to talk it over as to whether
there are some kinks in it from the State
Department point of view. I know I don't want
anything to do with it. Now if Young 18
going to help me, I'd of course much prefer
that Young didn't have anything to do with it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I'm taking a much further position
that with Young helping you, that would leave
the tag ends over here.
H:
Well, you don't want all those tag ends
around there.
H.M.Jr
I'm not going to do it. See?
H:
Oh, no, no. You don't want the Minister of
Colombia coming in to see you.
H.M.Jr:
No, I just can't do it, but that would leave
Young and his little group entirely at your
disposal.
H:
Yeah. Well, I'll talk to Phil about it right
away, Henry, old boy.
H.M.Jr:
Thank you.
H:
Good-bye.
57
March 8, 1941
11:53 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Gordon
Rentschler: Hello, Henry, good morning. This 18 Gordon.
H.M.Jr:
How are you?
R:
Fine. Henry, I don't know whether it would
be of any help to you or not, but I'm calling
you as chairman of the clearing house committee
in New York to say that I had these boys pass
a resolution which well give you, if you wish,
offering without charge all the services of
the clearing house banks of New York in
helping you with your various issues, no
matter what they are, that your program is
you want to put out.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I think that's fine.
R:
Now, if making our gesture at the right moment
16 of any help to bring all the other banks
in the country in line, why we'll do it
formally, or informally, just as you like.
H.M.Jr:
Well, now, we're working on that here through
this Savings Bond Section, you see, and we're
working with the A.B.A. on that.
R:
That's right.
H.M.Jr:
My contact right now is with the A.B.A.
R:
Oh, fine. That's by far - that's exactly
the right thing to do. Of course, Randolph
is keeping his fingers on that too, as you
know.
H.M.Jr:
And so I think that whatever announcement
should come, I'd like it to come from the A.B.A.
R:
Well, now, whenever you're ready - when are
you going to be ready with it?
H.M.Jr:
Well, I don't know. They think it will be
another couple of weeks.
Regraded Uclassified
58
- 2 -
R:
I ses. Well, whenever you're ready, if you
want to couple this with the A.B.A. or let the
A.B.A. do it on their own account, I just
want to
H.M.Jr:
Well, you're all members of the A.B.A.
R:
We're all members of the A.B.A.
H.M.Jr:
In good standing.
R:
We're all members of the A.B.A. only it might
be of value for you to say that all the clearing
house banks of New York had done 80 and 80,
and then if all the other clearing houses in
the country, 8.8 they will, follow suit, tie
that into the A.B.A., it might be a little
helpful.
H.M.Jr:
Well, thank you very much.
R:
Well, whatever it 18, Henry, whichever way you'd
like to handle it, why we're agreeable to do it.
H.M.Jr:
And no charge.
R:
Oh, yes, no charges.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
R:
Because I wanted to - and they were all unanimous
in it. They wanted to be sure that that was
completely understood, you see.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
R:
What else do you know?
H.M.Jr:
Well, I think that's enough for today.
R:
All right, young fellow. Are you going to be
in Washington all next week?
H.M.Jr:
I'm afraid 80.
R:
Well, if you're going to be free on Thursday,
I might drop in for a few minutes.
H.M.Jr:
Well, that's a lifetime off. Give me a ring.
59
- 3 -
R:
I'll give you a ring on Wednesday before I
leave Boston, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
R:
All right. Good luck to you. You're keeping
yourself in good health are you?
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes.
R:
Good luck to you.
H.M.Jr:
Thank you.
R:
Right.
60
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 8, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
H. D. White
Subject: The British Financial Picture
(Highlights of appended memorandum prepared by
Mr. Adler.)
1. British Government expenditures now consume over
60 percent of national income. Expenditures have been
running at the rate of $18 billion per year for the last
four months and the national income for 1940 is estimated
at about $28 billion. Expenditures for war purposes account
for between 80 and 90 percent of all expenditures. The
financial scale of the war effort doubled between April
and November 1940, and has since remained the same.
2. Gross National Debt rose by $9-1/2 billion --
from $34.1 billion to $43.6 billion - in the first sixteen
months of war. The actual increase in the debt was probably
greater. For whereas before there were outstanding $2
billion of gold assets, these assets had been depleted with-
out liquidating the borrowing incurred to acquire them.
3. Despite the large increase in the Government's
borrowing, it 1s still able to borrow at a little over
3 percent on long-term and a little over 1 percent on short-
term. In fact it has been able to borrow on increasingly
favorable terms. The yield on 2-1/2 percent consols fell
from 3.68 percent in December 1939 to 3.49 percent in June
1940 and 3.27 percent in December 1940.
4. Taxation has increased about 70 percent since the
beginning of the war.
5. Britain is financing her war expenditures (87-1/4
billion in 1939-40 and probably $16 billion in 1940-41) by
the following means:
1939-40 1940-41 (Estimated)
Taxation
58 percent
37-1/2 percent
Short-term borrowing
21
#
about 28
Long-term borrowing
12
и
28
#
Liquidation of gold holdings
9
#
about 6-1/2
Residual
61
Division of Monetary
- 2 -
Research
6. Expenditures are rising more rapidly than revenues,
and savings are insufficient to meet the gap. Expenditures
in 1941-2 will certainly be not less than $20 billion and
will probably be more.
7. Since the beginning of the War the official whole-
sale price index has risen more than 50 percent and the not
very reliable official cost of living index more than 25
percent (the actual increase in the cost of living was
probably nearer 40 percent). The rise in prices, however,
was much sharper in the first four months of war than in
1940.
8. Note circulation has risen by $400 million or
under 20 percent and demand deposits (London clearing banks)
by $1-3/4 billion, or 35 percent since the outbreak of war.
This compares with an increase of over 20 percent in our
note circulation and of over 25 percent in our demand deposits
(101 reporting cities) in the same period.
62
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 1, 1941
TO
Mr. White
FROM
Mr. Adler
Subject: How much is Britain spending?
I. The mounting scale of British expenditures.
1. British Government expenditures are now consuming over 60 percent
of the national income. Expenditures for the last three months
have been running at the rate of $18 billion per annum, and
national income for 1940 has been estimated at about $28 billion.
Of the $49 million spent daily, between $42 and $46 million are
for war purposes, of which about 80 percent goes to the fighting
services and the remainder for supplies, shipping, food and home
security.
2. British expenditures on the war effort just about doubled between
April and November 1940. They rose gradually from $17.5 million
daily in September 1939 to $32 million in March 1940. From
September 1939 to March 1940 the total average daily spending was
$24.5 million - or just about half the present level. In April
and May 1940, it fell to $23 million, but when Churchill's ministry
took over in June, it rose to about $38 million, at which level it
was maintained for the next three months. It jumped in October to
$44 million, and since November has run at the level of $49 million.
(Table I indicates the average daily changes in total and supply
expenditures and in the floating debt since the beginning of the
war. See Annex.)
3. The January 1941 decline in supply expenditures to $42 million/sa daily
compared with $46 million in November and December 1940 is probably
temporary and seasonal.
4. The current rate of expenditure of just under $50 million a day
will probably not only be maintained but actually increased in the
course of the year. The reasons for this probable increase are:
(a) If the war is intensified, as appears likely, the cost of
waging it will rise.
(b) Government expenditures will be swollen by rising prices.
(For convenience of interpretation, all 6 figures in this memorandum are
rounded off and converted into dollars at $4 = to hl.)
Uclassified
63
Division of Monetary
Research
(c) While the enactment of the Lend-Lease Bill will undoubtedly
relieve England's financial burden, its effects may not be
sufficient to counteract the cost of the intensification of
the war and of rising prices, and in any case it will not
solve England's internal financing problem.
The Economist plausibly estimates next year's expenditures
at the gigantic sum of $20.5 billion. Since all previous esti-
mates, whether official or unofficial, of future rates of
expenditure have been uniformly too low, this estimate also
should be regarded as, if anything, erring on the side of con-
servatism.
II. British Budgets 1939 41.
1. There have been three British War Budgets; the first was submitted
in September 1939 as a revised budget for the fiscal year April
1939 - March 1940, the second in April 1940, and the third in July
1940 as a revised budget for the fiscal year 1940-41. All three
under-rated the scale of expenditures necessary for the waging of
war and have partaken of the character of what Sir Kingsley Wood,
the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, has called "interim"
budgets.
To some extent this consistent under-estimate of the necessary
scale of expenditures was deliberate because it was thought desir-
able not to reveal the real magnitude of the war burden which the
nation had to bear. Many observers believe that this official
desire to conceal the extent of the burden was a psychological
error, insofar as the public was more than willing to respond to
any calls the Government might make. Moreover, as far as the first
two budgets are concerned, it would appear that the Government was
simply not contemplating war on a large scale. The July 1940 Budget
indicates a more realistic appreciation of the magnitude of the
financial problem, though again it was admittedly improvised and
did not go to the root of the question of switching as much of the
nation's financial and economic resources as possible to the war
effort. On the other hand, in the rapidly changing situations
with which the British Government was confronted, it was very
difficult to anticipate correctly the actual financial needs.
2. The following table presents these Budgets in summary form:
Regraded Uclassified
64
Division of Monetary
- 3 -
Research
British Budgets 1939-41
(In millions of dollars)
I
II
III
IV
1939-40
1940-1
1940-1 Revised
Increase in III
over I
Estimated Revenue
3,980
4,936
5,440
1,460
Actual Revenue
4,196
Estimated Expenditure
7,732
10,668
13,868
6,136
Actual Expenditure
7,268
Estimated Deficit
3,752
5,732
8,428
4,676
Actual Deficit
3,072
3. On the basis of the flow of receipts and expenditures from April
1940 to January 1941, the receipts for the fiscal year 1940-41
will be in the neighborhood of about $6 billion, or somewhat
above the estimated revenues, and expenditures will total approxi-
mately $16 billion, leaving a deficit of about $10 billion, or
$1-1/2 billion more than the estimated deficit.
4. The increase in revenue in 1940-41 over 1939-40 is negligible as
compared with the increase in expenditure. Revenues for 1940-41
will be less than 50 percent more than in 1939-40 when there was
already a deficit of over $3 billion, while expenditures will be
more than double those of the previous year, and the gap between
revenue and expenditure will inevitably continue to widen for the
duration of the War.
5. The gross National Debt rose 28 percent in sixteen months, from
$34,088 million to $43,608 million between September 2, 1939 and
December 21, 1940. From September 2, 1939 to December 31, 1940,
the total Floating Debt rose from $4,670 million to $10,504 million,
an increase of almost 125 percent. In fact the actual position
was worse. As the Exchange Equalization Account had purchased gold
by issuing bills, 1.0. by Government borrowing, gold held by the
Account was an asset held against the debt incurred in acquiring
it. But since the War the gold assets were depleted without any
corresponding reduction in the debt.
65
Division of Monetary
Regraded Uclassi
Research
III. How Britain is financing the Mar.
1. The 1939-40 expenditures of approximately $7-1/4 billion were
financed as follows:
(a) Taxation which yielded $4.2 billion, or 58 percent of the
total expenditures. The effective income tax was raised from
25 percent to 27-1/2 percent, and customs and excise taxes
and the charges for governmental services were increased.
(b) An increase in the floating debt from $3,680 million on March
31, 1939, to $5,958 million on March 31, 1940. Of this in-
crease Treasury Bills accounted for $2,141 million, and Ways
and Means advances for $136 million. Actually not all the
increased issue of the Treasury Bills represents net Government
borrowing as Government departments absorbed about $840 million
of bills. Short-term borrowing, therefore, does not account
for more than $1,477 million, or just less than half of the
1939-40 deficit of over $3 billion, and over a fifth of total
expenditures.
(c) Long-term borrowing, which accounted for about $850 million
of the deficit and about one-sighth of total expenditures.
With the inauguration of the national savings campaign in
November 1939, the Government simultaneously exercising its
control over the money and capital markets and appealing to
the patriotism of its citizens, had no difficulty in borrowing
at 3 percent long-term, a rate which contrasts favorably with
the 5 percent of 1916-18.
Note: The existence of surpluses from extra-budgetary accounts
such as the unemployment insurance fund and the accumulation of
sterling balances in London by the Dominions and sterling area
countries facilitated the task of Government borrowing. The
use of extra-budgetary surpluses held in the form of Government
securities for current needs represents deferred long-term
borrowing, while the accumulation* of sterling balances repre-
sents Empire credits to England. What was not met by genuine
savings and borrowing from these sources was met by bank pur-
chases of Government securities.
(d) Use of gold holdings. Sir John Simon in his Budget speeches
indicated that U. K. gold holdings would be liquidated in
order to finance the war. This is a residual item and would
appear to account for between $600 and $700 million of expendi-
tures.
66
Division of Monetary
- 5 -
Research
Note: While the Government incurs an internal debt in taking
over British-held foreign securities, it incurs no new internal
debt in liquidating its gold assets in the hands of the Stabiliza-
tion Account. Therefore the liquidation of these securities
is in a different category from the liquidation of gold assets,
as far as internal financing is concerned.
2. 1940-41 expenditures will probably amount to $16 billion.
How is this expenditure being financed?
(a) Taxation, which will yield about $6 billion or only 37-1/2
percent of total expenditure, as compared with 57 percent in
the previous fiscal year. This drop in the proportion of
expenditure yield by revenue and the increase in the absolute
amount of expenditure are, taken together, the best indicators
of the magnitude of England's financial problem.
There have been drastic increases in taxation since the
beginning of the War,
The
standard income tax which amounted to 27-1/2 percent when the
war started, is now 42-1/2 percent; whereas at the outbreak
of the war half an individual's income was taxed away only
when he earned $68,000 or more per annum, now an individual
receiving $21,200 has to pay half of it in taxes. Sharp in-
creases have also been imposed in customs and excise taxes
and since October 21, 1940, a purchase tax amounting to 24
percent of the retail price in the case of luxuries and 12
percent of the retail price on many other products has come
into effect. Nevertheless, increased receipts from these
sources are, in Mr. Keynes' words, "chicken-feed to the
dragon of war".
(b) Short-term borrowing. In the nine months ending December 31,
1940, the floating debt increased from $5,958 million to
$10,504 million, an increase of over 75 percent. The break-
down in the increase of the floating debt for the last dates
available is as follows:
Regraded Uclassified
67
Division of Monetary
- 6 -
Research
Increase in British Floating Debt 1/
(In millions of dollars)
Bank of
Treasury
Treasury
Public
England
Deposits by
Total
Bills
Departments
Advances
Banks
March 31, 1940
5,958
5,711
246
-
-
Dec. 31, 1940
10,504
8,607
344
202
1,352
The Treasury deposits by banks are a new short-term
borrowing device instituted on July 4, 1940, the object of
which was to divert to the Treasury the surplus funds of
the principal banks. The Government pays the banks 1-1/8
percent on six months non-negotiable deposit receipts. The
reasons for the adoption of this scheme were: (1) the un-
even spread of revenue receipts; (2) the mounting expendi-
ture; (3) the present volume of Treasury bills; (4) the fact
that such borrowing is less inflationary than Ways and Means
Advances by the Bank of England.
The increasing extent to which resort has been had to
this device is indicated in the following table:
Treasury Deposits by Banks
(In Millions of Dollars)
July 26, 1940
$ 120
August 31, 1940
120
September 30, 1940
496
October 26, 1940.
798
November 30, 1940
1,078
December 31, 1940
1,352
1/ The Economist is our regular source for current floating debt data. As
Butterworth sends us floating debt figures only intermittently, it might
be advisable to ask him to supply us the data, with breakdowns, regularly.
68
Division of Monetary
- 7
Research
What proportion of total expenditures will be met by the
increase in floating debt in 1940-41?
The following table gives us a clue to the answer to
this question.
The British Budget Fiscal Year 1940-41
(In Billions of Dollars)
First 9 months
Whole Fiscal Year
Last Quarter
(Actual)
(Estimated)
(Estimated)
I
II
II - I
Revenue
3.0
6
3.0
Expendi-
tures
10.8
16
5.2
Deficit
7.8
10
2.2
To this estimated deficit of $2.2 billion, for the
Jamiary-March quarter of 1941, gross savings will contribute
about $1.1 billion (over $4.5 billion for the whole year
minus $3.4 billion yielded in the first nine months), leav-
ing between $1 and $1.1 billion to be yielded by & further
rise in the floating debt, as presumably little or no gold
now remains to be liquidated.
While the floating debt has in the past declined season-
ally in the first three or four months of the calendar year
(it did 80 in these months in 1940 also), it may well rise
contra-seasonally by as much as $1 billion in the January-
March quarter unless accumulated sterling balances and extra-
budgetary surpluses are used to buy longer-term Government
securities to a greater extent than in 1939-40. This would
bring it to a total of about $11.5 billion on March 31, 1940,
an increase of about $5-1/2 billion for the year.
Not all this increase, however, is incurred to meet
current expenditures. In the fiscal year 1939-40 Government
Departments used funds on hand to buy $840 million of Treasury
Bills, and it is possible that they will increase their
current holdings of Treasury Bills even further. If they
increase their holdings by approximately the amount they
bought in 1939-40, the rise in the floating debt will account
for over $4-1/2 billion, or 28 percent of total expenditures
and 45 percent of the deficit in the fiscal year 1940-41.
Regraded Uclassified
69
Division of Monetary
8 -
Henwerch
(c) Long-term borrowing. The national savings campaign has
yielded $3,688 million up to Jamary 25, and will probably
yield over $4-1/2 billion for the whole fiscal year, or 28
percent of total expenditures. This figure is a figure of
gross and not of net savings, as it is swollen by the rein-
vestment of the proceeds of vested securities, by bank
purchases of government securities which represent the
creation of credit, and also by Government departments' pur-
chases. The encouraging response to the campaign for pro-
moting mall savings is particularly worthy of notice.
Note: With the decline in unemployment, the surplus from
the unemployment insurance fund has increased. The health
insurance fund, the new commodity insurance fund which
started with $160 million, and the sterling balances accumu-
lated in London by the sterling area countries and Canada
which totalled about $1-1/4 billion in December, represent
additional sources of borrowing.
(d) Liquidation of gold holdings which, as the Secretary re-
vealed to the House Committee on Foreign Relations, had been
almost completed by the end of December 1940, and amounted
to a reduction of approximately $1-3/4 billion in the pre-
war gold holdings.
Note: Gold acquired by the Exchange Equalisation Account was
purchased by Treasury Bills. While the sale of gold could
have been used to reduce the floating debt, it has actually
been used to finance current expenditures./
3. The deficit for 1941-42 will be in the neighborhood of $12
billion, on the basis of the Economist estimate of expenditures of $20.5
billion next year. This allows for an increase in revenue from $6
billion in 1940-41 to $8 billion in 1941-42 to ensue from further drastic
increases in taxation.
IV. The present British financial situation.
1. The Government continues to be able to borrow at favorable
terms, paying just over 3 percent on long-term and one percent for short-
term. The official controls over the money and capital markets operate
smoothly, and gilt-edged securities have risen steadily and are now
11 percent higher than they were in September 1939. The last two
Government issues were made on terms more favorable to the Government
than previous war issues. The 3 percent Savings Bonds issued on
December 27, 1940, have a 25 year maturity, or six years more than the
first issue of the war, and the 2-1/2 percent War Bonds issue of the
same date has a year and a half longer life than its predecessor.
Regraded Uclassified
70
Division of Mometary
Research
The British Oovernment's ability to berrow si comperatively lew
rates is due chiefly to its effective controls over the amay and
capital markets. Their position is less favorable than our own
Government's to the extent that they do not have huge volumes of
idle funds from which to draw On the other hand, through the
Treasury and Bank of England's control, investment funds
accruing from the sale of vested securities, for instance, are
immediately diverted into Government securities. The existence of
temporary surpluses in Government departments, the accumulation
of Empire sterling balances in London, and the banking system's
increased holdings of Government bills and securities have also
facilitated their task. A separate memorandum on the British
Honey Market in wartime is now in the course of preparation,
2. Since the beginning, the official wholesale price index has
risen more than 50 per cent and the official cost of living
index by more than 25 per cent. According to our Lendon Babassy,
the official cost of living index underrates the rise in the
cost of living because of the antiquated manner in which it is
constructed, and the actualrise in cost of living is probably
nearer 40 than 30 per cent.
The rise in prices was much sharper in the first 4 months of
war than in 1940, during which it was quite gradual and appeared
to be well under control, as a result of the Government's price
control measures, its subsidisation of certain essential foods to
the tune of $400 million & year, and to rationing.
British Prices 1939-41
(1928 - 100)
1939
1940
1941
Aug. Dec. June Dec. Jan.
Wholesale Price Level 84 104 115 127 128
Cost of living
93
104
109
117.5
118
As long as the rise in prices continues to be gradual the
British have no reason for alarm. While the German cost of
living and wholesale price indexes have risen by less than
2 and 3 percent respectively since the beginning of the War,
this 1s partly because the Germans had over six years' start
in their technique of control and partly because their figures
are much less dependable.
3. Note circulation has risen by $400 million or under 20 parcent
and demand deposist by $1 3/4 billion since September 1939.
While the increase in demand deposits to & considerable extent
71
- 10-
Division of Monetary
Research
reflects expansion of bank credit to finance Government
borrowing, the liquidity position of the Lendon clearing banks -
1.0., the ratio of their cash, cheques in course of collection,
money at call and short notice, and bills discounted (plus
Treasury deposit receipts) to deposit liabilities has actually
improved, owing to their increased holdings of Treasury bills
and the creation of Treasury deposit receipts.
4. While the scale of expenditures will have more than doubled by
the end of the year, revenue will have barely increased 50 percent,
and the gap between the two continues to expand. The scale of
saving which is yielding about $100 million a week is insufficient
in relation to Britain's needs. Furthermore her gold assets have
been more or less depleted and her other foreign assets are being
currently used up.
5. But the technique of control over investment has been 80
perfected that enormous deficits can still be financed without
nearly 80 much strain as was the case in the last war, and at much
lower interest rates.
6. The Government has not yet devised an integrated economic
policy such as Germany's embracing the budget, price control,
wage control, and full mobilization of resources.
72
- 11 -
Division of Monetary
Research
ANNEX
British Government Daily Expenditures September 1939 - January 1941
(In Millions of Dollars)
Changes in the
Total Expenditures Supply Expenditures Floating Debt
1939
September
17.5
14
t 10
October
19
14
t 10.5
November
23
20.5
t 12.5
December
28
24
t 14
1940
January
25
23
- 5
February
24.5
23
- 3.5
March
31.5
30
+ 1.5
April
26
23
- 13
May
28.5
25
t 17.5
June
38
35.5
t 19
July
39
36.5
t 20.5
August
40
38.5
+18.5
September
39
37.5
+22.5
October
44
39
16
November
48.5
46
+23.5
December
49
46
t 24
1941
January
49
42
-
73
MAR 8 1941
MEMORANDUM
To:
Mr. Harry Hopkins
From:
0. S. Cox
Subject: Major Objectives Under H.R. 1776.
There are several additional observations that I.
would like to make on the two major objectives of (1)
outmatching the Axis Powers in both productive capacity
and defense articles on hand, and (2) the proper relation-
ship between appropriations for productive capacity ex-
pansion and appropriations to buy finished defense arti-
cles.
(1)
Margin of Safety Factor
I know of no case in modern times where the need for
defense articles has been over-anticipated. The demands
for defense articles in times as troubled and as changing
as the present increase rapidly. Therefore, in attempting
to anticipate needs for defense articles, it would seem
wise to allow an adequate margin of safety.
Regraded Uclassified
74
- 2 -
There are two such safety factors that the United
States probably ought to keep in mind: (a) Our geograph-
ical situation; and (b) The productive capacity and de-
fense articles on hand of Britain.
It would seem, therefore, that we ought to try to
outstrip the Axis Powers in productive capacity and de-
fense articles on hand without reference to what Britain
is producing or without reference to the advantage which
our geographical situation may give us. Thus, if the total
productive capacity of the Axis Powers is 60,000 combat
planes per year, we probably ought to shoot at that mark
without relying on the British production.
One of the reasons for the past supremacy of the
British fleet has been that it was grounded on safety fac-
tors such as those just mentioned. Up until recent times
the British fleet was built and developed on the assumption
that it should be larger than the fleets of any possible
combination of enemies.
Reliance on another country for all purposes is not
always sound. To a large extent, the British always assumed
Regraded Uclassified
75
3
that France and its productive capacity would be available
in Britain's cause through France as a continuing Ally.
It was for this reason that until quite recently it wes
assumed that Britain would have the use of French air
bases in its attacks on Germany. Only very few people in
the British Government, as I understand it, insisted on the
production of long-range bombers, on the assumption that
the French bases might not be available to Britain. This
insistence did not bear fruit soon enough, as the facts now
indicate. That is doubtless one of the reasons why Britain
is short of bombers with a long enough range effectively to
bomb Germany.
The theater and conditions of war change so rapidly
that only an adequate productive capacity and an adequate
number of defense articles on hand can make it possible to
adapt to such changes. Thus, Britain, relative to the de-
fense of the British Isles in the narrower sense, may have
enough fighter planes. For the purposes of bombing Germany,
it is relatively inferior. The same may also turn out to
Regraded Uclassified
76
- 4 -
be true of Greece and Africa. If a country has a large
number of planes of all types, plus a commensurate pro-
ductive capacity, it can meet such conditions and changes
as these without being concerned too much about conserving
what it has in military and naval equipment.
(2)
The Proper Relationship Between Appropriations
for Expansion of Productive Capacity and Appro-
priations to Purchase Defense Articles.
At the rate at which we are making actual expenditures
for defense, it is clear that we are going to have great dif-
ficulty in spending, in the fiscal year 1941, the moneys
which are already appropriated for that fiscal year. From
July 1, 1940 through March 4, 1941, we have expended, through
the Army and Navy, for national defense the amount of
$2,947,518,849. There has been already appropriated well in
excess of 10 billion dollars for the Army and Navy for the
fiscal year 1941. More will doubtless be appropriated for the
fiscal year 1941.
The expenditures for defense on March 4 amounted to 24
million dollars. This figure is probably not representative
of the defense articles which we are procuring or paying
Regraded Uclassified
77
- 5 -
for because of the heevy cantonment building that is now
going on. In this connection, it is interesting to note
that the British war effort is now costing about 12 million
pounds per day.
The daily rate of spending for defense will doubtless
increase as more and more tooling-up takes place and more
and more plants come into production. However, if nothing
is done about the situation by expanding the capacity for
raw materials, machine tools and for munitions plants, the
rate will not increase fast enough to give us adequate se-
curity or Britain adequate help.
The present major back-log of orders and procurement
money can doubtless sustain and utilize further expansion
in productive capacity. It can sustain and utilize this
even more so if the productive capacity is expanded for the
double purpose of making faster use of the present appro-
priations for procurement, as well as those under H.R. 1776,
aimed at the major target of outstripping the Axis Powers
as quickly as possible.
Regraded Uclassified
78
- 6 -
(3)
The Time Factor
There is need not only for having adequate appropria-
tions for production and procurement, but constant emphasis
has to be placed on the time factor: We have to get the
best available defense articles as fast as it is humanly
possible to do SO. In a practical way, it seems likely
that a better job can be gotten out of OPM and the Army and
Navy if they are told that we want a productive capacity of
60 thousand combat planes a year than if they are asked to
tell how many they can get produced per year. If OPM is told
in unequivocal terms what the aim is and that it is its job
to meet the aim, there is a reasonable probability that it
can be done. This is so particularly if enough funds are
available for expanding the sources of raw materials, machine
tools, and plant capacity. Over and above this, of course,
other changes in productive methods are available to the pro-
duction experts to get the stated order filled within the
specified time. Thus, for example, it can be left to the
production and procurement offices to decide or to pass on
Regraded Uclassified
79
- 7 -
such questions, in the case of aireraft, for example, as
to whether it would not speed up production to standardize
down the number of models in the different types of air-
craft so that we have one or two pursuit ships in approxi-
mately mass production, rather than X different types being
produced.
To carry this out and fully utilize existing personnel
and plants, it is conceivable that OPM and the Army and Navy
people will decide that the Curtiss P-40, for example, is
the best available pursuit ship and that Vultee, Bell,
Republic and the others who make pursuit ships should also
be manufacturing the P-40 instead of their own types. In
considering such questions as these, the production and pro-
curement agencies can, of course, decide what effect such
standardization will have on the production of the engines
for the planes, etc.
The important thing seems to me to be not the precise
method by which the target can be met within the specified
time, but the fact that & time limit is given to the pro-
duction and procurement people. Like most humans, they are
Regraded Uclassified
80
- 8 -
=
likely to adjust to a time limit and get. the job done
faster than they would if they were open-ended as to time.
s
OSC:aja
3/7/41
Typed: djb - - 3/8/41
Regraded Uclassified
81
BUDGET MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT
To the Congress of the United States:
The request for appropriations to carry out H.R. 1776
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, and for the fis-
cal year ending June so, 1942, which I transmit herewith,
portrays the additional effort required for our national
defense and security. This request is the first major
step in carrying out the deep-felt want and need of our
people for the complete defense of our nation through
supplying effective material aid to those countries who
are valiantly resisting the forces of aggression.
Adequate total defense means more than just supplying
our own military and naval forees with equipment. It
means that the people of our land must have health, stamine,
and the overpowering desire to preserve their democratic
way of life. It also means a people with an awarennes of
the objectives and the methods of the distators that are
loose in the world and an understanding of the major ob-
jectives which the Government must meet adequately and
efficiently to safeguard the nation.
Regraded Uclassified
82
or I I
with long properation, the insatiable aggressors
have proceeded in details One by one, they have swallowed
up country after country by the four now familier steps
of truculence, treaty, treachery, and tyranny. Whether
the method was an endlessly repetitive protestation about
a past peace treaty, a cry for "lebeneraum", a promise of
no more ambitions, threats of force or foree itself, the
aggressors have marched on, while the peoples of the
democracies have been slow to learn that the defense of
the democracies must be as total as the attack on them
is total. United in purpose and in each one's effective
contribution to that purpose, the democracies stand;
singly they fall.
Our people and the people of the democracies, as well
as the people in the very aggressor countries themselves,
must be united in the major objective that the free and
peaceful way of life will prevail. They must be united
by this abiding faith, and they must show--as can be shown--
that a free people have the brains and the imagination,
the vision and the efficiency to outmatch the distators,
Regraded Uclassified
83
- 3 -
not only in faith alone, but also in the material sinews
of war. We can and no should develop an industrial capacity
to manufacture all of the materiel necessary for our defense
in the shortest possible time. We can and we should have
on hand, with the greatest possible speed, for ourselves
and for those who are giving battle to the dictators,
enough defense materiel finally to quiet the forces of
aggression, so that free men and women can again live and
work in peace and quietude.
The Objectives of Our
National Defense Program.
To secure the defense of our nation it is necessary
to keep in mind every possible situation. In effectively
defending our land we can not deal in certainties or even
in probabilities alone. Nations do not survive against
aggressors on a majority vote of the chances. We have to
prepare ourselves not only against a fifty-one per cent
danger, but also against & one per cent risk.
Regraded Uclassified
84
Regraded Uclassifie
The Congress has already authorised large expenditures
for our military, naval and air forces, and - are already
on the way to total defense. When we start and are -
barked on such a program, it behooves us to ask: Against
what are we defending?
We all know the answer to this question, if 16 keep
in mind that we are trying to safeguard ourselves against
all possible dangers. We are making ourselves strong
enough to meet the possible and potential danger of the
aggressor nations.
It is not enough to think of tactical units of infantry,
of a fleet of ships, or squadrons of aircraft. We must
be in a position as soon as possible to outstrip any com-
bination of our possible or potential enemies in both the
productive capacity for defense materiel and in the amount
of such materiel on hand. That is the smallest amount of
insurance that - are justified in carrying for the people
of this nation.
The needs for defense materiel in times as troubled
and as changing as the present increase rapidly. In
85
- 5
forecashing our needs, it is wise to allow a margin of
safety. Two things me should keep as the staims safety
factors: Our geographical situation; and the fighting
spirit and productive capacity of the nations which are
resisting the aggressors. Our major aim should be to
outstrip the aggressor nations in productive capacity and
defense articles on hand, without reference to what the
other democracies are doing and producing or without ref-
erence to the advantage which our geographical situation
may give us.
One of the reasons for our longstanding supremacy has
been that we have always had such margins of safety over
and above our own military and navel forces and equipment.
One of the reasons for the past supremacy of the British
Fleet has been that it was built and developed on the
assumption that it should be larger and better than the
fleets of any possible combination of enemies.
Reliance on snother country for all purposes is not
always sound. To n large extent, Britain assumed that
France and its productive capacity would be available to it.
Regraded Uclassified
86
w . .
But the French air bases and the French productive
capacity are no longer available to Britain. And, in
consequence, Britain does not, for example, have enough
long-range bombers. By the same token, France was certain
that its Maginot Line and its army were invulnerable. Ware
are not won on such certainties.
Conditions change so rapidly that only an adequate
productive capacity and an adequate number of defense
articles on hand can make it possible to adapt to such
changes. For this country an adequate productive capacity
and an adequate number of defense articles on hand means
enough of its own productive capacity and equipment to
outmatch any possible combination of enemies.
The Defense of These Nations Whose
Defense is Vital to Our Defense.
The outposts of our defense today are in Great Britain,
in Greece, in China, and in those countries which are now
being threatened by the aggressors. The aggressors are our
potential enemies. We could, if we abandoned all the lessons
Regraded Uclassified
87
- 7 -
of history and experience, withdraw our defenses from
Pearl Harbor, from Newfoundland, or even from Governor's
Island. But we have learned over a long period that,
as we move our defenses outward, we lessen the dangers
of attack on San Francisco, Boston or New York.
We can have outposts of defense without owning land
or without military or naval bases. We can have out-
posts of defense that do not require the utilization of our
armed forces in combat. We have such outposts of defense
today in the battle spote of the world.
Every gun, and every ship, and every tank, and every
bomber we make available to the democracies tends to weaken
or defeat our potential enemies. If Britain, and China,
and Greece prevail--and we hope they will--our blood and
treasure will not have to be spent in combat. If they
fail, we shall have to continue spending billions upon
billions more to safeguard our security and way of life,
and no man can say that our youth will then not have to
fight for what we all treasure 80 much.
The heart of H.R. 1776 is defense equipment--equipment
which remains under the control of the United States
Regraded Uclassified
88
8
Government until it is ready for disposition. As long
as the fighting democracies hold out, each gun, each plane,
and each ship that we dispose of to them is worth more to
us in their hands than it would now be in our own. Not
only does this equipment in the hands of the resisting
democracies weaken our potential enemies, but no gain precious
time within which to develop our productive capacity to the
point where we can meet every possible contingoney. Should
the sad day arrive when any one or all of these countries
resisting aggression go down, the defense articles which
we are producing, and our capacity to produce them, will
be the most valuable assets that a free people can have.
Defense Expenditures and
Our Defense Program.
In my budget message to the Congress of January 3, 1941,
I summarized the progrem for the fiscal years 1940, 1941,
and 1942. The present request is, of course, an additional
part of this same program.
If we do not increase our present rate of actual ex-
penditures for defense, we can not be completely sure that
Regraded Uclassified
89
a # #
we will be ready in time to meet all possible threats to
our national security.
From July 2, 1940 through March 4, 1941, to expended,
through the War and Navy Departments, the amount of
$2,947,518,849 for national defense purposes. As was
stated in my budget message of January 3, 1941, appropri-
ations, authorizations, and recommendations have already
been made for a total of $28,480,000,000 for the defense
program.
The daily expenditures for defense have been steadily
mounting and are reflected in the steadily increasing num-
bers of guns, ships, tanks, and airplanes that are coming
off the lines. However, NO are not getting fast enough for
all possible needs the essential equipment which we require.
One of the greatest single factors which affects the
rate at which we get this essential equipment is our capacity
to produce. To make guns, and ships, and airplanes, we need
aluminum and tin, machine tools, and machinery, plant space,
and, above all, trained men and women. We have rapidly ex-
pended our capacity for all of these things. But if 10 want
Regraded Uclassified
90
- 20 -
to be assured of having finished defense equipment in time,
we must still more greatly expand our productive capacity
for raw materials, for machine tools, for plant space, and
for training personnel. We must do this not only to be sure
that the moneys appropriated and requested are translated
into equipment in time, but also to make sure that the funds
granted by the Congress pursuant to this request are put
to the most effective use with the greatest possible speed.
That is the reason that 80 comparatively large a portion
of the present request is for the expansion of such produe-
tive capacity.
The Benefits to the United States
and the Present Request.
The present request is admittedly large. But, the
people of France and the people of those other countries
that have been swallowed up might once have felt that their
defense expenditures were large. Now, they doubtless feel
that they are as nothing compared to the yoke of the aggressor.
If the life of our nation is worth the blood of our people
Regraded Uclassified
91
- 11 -
in the case of attack, it is certainly worth the premiums
required to be paid to forestall the possibility of such
attack.
The appropriations which Congress grants in response
to this request will have many advantages. The defense
articles procured with such appropriations will be used to
defeat or weaken our possible enemies. They will give us
irreplaceable time within which to develop our productive
capacity to the point where we can obtain and replenish the
materials of war faster and better than our potential enemies.
They will put us into $ position where - can safeguard our-
selves against any possible combination of enemies.
To us as a people and as & nation, these benefits can
not be appraised in dollars--they are of a value far beyond
money or other similar tangible considerations. However,
the framework of H.R. 1776 and the administration of it will
doubtless result in many additional benefits of a monetary
and similar character. Even though no deal in the most
generous manner--as we expect to--with the heroic peoples
Regraded Uclassified
92
- 12 -
who are fighting in our own defense as well as their own,
we can still receive many such additional benefits. We
do not need the rules of the market place to receive bene-
fits freely and generously offered by the democracies in
return for a similar generosity on our part. I an sure
that when this Government considers with the governments
which we are to assist under H.R. 1776 the whole range of
paw materials, trade concessions, military and naval bases,
and other property or consideration which they will gladly
offer to transfer to us, we will find that we have reaped,
in security and in more tangible benefits, more than we
have sown. The democracies can and will show that they can
stand together in time of dire need to their overlasting
mutual benefit. In this way, they shall always keep their
banners flying.
OSC:djb:aja
3-9-41
Regraded Uclassified
February 27, 1941
93
to:
E. H. Foley, Jr.
From:
O. S. Cox
Subject: Financial Terms of Disposition to Britain Under H.R. 1776.
It may be desirable to start giving consideration
now to some of the following possible financial arrange-
ments with Britain under the Lend-Lease Bill: 1) A Master
Agreement of Trusteeship; 2) Types of Special Agreements
to be used either in connection with or independently of
a master agreement.
(1)
Master Agreement
The Master Agreement might provide the following:
a) The United States Government to be
the trustee of all of the property of the
British Government and its nationals in the
Western Hemisphere. It may also be desirable
to include the British Fleet in this trusteeship.
b) The management, etc. of this property
is to continue as it now is, or as determined
by the now owners.
Regraded Uclassified
94
- 2 -
c) The United States is to have the
option or power to require the owners to
liquidate not more than, for example 2%
or X% of the property of British nationals
in the United States or in the Western
Hemisphere within a year.
a) The United States is to have the
option or power to require the payment
over of not more than 5% or X% of the
net income of the property each year to
be credited against the dollar value of
defense articles disposed of to Britain
under H.R. 1776.
e) Any consideration turned over to
the United States by Britain, such as tin,
rubber, rare books of private dealers, etc.,
is to be credited against the value of de-
fense articles transferred to Britain.
f) If Britain is successful, as de-
fined in the trustee indenture, the United
Regraded Uclassified
95
- 3 4
States Government is to have the discre-
tion to release the trusteeship immediately,
or after a certain percentage of the value
of the defense articles transferred to
Britain is paid for out of part of the net
income of the property.
g) If Britain is defeated, as defined
in the trust indenture, the United States
Government is to have the option: To take
the full title to the property; to hold it
until the debt for defense articles is li-
quidated; to return it to its owners or to
dispose of it in any way that the United
States Government sees fit.
h) It may also be desirable to get
Britain to agree that it will guarantee the
Monroe Doctrine by helping to protect the
Western Hemisphere from European aggression.
The foregoing are only some of the possible provisions
that might be included in the Master Agreement.
Regraded Uclassified
96
- 4 -
In the drafting of the Master Agreement, great
care should doubtless be exercised in seeing to it that
the British are not shylocked, and at the same time to
give the United States Government a degree of control
which will be of benefit to the United States. Such
a degree of control would doubtless be of great effect
in restraining the appeasers, because of the hope that
by not appeasing they could get their property back.
Such a degree of control would also probably be of much
more advantage in determining the post-war situation in
Europe in relationship to our own interests than any
peace treaty. Normally, the people who own property
of this kind are the people who have a good bit of polit-
ical power, and, if the discretion were in the United
States Government to turn back or not to turn back the
trusteeship, our Government could well have a decisive
influence on the post-war situation.
From the standpoint of public opinion, the Master
Agreement would also seem to have advantages. The public
has assumed that most of the equipment to be disposed of
Regraded Uclassified
97
- 5 -
under the Lend-Lease Bill would be given away. If shortly
after the enactment of the Bill, the public finds that
not only is there a Master Agreement providing security
but the means of paying for the defense articles, it is
likely to be more receptive to the appropriation requests
and the other steps that have to be taken under the Bill.
Over and above her dollar exchange requirements,
there are many things that the British have which could
be used as credits against defense articles disposed of,
and charged up under the Master Agreement. For example,
if the British Government took over, let us say, 10% of
the rare books that private collectors living in the
British Isles own, and turned them over as part considera-
tion, so that they might be owned by the Government through
the Library of Congress, we would get a tangible benefit
and, at the same time, we would not be pressing British
nationals too hard. There are, of course, many other
articles of benefit to us which could be acquired without
disrupting our domestic markets or exerting too much
pressure on British nationals. These articles could be
taken over under the terms of the Master Agreement and
Regraded Uclassified
98
- 6 -
& credit given to the British Government as against
defense articles transferred to it. In other words, each
particular disposition of defense articles to Britain
would not require either a determination on or provision
for financial conditions. The financial transactions
could be handled under the Master Agreement from time
to time, and as the occasion arose.
Of course, a trusteeship of the British Fleet would
not mean very much, except that it gives the color of
legal right to exercise our sovereign powers if and when
we can put our hands on the British Fleet, in case Britain
is defeated or is operating under a Moseley or other type
of Government.
Similarly, a provision in the trust indenture, such
as a requirement that Britain guarantee the Monroe Doctrine
could only be effectively enforced if Britain is success-
ful, and we have strings on the property of her nationals.
The technical, legal job of working out the Master
Agreement, if it were decided as 8. matter of policy to
have one, would not be insuperable. Thus, in some cases,
Regraded Uclassified
99
7 -
in addition to the trusteeship indenture, it might be
desirable to hold the stock certificates in American
companies, or the evidence of ownership in direct invest-
ments, as part of the trust agreement.
(2)
Special Agreements
It is possible, of course, to have special agreements
which are either an integral part of the Master Agreement
or part of it.
As a part of the Master Agreement, special agreements
on such raw materials as tin, rubber, nickel, lead, etc.
could be worked out, providing that, at the United States
Government's option, it could require deliveries of such
commodities over a long term or period. The dollar value
of the delivered commodities could, of course, be charged
against the account of the British for defense articles
previously transferred to them under H.R. 1776. It should
be noted in this connection that, if the United States
is interested in breaking up the international cartels
in tin, rubber, etc., it would probably have the power to
do 50 under the Lend-Lease Bill.
Regraded Uclassified
100
- 8 -
Another possibility is to not have a Master
Agreement and to handle each disposition of defense
articles by itself. Both from the standpoint of public
policy and administration, this would not seem to be as
desirable as the Master Agreement method.
In giving consideration to the special agreement
method, either as an interrelated part of the Master
Agreement or as separate from it, it might be desirable
to make a survey of all the strategic, critical and
essential raw materials which are produced in the British
Empire, as well as of the exports of the British Empire.
In this way, specific articles and commodities can be
selected for inclusion in the benefits to be received
by the United States without disrupting our own domestic
production or markets, and, at the same time, without
pinching Britain too much.
OSC:djb
2-27-41
Regraded Uclassified
3/5/4/101
STRATEGIC, CRITICAL AND ESSENTIAL MATERIALS
The basic idea behind our building up stock piles is
that we should have enough strategic, critical and essential
materials available for military and naval needs in case of
war or other blockage of the sources of supply.
It has been evident for some time that the estimates
of strategic, critical and essential materials needed for
both current production needs and stock-pile purposes have
been incorrect. The present inadequacy of tungsten for cur-
rent needs and the necessity for dipping into the stock piles
illustrate the problem.
Several fundamental considerations were not give ade-
quate weight in estimating our stock-pile needs. It is evi-
dent from the requests for appropriations for these purposes
that they were based primarily on the existing Army and Navy
requests for appropriations or contemplated appropriations.
The amount of nickel or tungsten, for example, that is re-
quired for stock-pile purposes is in large part also a
function of what is needed for current production purposes.
Regraded Uclassified
102
- 2 -
It goes without saying that the amount of nickel and tungsten
required when the Army and Navy appropriations are $2 billions
is much less than when their appropriations are $10 billions.
Also, the civilian uses of such materials as nickel, tungsten,
magnesium, vanadium, etc., are affected as the national income
increases as the result of additional defense spending. When
the national income is $40 billions, the consumption of nickel,
tungsten, and the other strategic materials is of a different
magnitude than when the national income is $75 billions or
$100 billions.
It seems quite evident that a resurvey should be made of
our needs for strategic, critical and essential materials for
current purposes, as well as for stock-pile purposes, and that
the necessary appropriations therefor should be requested. In
estimating the needs, the fact that there have already been
more than seventeen appropriation acts for the Army and Navy
alone in the fiscal year 1941 should be kept in mind in trying
to predict what further appropriations there are likely to be
for this year and the fiscal year 1942. In addition, a margin
of safety factor should doubtless also be added, not only to
Regraded Uclassified
103
- 3 -
account for errors in prediction, but also to include the as-
sistance which may be given to Britain, etc., under the Lend-
Lease bill.
One of the great difficulties with the handling of
strategic, critical and essential materials for both current
and stock-pile purposes is that the needs have not been antici-
pated far enough in advance. Shortages of these materials
may create critical bottlenecks in production and thus mate-
rially slow it up. Also, dipping into the stock piles is
dangerous because in the event of war or blockage of trans-
portation in the Far East we might be in an exceedingly vul-
nerable position.
The development of new sources of supply of strategic
and critical raw materials is not carried out in normal times
in those cases where a particular source of supply is more
uneconomical than another. This is illustrated in the case
of Bolivian tin. Up to now it has seemed desirable to get
most of our tin from the Far East but recently it has become
evident that there are other considerations besides price in
the defense program which would warrant the further develop-
ment of Bolivian tin mines as well as the construction in
Regraded Uclassified
104
this country of smelting and refining plants to handle the
particular kind of tin ore that comes from Bolivia. The
case of tin, however, is only illustrative. The same prob-
lem in varying degree applies to other materials such as
mercury, tungsten, zine, antimony, platinum, vanadium, etc.
It happens that the Western Hemisphere has most of these
raw materials, In meeting our defense in stock-pile needs,
as well as in building up our good neighbor policy, there is
probably no other single course that would be more effective
than to expand the development and purchases of strategic,
critical and essential materials from the American republics
on a much larger scale than has heretofore been done or con-
templated.
It should also be kept in mind that in connection with
the financing terms to be worked out with Britain under the
Lend-Lease bill, it is conceivable that some of the British
assets in South America and Mexico can be used in part to pay
for the development and purchase of such strategic, critical
and essential materials.
One other thought should also be kept in mind in this
connection. If Germany should win, there is of course some
Regraded Uclassified
105
5 -
chance that by reason of their barter system, our gold may
not be quite as useful as it will be if Britain wins, One
way to minimize this possible risk is to shift the trade
balances in favor of the Western Hemisphere countries as much
as possible and at the same time have on hand large supplies
of non-deteriorating strategic, critical and essential mate-
rials. In terms of the dollars spent, such raw materials
would result in less of a loss to us than any depreciation
in the value of gold.
Larger appropriations for the development and procure-
ment of strategic, critical and essential materials could
probably be obtained more easily than for anything else ex-
cept possibly finished Army and Navy equipment.
OSC:mp:aja
3/8/41
Typed: aja:djb
3/8/41
Regraded Uclassified
FLASH
SEMATE PASSES SE BRITISH AID bill BY A VOTE OF 60 TO 31.
3/8--W0737P
107
KWANG PU CHEN
Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank,
Chungking, China.
March 8, 1941.
The Honorable Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Secretary of the Treasury,
Washington, D. C., U. S. A.
Dear Mr. Morgenthau:
When this letter reaches you, Dr. Lauchlin B. Currie
must have arrived in Washington for some days. I under-
stand he carried with him Dr. H. H. Kung's letter advising
you of my appointment as the chairman of the new stabili-
zation committee. While I deeply appreciate your kind
suggestion of my appointment, I cannot but realize the
heavy responsibility that has fallen on my shoulders and
the difficult task that is confronting me.
You will no doubt be informed by Dr. Currie of the
divergent views prevalent on the question of currency
stabilization. I an sure I shall have to depend much on
my good collaborator whom your government will soon name
as the American member on the committee. With his able
assistance, I hope I may yet be able to carry out the
terms and conditions of the loan agreement now under
discussion and in that way to justify your confidence
placed in me.
Owing to my prolonged absence from China during the
past years, I have somewhat got out of touch with the
detail workings of our stabilization fund. I am therefore
now making studies to acquaint myself with its operations
in the past, and planning to take a short trip to Hongkong
to confer with the people in charge thereof. If time
permits, I shall visit Lashio, Bhamo and Rangoon again to
complete my last year's tour of inspection which was
unfortunately interrupted by my illness.
With best personal regards,
Sincerely then yours,
KPC:W
108
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
Secretary Chaunces
DATE March 8, 1941
Morgenthmu
TO
YOU
FROM Mr. Cochran
CONFIDENTIAL
Registered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
£37,000
Purchased from commercial concerns
£ 7,000
Open market sterling remained at 4.03-1/2, and there were no reported
transactions.
In New York, the closing rates for the foreign currencies listed below were
as follows:
Canadian dollar
14-7/8% discount
Swies franc (commercial)
.2323
Swedish krona
.2384-1/2
Reichsmark
.4005
Lira
.0505
Argentine peso (free)
.2300
Brazilian milreis (free)
.0505
Mexican peso
.2066
Cuban peso
6-3/4% discount
In Shanghai, the yuan in terms of our currency was unchanged at 5-1/24.
Sterling Vas 2# lower at 3.91.
There were no gold transactions consummated by us today.
No new gold engagements were reported.
A Bombay gold price equivalent to $35.15 was received by one of the New York
banks this morning. This was 5# lower than the quotation of March 6.
pml
109
March 8, 1941
I wish to be reminded, Monday, to speak to Sullivan
and tell him about the discussion at Cabinet. The President
wants two tax bills right away.
Taken care of 3/10/41
Regraded Uclassified
110
March 8, 1941
TO:
MR. BELL
FROM:
THE SECRETARY
I don't remember whether I told you or not,
but when I saw the President Thursday, he approved car
plan for the new 8 defense savings bonds.
Regraded Uclassified
111
March 8, 1941
TO:
MRS. KLOTZ
FRMM
THE SECRETARY
Please draw Arthur Purvis' attention to the
article in today's NewYork Times by John MacCormic, on
page 5, and tell him particularly to read the last para-
graph. Tell him I do not know the source of the story
but I am trying to find out.
(Taken care of 3/8/41)
Regraded Uclassified
COLLATERAL PLAN
WAITS ON AID BILL
Wd
hgton Would Hold Brit,
ain's Direct Investments Here
Against Loan of Munitions
DISPOSAL NOW DIFFICULT
Meanwhile Sale of Holdings in
Liquid American Securities
Is Proceeding Steadily
By JOHN MacCORMAC
Special to THE New YORK TIMES.
WASHINGTON, March 7-One
plan for aid to Great Britain when
the lease-lend bill becomes law calls
for the handing over of Britain's
direct investments in this country
to the United States Government as
collateral against the defense ma-
terials furnished to her.
The sale of the $615,000,000 of
liquid American securities which
the British still had on Jan. 1 has
been proceeding steadily, the 203,-
127 shares of United States Steel
stock were sold this week for $11,-
500,000 being the largest transac-
tion to date.
The disposal of the direct invest-
ments, such as American branches
C British firms, is a more difficult
matter. Although negotiations have
been carried on for weeks with
groups of investment bankers, no
conclusion has yet been reached.
Some financial and administrative
opinion holds that It would not pay
the United States, in the last analy-
sis, to strip Britain of all her hold-
Inge here since she is in war or
peace the best customer of the
United States.
As an alternative it has been sug-
gested that she put up her direct
Investments as collateral for their
estimated worth of munitions and
equipment. Then, if after the war,
Britain were able to repay in some
other form, such as the return of
an equal value of munitions, ships
or such commodities as tin and rub-
ber, she could be allowed to keep
her direct Investments here as a
future source of American ex-
change. It is understood that the
Treasury favors this solution.
The first asset of which Britain
will dispose under the lease-lend
bill is her Investment In United
States airplane and munitions
plants. Money was lent by Britain
and France to American manufac-
turers to build or enlarge plants for
the purpose of filling Allied war
orders and France's obligations
were taken over b ythe British
when France collapsed.
The British Purchasing Commis-
sion has been negotiating for some
time with Jesse Jones, Federal
Loan Administrator, for their dis-
posal and there has been some dif-
ference of opinion regarding the
value to be put on the machine
tools Installed in the plants to be
turned in.
From some quarters has come the
suggestion that not only Britain's
direct Investments in the United
States but her Investments in South
America should be posted as col-
lateral for aid under the lease-lend
bill. The idea in not to strip Brit-
ain of all her holdings In this hemi-
sphere but to insure that in case
of her defeat they would not fall
into Germany's hands,
Regra
112
GRAY
GHW
Busnos Aires
Dated March 8, 1941
Rec'd. 2:50 p.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
183, March 8, 1 P.M.
The press reports that an Argentine credit to
Spain for purchases of agricultural products chiefly
wheat and meat is nearing completion. It is reported
that Spanish interest in a local power company,
Compania Argentina de Electricidad, is involved as
security for the loan. Immediate shipments of wheat
and meat to a value of 35,000,000 to 40,000,000 pesos
is contemplated according to the report.
ARMOUR
LMS
ch:copy
10
111-11-22
113
RESTRICTED
0-2/2657-220
M.I.D., W.D.
No. 334
March 8, 1941
12:00 M
SITUATION REPORT
I. Western Theater of War.
Air: German. Limited offensive activity directed
primarily against shipping.
British. No offensive operations.
II. Balkan Theater of War.
Ground: Bulgaria. No change.
Albania. The Greeks report successful
operations in the central sector with air force cooperation.
III. Mediterranean and African Theaters of War.
Ground: Abyssinia (Ethiopia). British patrols on
the Gondar Road are operating east of Amanit.
The Italians are withdrawing from Burye
which is about 165 miles northwest of Addis Ababa.
Air: No operations reported.
Note: This military situation report is issued by the Military In-
telligence Division, General Staff. In view of the occasional in-
clusion of political information and of opinion it is classified as
Restricted.
RESTRICTED
CONFIDENTIAL
114
Purchase of Code Indicgram
Reserved as the
at 8:20, March a, 1943.
Lenion, filed 13:35, March s, 1941.
1. a Priday, March 1, bonbers of the British
Coastal Commail carried out a raid a a - nevel designará of Holder
and sent a cargo best to the bottem off the Hook of Holland. In
addition, Constal benbers socret. direct bite an hangurs during M
attack - the airfield at Ochernburg (1). During the proceding might as
British planse vere over the Ombiness because of adverse vesther onli-
time.
2 I I I 1 1 1 a % Receipt of
attachs on Flymouth, Falmouth, ont Orfertance. - of the Gernan
creaked but m - unto w the British fighters that not
the attachers. During the proceding day sisse wwo pleated is the Borth
See off the mouth of the Rober River w - aircraft. - str
abtacks www curried out egainst British cash const morehand shipping and
against airfields in Lineclushire, Norfolk and Buffelk. German plane
locase wase two confirmed and - damaged. There www as Leases of British
planes and as BOTORO damage to military installations.
3. Activities of the British to Middle Enstern theaters www as
follows: Italian artillery positions in the - of Alberta
vero benbed by British please from Greece; British treeps have compled
Forfer, Italian Semaliand, about mo miles north of Magnáiscio and have
put the sirfield at this city in a usable condition; in the Britrean thester
the British have explared positions 18 alles north of Haven and Reyal Air
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Uclassified
CONFIDENTIAL
115
Foree planse bosted nater transporte and milarys in the Assure-Even area.
4. a Murch 7 Britten planse interespted and drove off a franties
of 14 Germa planes attempting to attack Milta. The Britden destrayed - of
the German attechers. During the proceding night Helto was reided - 12
German planse but there vas - damage to military installations. It has nov
been determined that the Comman used 40 fighter planou and 60 bookers in the
attack on Malte en March 5. All of the British please as the Mal par airfield,
which we severely damaged during this raid, were per out of operation -
powerily and four of the please as the ground wase complete leases. - of
the 11 British fighters which ware - to interespt this attack - shat
down but German leases as a result of the activities of these British fighters
was eight and fear damged. In addition, also - planes wire
shot dom and four others - damged w ankistremft fire.
5. While it is estimated w the Ver Office that no German divisions
vere along the Remanisn-Palgarion border, 12 10 thought that only eight of
these divisions were actually a Bulgarian soil w March 5. It is believed
that the year condition and congestion of highways and reilrents was respon-
sible for this. 4a March 3 the first lest mits arrived at the
Greek berder. On March 5 the min belies of the - units began erviving
in the visimity of Petrick in the Stress River valley and in the Jambeli-
Gliven region. In this latter area 10 is believed that there is a considerable
commentration of Geruna heavy tamin. Resignerters of the Bulgarian foress is
believed to be at Stare Engare. the distribution of divisions of the Bulgarian
Amy 10 as follows: - division 10 feeling the southern Debraja frentier,
nine are on the Turidak border, five are fasing Fageslavia, and - are on
the border.
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Uclassified
CONFIDENTIAL
116
6.
I
1
in
I
coursy
I I a 1 a I 1 1 I I e z s I
I I age 1 I I I
Distribution:
Secretary of Mr
Asst. Secretary of Mar
Chief of Staff
State Department
Secretary of Treasury
Ver Plans Division
Office of Nevel Intelligence
Air Garge
0-3
-3-
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Uclassified
117
CONFIDENTIAL
Paraphrace of Code Rediagree
Reselved at the Ver Department
at 7:35, March 9, 1941.
tenden, filed 15:18, March 9, 1941.
1. On Saturday, March 8, the harber facilities at Holder
vare bonked with unobserved results w British planse. the Geresa
beabers vere shot down w British fighter planes that carried out
patrols along the Maglish Channel. During the night of March 7-8
20 British planes vere over the Continent because of adverse weather
conditions.
2. During the night of March 8-9 the German Mr Force
made videly separated raids on targets in the southeastern counties
and in Morfelk and Suffolk. s fairly severe reid vie made against
Portamouth. The extent of damages from these reids has not been
determined. The Germans carried out an extremely severe attack on
Lendon. The many fires that vere started were quickly pub out but
there were a number of civilian casualties and considerable damage
to private property from high emplosive bonks. During day21ght
hours of March 8 single Common planes were platted over Alawlek,
Cardiff, Fife Ness, Fortemouth, the Original Islands, and the Themes
Netuary. Six Cerana planes were active against targets in Lincoln-
shire, Norfelk and Suffelk.
3. British planes based in Gresse supported the opera-
tions of Grock land forces in the Albertan theater. Highways in
Mritrea and the Asuara-Keren railway vare attacked w British benbers,
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Uclassified
CONFIDENTIAL
118
4. as March 8 neval stores at Malta were damaged ear-
ing M attack os $20 Island by 18 German planse.
5. Hous stories indicating that German foress in south-
672 Italy total 500,000 cannot be confirmed in London and it is
thought by the British Var Office that these stories como from the
Germans. According to the mest resent British estimates there are
only two small German armored divisions in Tripoli at the present
time. On March 5 British armored motor vehicles contacted Germa
armored care from reconnaissance write in the Libyan theater just
west of Aghelia. The German units withdrew to the west.
6. It is believed that the partial mobelisation of the
Tugeslav Army which 10 nov going on will result in a total strength
of 600,000 by March 10.
7. Seurces thought to be reliable have informed the
British Var Office that Kohlek Bay which is on the Gulf of sism,
140 miles south of Banglosk, will be suarded to the Japanese as a
partial payment for their efforts at mediation. Insilities are
svailable on this bay and in the surrounding area for the operation
of both land and semplanes.
s. On March 8 a total of 33 German divisions were in
or ness Bulgaria. Twelve of these divisions vere just asrees the
frontier in Runsaia and the other no are actually in Pulgaria.
9. The possibility of an attack w the Germane on the
Faree Islands or on Iseland is indicated w Norwagian reports of
+
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Uclassified
119
CONFIDENTIAL
orders w the Comman and of properablemo being made w
I
SCANLON
Distribution:
Secretary of Mar
State Department
Secretary of Treasury
Asst. Secretary of War
Chief of Staff
Was Plans Division
Office of Neval Intelligence
Intelligence Branch
Air Corpo
6-5
+
CONFIDENTIAL
120
Miss Chancey
Here' a copy for your
filent ASHH. The original an
3/1/41.
a.H. Bash
MR. COX
121
Regraded Regraded Uclassified Uclassified
SUDGET MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT
To the Congress of the United States:
The request for appropriations to carry out H.R. 1778
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, and for the fis-
cel year ending June 30, 1942, which I transmit herewith,
portrays the additional effort required for our national
defense and security. This request is the first major
step in earrying out the deep-felt want and need of our
people for the complete defense of our nation through
supplying effective material aid to those countries who
are valiantly resisting the forces of aggression.
Adequate total defense means more than just supplying
our own military and naval forces with equipment. It
means that the people of our land must have health, stamins,
and the overpowering desire to preserve their democratic
way of life. It also means a people with as awareness of
the objectives and the methods of the distators that are
loose in the world and an understanding of the major ob-
jectives which the Government must meet adequately and
efficiently to safeguard the nation.
122
Regraded Uclassifie
- 2 -
with long preparation, the insatiable aggressors
have proceeded in details One by one, they have swallowed
up country after country by the four now familier steps
of truculence, treaty, treachery, and tyranny. Whether
the method was an endlessly repotitive protestation about
a past peace treaty, a ery for "lebensraum", a promise of
no more ambitions, threats of force or force itself, the
aggressors have marched on, while the peoples of the
democracies have been slow to learn that the defense of
the democracies must be as total as the attack on them
is total. United in purpose and in each one's effective
contribution to that purpose, the democracies stands
singly they fall.
Our people and the people of the democracies, as well
as the people in the very aggressor countries themselves,
must be united in the major objective that the free and
peaceful way of life will prevail. They must be united
by this abiding faith, and they must show--as can be shown--
that & free people have the brains and the imagination,
the vision and the efficiency to outmatch the dictators,
123
3 -
not only in faith alone, but also in the material sinews
of war. We can and we should develop an industrial capacity
to manufacture all of the materiel necessary for our defense
in the shortest possible time. We can and we should have
on hand, with the greatest possible speed, for ourselves
and for those who are giving battle to the dictators,
enough defense materiel finally to quiet the forees of
aggression, so that free men and women can again live and
work in peace and quietude.
The Objectives of Our
National Defense Program.
To secure the defense of our nation it is necessary
to keep in mind every possible situation. In effectively
defending our land we can not deal in certainties or even
in probabilities alone. Nations do not survive against
aggressors on a majority vote of the chances. We have to
prepare ourselves not only against a fifty-one por cent
danger, but also against a one per cent risk.
Regraded Uclassified
124
- 4 -
The Congress has already authorized large expenditures
for our military, naval and air forees, and - are already
on the way to total defense. When we start and are eth-
barked on such a program, it behooves us to asks Against
what are we defending?
We all know the answer to this question, if - keep
in mind that we are trying to safeguard ourselves against
all possible dangers. We are making ourselves strong
enough to meet the possible and potential danger of the
aggressor nations.
It is not enough to think of tactical units of infantry,
of a float of ships, or squadrons of aircreft. We must
be in a position as soon M possible to outstrip any 0000>
bination of our possible or potential enemies in both the
productive capacity for defense materiel and in the amount
of such materiel on hand. That is the smallest amount of
insurance that - are justified in carrying for the people
of this nation.
The needs for defense materiel in times as troubled
and as changing as the present increase rapidly. In
Regraded Uclassified
125
50 + I
foreeasing our needs, it is wise to allow n margin of
safety. Two things = should leep as the minimum safety
factors: Our geographical situation; and the fighting
spirit and productive capacity of the nations which are
resisting the aggressors. Our major aim should be to
outstrip the aggressor nations in productive capacity and
defense articles on hand, without reference to what the
other democracies are doing and producing or without ref-
erence to the advantage which our geographical situation
may give us.
One of the reasons for our longstanding supremacy has
been that we have always had such margins of safety over
and above our own military and naval forces and equipment,
One of the reasons for the past supremacy of the British
Fleet has been that it was built and developed on the
assumption that it should be larger and better than the
fleets of any possible combination of enemies.
Reliance on another country for all purposes is not
always sound. To a large extent, Britain assumed that
France and its productive capacity would be available to it,
Regraded Uclassified
126
But the French air bases and the French productive
capacity are no longer available to Britain. And, in
consequence, Britain does not, for example, have enough
long-range bombers. By the same token, France was certain
that its Maginot Line and its army were invulnerable. Ware
are not wan on such certainties.
Conditions change so rapidly that only an adequate
productive capacity and an adequate number of defense
articles on hand can make it possible to adapt to such
changes. For this country an adequate productive capacity
and an adequate number of defense articles on hand means
enough of its own productive capacity and equipment to
outmatch any possible combination of enemies.
The Defense of Those Nations Whose
Defense is Vital to Our Defense.
The outposts of our defense today are in Great Britain,
in Greece, in China, and in those countries which are now
being threatened by the aggressors. The aggressors are our
potential enemies. We could, if we abandoned all the lessons
Regraded Uclassified
127
,
of history and experience, withdraw our defenses from
Pearl Harbor, from Newfoundland, or even from Governor's
Island. But we have learned over a long period that,
as we move our defenses outward, we lessen the dangers
of attack on San Francisco, Boston or New York.
We can have outposts of defense without owning land
or without military or neval bases. We can have out-
posts of defense that do not require the utilisation of our
armed forces in combat. We have such outposts of defense
today in the battle spots of the world.
Every gun, and every ship, and every tank, and every
bomber we make available to the democracies tends to weaken
or defeat our potential enemies. If Britain, and China,
and Greece prevail--and we hope they will--our blood and
treasure will not have to be spent in combat. If they
fail, we shall have to continue spending billions upon
billions more to safeguard our security and way of life,
and no man can say that our youth will then not have to
fight for what we all treasure 80 much.
The heart of H.R. 1776 is defense equipment--equipment
which remains under the control of the United States
Regraded Uclassified
128
B
Government until it is ready for disposition. is lang
as the fighting democracies hold out, each gun, each plane,
and each ship that the dispose of to them is worth more to
us in their hands than it would now be in our own. Not
only does this equipment in the hands of the resisting
democracies weaken our potential enemies, but we gain precious
time within which to develop our productive capacity to the
point where we can meet every possible contingency. Should
the sed day arrive when any one or all of these countries
resisting aggression go down, the defense articles which
we are produsing, and our capacity to produce them, will
be the most valuable assets that a free people can have.
Defense Expenditures and
Our Defense Program
In ay budget message to the Congress of January 8, 1941,
I summarized the program for the fiscal years 1940, 1941,
and 1942. The present request is, of course, an additional
part of this same program.
If - do not increase our present rate of actual ox-
penditures for defense, we can not be completely sure that
Regraded Uclassified
129
no will be ready in time to meet all possible threats to
our national security.
From July 20 1940 through March 4, 1941, 100 expended,
through the Har and Navy Departments, the amount of
$2,947,518,549 for national defense purposes. is was
stated in w budget measage of January 3, 1941, appropri-
ations, authorisations, and recommendations have already
been made for a total of $28,480,000,000 for the defense
program.
The daily expenditures for defense have been steadily
mounting and are reflected in the steadily increasing -
bore of gans, ships, tanks, and airplanes that are coming
off the lines. However, we are not getting fast enough for
all possible needs the essential equipment which we require.
One of the greatest single factors chich affects the
rate at which we get this essential equipment is our capacity
to produce. To make guns, and ships, and airplanes, we need
aluminum and tin, machine tools, and machinery, plant space,
and, above all, trained men and women. The have rapidly 02-
pended our capacity for all of these things. But st 10 want
Regraded Uclassified
130
- 10 -
to be assured of having finished defense equipment in time,
we must still more greatly expand our productive capacity
for raw materials, for machine tools, for plant space, and
for training personnel. We must do this not only to be sure
that the moneys appropriated and requested are translated
into equipment in time, but also to make sure that the funds
granted by the Congress pursuant to this request are put
to the most effective use with the greatest possible speed.
That is the reason that so comparatively large a portion
of the present request is for the expansion of such produe-
tive capacity.
The Benefits to the United States
and the Present Request.
The present request is admittedly large. But, the
people of France and the people of those other countries
that have been swallowed up might once have felt that their
defense expenditures were large. How, they doubtlees feel
that they are as nothing compared to the yoke of the aggressor.
If the life of our nation is worth the blood of our people
Regraded Uclassified
131
- 11 -
in the case of attack, it is certainly worth the premiums
required to be paid to forestall the possibility of such
attack.
The appropriations which Congress grants in response
to this request will have many advantages. The defense
articles procured with such appropriations will be used to
defeat or weeken our possible enemies. They will give us
irreplaceable time within which to develop our productive
capacity to the point where we can obtain and replenish the
materials of war faster and better than our potential enemies.
They will put us into a position where we can safeguard our-
selves against any possible combination of enemies.
To us as a people and as a nation, these benefits can
not be appraised in dollars--they are of a value far beyond
money or other similar tangible considerations. However,
the framework of H.R. 1776 and the administration of it will
doubtless result in nany additional benefits of 8 monetary
and similar character. Even though - deal in the most
generous manner--as we expect to--with the heroic peoples
Regraded Uclassified
132
n . $
who are fighting in our own defense as well as their own,
- can still receive many such additional benefits. We
do not need the rules of the market place to receive bene-
fits freely and generously offered by the demeeracies in
return for & similar generosity on our part. I an sure
that when this Government considers with the governments
which no are to assist under H.R. 1776 the whole range of
raw materials, trade concessions, military and naval bases,
and other property or consideration which they will gladly
offer to transfer to us, we will find that we have reaped,
in security and in more tangible benefits, more than -
have sown. The democracies can and will show that they can
stand together in time of dire need to their everlasting
mutual benefit. In this way, they shall always keep their
banners flying.
OSC:djb:aja
3-9-41
Regraded Uclassified
133
EXIMENT
m PURCHASING
of CONTRACTE or 2,00,00. = as
VALIME to - L
4a At 15, INI
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
DA Time of Address
Value
at
- N K
NOW of
súm
Product
total
ACTIVE
Deliverias
Bettles
Indellevent
Capital
=
Predent
Total
Capital
Probat
tital
Tiguida 7
treat
Airline
,
205,973,449.01
205,70,449.00
42,465,752.79
-
20,899,711.85
stryland Eagines
-
119,05,994.60
219,933,958.60
-
$0,510,000.33
73,096,712.03
-
18,978,557.62
18,978,557.41
-
-
12,196,908.07
130,049,011.26
-
5,730,314.63
5,730,316.63
.
4,974,537.00
10,648,380.90
Airest Products
#
469.459.551.27
161,149,809.18
-
43,008,586.30
43,108,986.10
-
96,306,877.80
96,306,877.00
Mashine hols
#
24,704,297.75
16,704,297.72
24,537,961.77
-
-
5,000,000.00
1,966,354.70
3,960,354.70
-
5,038,000.00
-
-
2,166,335.95
(==)1,800,018.75
-
946,000.00
Squipment
1,487,265.00
17,729,486.73
946,000.00
.
.
-
19,124,761.73
7,220,161.09
414,066.25
5,000,000.00
1,389,560.00
1,803,626.25
aur Takinine
-
21,985,625.53
21,185,825.53
1,073,198.75
123,701.50
1,196,902.23
19,650,175.78
10,519,353.74
y,006,090,74
.
$27,545.00
1,629,244.00
427,565.00
-
Notale
-
1,619,264.00
1,203,303.34
766,222.90
766,222.90
1,935,149.75
341,461.85
-
-
-
.
-
7,04,000.00
.
-
Products
7,625,000.00
133,680.66
133,680.66
-
-
,
.
.
-
7,624,000.00
7,434,000.00
Total Investment Pridade
1,47,255.00
79,922,883.98
414,066.25
7,129,479.70
7,543,545.95
1,073,196.75
1,963,125.15
27,218,220.10
19,199,0.6.00
Cest 5/90
1.487.168.00
539.374.435.25
540.899.700,25
614,006.25
51,738,065.00
1,073,198.75
97,191,801.20
98,270,002.99
315,128,582.19
175.193.650.19
512,000.00
659,184,914.70
80,971,650.33
237,137,753.97
Airplace Supire
54,078,471.00
237.670.221.58
322,799,366.73
578,213,264.31
376,877,037.75
108,432,803.02
Airplace
160,583,052.51
3,140,000.00
46,747,446.90
296.230.941.90
169,726,360.39
2,296,043.12
7,142,000.10
20,244,153.01
22.384.153,01
44,651,383.86
Tvtal Advents Pribote
36,430,471.00
1,085,722,199.13
109,796,138.32
366,216,711.99
620,677,627.10
919,095,990.11
Backlos Timis
-
26,213,886.29
16,212,088.29
4349,010.80
-
4,03,000.00
Exploine &
6,05,686.02
22,476,800.00
63.179.03.76
15.648.192.08
1,720,781.81
34.590.030.27
3,968,30.80
America
61,506,462.07
20,956,0,8.19
REPORT'S
16,066,219.56
10,689,525.18
$4,683,240.90
Systement
37,374,766.08
36,763,300.70
195,542,984.66
232,306,205.16
99,033,968.84
63,289,052.62
11,581,103.31
28,697,063.24
62,278,168.57
These & Tack Apdyment
8,303,400.00
165,433,088.00
198,233,932.06
173,736,578.00
106,739,064.17
2,687,200.50
6,896,210.00
30,309,196.74
Holor Fekisles
37,205,404.74
1/2,748,887.50
17,803,374.48
17,800,376.28
7,173,852.70
-
3,092,542.50
befirms details
3,030,542.50
10,629,223.78
2,750,000.00
24,882,01.44
29,630,01.44
7,590,961.38
17.10.420.13
1,300,000.00
3,660,348.06
8hlp e write Zytipment
3,760,348.00
9,530,990.51
$,179,000.00
100,376,000.00
108.575.000.00
8,58,60.00
2,029,848.70
3,500,000.00
22,074,933.33
Eleatrical Sydpent
25,576,933.33
98,346,151.30
-
1,896,569.33
00.970.217,97
1,896,544.33
-
379,323.87
any Har
379,313.87
-
1,070,091.60
1,896,569.33
1,070,092.60
1,070,098.60
1,517,255.46
-
-
-
-
.
Products
108.007.903.54
673.793.399,20
782.661.301.78
115,729,486.22
94,564,871.36
124,002,734.47
358,063,910.96
48,346,196.03
- D/M1
165,699,374.50
1,762,645,127.03
190,237,466.14
699,225,253.13
1,07,159,509.09
1,00,488,130.34
- Total - Presis a
107,185,409.58
I
29,769,481.60
52,728,005.00
0.19.19.05
97,04,270.86
777,08,25.00
I
Formating
Institud livision, Bay THE
February 25, 192
herized are " ATTAL
Regraded Jolassified
134
the
ILLIVE to = " antigre
AND CONTACTS OF of NO
- 1
de AS Felenary 15, Par
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Tital We of
Value
and
bénome tax DMBL of
Value 4F
Contract -
Supplier
Ristal
Cepttal
of
Product
Title)
Trank Member
cum Hours
to
Capital
Product
time
Tystem
Total
listad
Due
FUL +
carp.
754 thunk Airfram
-
1,057,189.60
les 1. 1.
1,257,189.62
1,031,071.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,318,60
5,325.40
N°
Constituted airest Carry
28-5-07 Flaire e
-
4,432,130.81
San Stege, Culde,
6,60,10.21
1,490,131.63
-
3,20,366.99
#
1,356,635.00
1,336,635.00
3,377,796.50
1-129
Inited Aircraft name
V-156 2im &
-
2,772,280.00
2,772,280.00
san Cress.
329,454-10
-
1,600,750.75
1,000,730.79
-
561,202.15
561,202.35
2,662,88.90
1,050,872,80
Douglas Aircraft Dorju
Airplanes spare Propeilizes
-
13,333,130.21
Sarta Indos, Callf,
23,333,130.23
33,310,828.76
-
-
-
#
-
-
22,353.45
22,509.45
3-277
Steen 1. artis its,
Cartia Model 167-F, Parte
-
27,453,123.11
Saltimers, M.
27,451,129.13
-
and signipment.
777,286.52
-
4,386,333.97
4,386,331.97
12,90,106.00
7,637,501.60
Mm
Comp.
Pursult Flame, Titas e
-
10,952,638.38
10,952,638.38
les Twis, M. Y.
5,979,748.00
-
Tubes
775,234.80
77,205.80
-
-
-
1,973,890.34
1,198,854.58
with AMERICAN aviation,
M-4 Tradelag
#
3,174,840.70
1,174,560.70
inglamat, Galif.
3,077,777.33
.
Englass a
25,012.21
23,012.22
#
,
-
77,062.00
33,250.00
-
bots American aviailem,Inn.
most - Propellers,Ingiam,
-
997,523.63
Calif.
797,523.51
962,218.63
-
-
Spares
-
.
1,016.05
1,014.05
35,606.90
33,990.13
7-2%
Orman Airents Corp.
Pundt Flame,
-
4,671,588.26
6.091,648.26
Belts E. T.
6,679,200,33
-
-
-
-
7,348.11
7,348.11
12,487.93
1,139.82
N%
Couglas sirenth Corp.
Ugal
,
18,977,163.30
unles, Callf.
10,977,143.30
-
Bost
234,976.59
$34,396.59
-
407,029,00
477,029.00
1,539,300.31
091,676.72
F-472
Bostag Aircraft Ca.
240 03-78 Airplanes and
I
30,582,735.96
-
-
Dettile, fash,
Spares
5,916,000.00
3,916,000.00
-
10,530,973.12)
30,582,720.26
14,135,777.90
1-177
Consolidated attent Copy.
La 30 Spares
,
38,711,311.74
38,721,311.74
-
.
(Ma Plago, Callf.
1,837,500.00
1,837,500.00
-
14,999,790.71
36,711,311.74
21,873,091.03
MIL
unique Airents Corp,
that Morthrop A-37A Planne,
,
1,619,759.52
3,619,729.32
3,619,710.52
E
-
-
lanta fallf,
-
-
-
I
-
.
N/M
Isro American aviation,Inc.
Trainer Flanes, Fratt à
-
18,481,778.60
18,001,778.65
#
-
Registrat, Callf,
4,096,477.00
inglane
4,096,403.00
-
1,789,986.31
4,769,966.31
18,481,776.50
9,615,389.29
longlas direct Corp.
10-72 Airplanes, Spares
-
30,138,180.81
30,538,180.82
-
-
Sasta Calif,
3,871,000.00
3,971,000.00
-
13,509,631.00
13,509,611.00
30,538,182.62
13,157,545.81
total
-
205,973,449.01
205,973,449.03
51,459,952.79
-
20,097,711.86
20,899,711.1
-
50,510,872.33
73,096,912.03
Airplans
Carp.
Cyclane Engines
-
1,969,728.00
3,989,728.00
2,953,745.27
=
611,773,20
611,777.26
.
.
Yes Tork, 1. 1.
-
604,009.97
F-1/0
dreaft Corp.
Pratt & Ritney 7win -
-
7,450,776.00
7,450,776.00
7,450,776,00
-
-
-
Surt Nurtherd, Dan.
-
-
-
,
-
Jr. Englaee
NN
.
Crited Airent Cury.
Pratt & Whitery they 574-4
-
4,189,720.28
6,188,720.18
6,288,720.28
-
-
-
-
.
.
-
an lartford, Date
-
Inglass
.
leise Aircraft Corry.
Prett & Whitevey tesp 5304-0
-
7,177,439.50
7,177,639.50
last liartfied, Seen,
7,177,639.50
-
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
.
Englose
Valted Airmit Curp.
fairp 0044 Englase
.
5,791,989.00
5,791,989.00
bot Number, -
5,791,989.00
-
-
-
-
#
-
-
,
.
intlud Urensft Carp.
Paid Date Englines
-
7,273,099.00
7,273,059.00
7,273,059.00
-
-
-
F
1
1
-
-
Burt Hartfund, Dan,
NR
United airmit Carp.
Twing ingines
-
8,602,087.00
8,82,007.00
7,628,300.82
-
790,050.14
an Berthed, Crass.
790,050.14
#
17,4%.02
17,4%.03
1,773,786.18
566,242.00
-
betts Aviation Carp.
zom & 27.30 Engine Starters
-
2,180,083.20
2,180,083.30
538,937.60
-
013,000.07
+
-
-
bests, 3, J.
1,641,145,70
827,653.77
- .
laters Corp.
9-2720-015 Buglose
-
2,001,000.00
2,001,000.00
2,001,000.00
-
F
-
1
-
-
-
I
fork, F. I,
NO
General Drtes Corp.
9-2720-015 English
-
12,180,000.00
12,180,000.00
4,495,516.92
.
3,535,625.00
3,535,625.00
*
301,517.50
Para Delk, M. I,
301,517.50
7,734,183.18
3,887,340.38
(-))
United Airents Corp.
They are Registe
-
1,522,675.00
1,322,879.40
1,322,879.10
-
-
-
.
#
-
-
-
last Come,
NO
Inital Airmitt Corp.
ligare Paris for Enginee
-
1,616,899.34
1,616,839.34
1,393,772.33
-
64,072.72
64,071.72
.
71,000.29
71,953.29
last Partford, Com.
223,06/7.83
47,072.00
I
Valted Aircraft Corp.
funy Indian
-
34,667,775.10
34,647,779.00
4,720,389.35
-
7,249,548.04
7,249,545.04
-
last Nartford, Come.
10,117,172.54
10,319,172.56
29,967,381.66
11,140,068.07
No
General Intore Dairy,
Vartina Tocia # Spare Parts
-
1,546,915.36
1,534,915.36
175,560.77
.
-
1
-
665,846.81
665,646.01
1,349,356.79
640,507.00
I've York, N. T.
1-37
United Airwark Carry,
Run N-1830 Englose
-
4,907,381.90
4,907,551.90
20,000.00
-
1,06,342.79
1,616,342.79
-
1,114,257.31
1,114,097.31
4,866,333.47
1,135,903.37
Cast Hartfund,
-
United Airends Carj,
Rate - Englase
-
2,306,702.40
2,306,752.10
2,306,902.10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
an Hartfied, Dan,
-
Carp.
1-200 Cyclane buglam
-
108,034,530.68
118,034,510.68
14,02,129.0
-
3,477,659.69
3,497,699.69
-
27,781,431.00
27,792,433.00
83,214,380.00
$1,912,268.16
Bes lers, I, T.
/-
Inited Airman Dary,
Spare Parte for Bigine
-
2,09,672.32
2,539,672.32
1,64,301.62
-
-
-
-
511,00.95
561,529.93
$95,290.90
354,266.99
list lartfant, Come,
Total
.
-
15,976,537.53
18,778,537.01
-
132,049,011.36
77,245,985.36
135
THE NATURE PRODUCTED -
FURER mos CORPLACES - =
Value to = 5. INLIATE
" at Telenary 1% 150
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Page #
Total failure of Distract
Value
to Credit if
Was 5
Shale
and
of
NEW -
Destruct -
Supplier
Marial
miss
num -
undivid
y
Delhi
Total
Deliveria
Capital
Products
Total
Capital
Probect
Total
Timela -
United
NO
Douglas aireraft OF
Askd are ring united
-
3,112,731.50
3,112,731.50
.
-
F
,
Santa allr,
MIT .
Corp.
List Tratsers, are
-
2,066,340.19
2,064,540.39
-
-
-
-
1.1.
parte
$35,070.10
170,140.27
In-bile
Cofted Airentt Corp.
familition Standard Prepations
,
3,806,538.73
5,600,558.73
3,553,176.00
-
500,064.40
500,066.20
-
379,046.50
539,866.58
2,253,185.00
Seet Hartford, Com.
1,111,771.87
-
befor aviation Cerp.
Aircraft Signe Blarters
-
9,300,038.00
7,299,838.60
1,792,800.00
-
1,621,158.50
-
3,2%,173.50
7,294,375.50
5,007,238.40
3,090,036.40
Smitts, M. 2.
NA
United Aircraft City,
Spare Parts &
.
1,299,253.56
1,279,233.56
199,466.18
-
6,531.0
6,531.41
-
-
-
1,108,767.00
1,000,295.09
last Martford, Dam,
for sero Englass
Curtize-Rright Corp.
Propellors, including
If
11,897,201.00
11,687,201.00
5,407,698.35
-
2,905,802.50
2,935,802.50
-
310,265.00
350,265.00
6,179,502.85
3,103,435.35
See York, 11, 1.
various additions
Total
I
33,550,143.58
33,590,143.50
12,196,908.97
-
5,730,316.63
5,730,316.63
-
4,974,137.08
4,976,537.00
21,19,234.81
10,644,380.90
Total Aircraft Products
-
659,499,551.27
454,459,351.27
161,369,809.18
-
45,608,586.10
43,608,586.10
-
96,306,877.80
297,909,742.09
Trails
F-250 *
R.F. Sachine Tval Oc. Tathem
-
1,171,443.60
1,671,441.50
1,171,443.00
-
-
-
-
-
I
-
-
law Tark, 3, 1.
MW .
Email & Tranker Carp.
villing Machine & Equipment
-
13,352,07.76
13,152,017.76
11,877,900.00
-
3,602,003.21
3,602,003.20
-
-
-
1,474,110.96
1,127,952,24(e)
Wis,
T-NA .
true a Starge
Serve Washines
-
1,799,754.00
1,799,754.00
1,799,754.00
-
.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Providence, B. I.
P-Y71 .
United Engineering &
Spdgemt for Alundre
-
7,099,266.63
3,699,266.63
-
-
-
-
-
.
-
-
Ca.
Killa
Pittsburg, 7a.
F-(1) .
lantis Tool Co.
Orinders, Flamers, etc.
-
1,738,054.03
1,738,084.03
1,580,214.00
#
113,031.00
113,031.00
-
+
.
157,849.95
44,200.00
7a.
MM .
Cioclarati Willing Markins
Oristing à Willing Mastines
-
1,196,036.20
1,196,026.20
979,491.90
-
$6,000.00
88,458.00
-
-
+
217,534.30
129,036.30
& Clarimatt
Cinctenatt, this
Mill .
liveld Navidas Co.
etc.
-
2,037,895.00
2,037,855.00
1,861,576.26
-
109,012.50
109,012.50
,
I
I
176,278.74
47,266.26
Ress,
P-647 .
Leland-Cifford Or,
Drilling Mackines, etc.
.
1,213,852.50
1,213,852.51
1,073,290.50
-
53,750.00
$3,750.00
-
-
-
140,562.00
86,212,00
Surcestor, lians,
Total
,
36,704,297.72
26,704,277.72
14,537,961.77
-
3,966,354.70
3,964,354.70
-
-
-
2,166,335.99
Ammittion
9
1-115 .
Pollack mr. De.
Vetallic Parte fir Plass
2,838,000.00
2,838,000.00
-
#
346,000.00
*
-
-
-
a,838,000.00
1,892,000.00
Arlington, a. 4.
24/11 ETC.
P-174
Trangetom Short a Tule Ca.
Shall Quality Steal Inste
2,200,000.00
2,200,000,00
-
-
-
F
#
-
-
.
a,200,000.00
2,200,000.00
file
Total
-
5,038,000.00
5,038,000.00
-
#
946,000.00
946,000.00
-
-
-
5,036,000.00
6,092,000.00
Prinance
P=5L
Sperry Cyrosenja
learthlights, Ind Location,
-
2,433,933.25
2,633,733.28
1,236,826.50
-
0.976
49,976.51
-
-
-
197,106.33
147,129.74
Brooklyn, N. T.
Barbase & times
M .
International Constral
Searchlight Squipment,
2,368,232.00
2,168,132.00
1,129,532.16
.
7,174.95
7,171.8
-
-
-
-
36,699.84
31,526.89
Elsetrie Ce.
Fortalde Fresh Flarte
See York, N. I.
F-675
Patent Fire Are
Oma & Spare
1,477,215.00
5,637,625.00
7,124,890.00
705,337.32
614,066.25
1,26,40.03
1,710,515.88
1,073,198.75
123,703.30
1,196,902.25
afg. Co.
llurtford, Come.
P-688
Sparty Dyroseope Ge,Ins.
Complete
4,642,171.78
6,463,171.79
1,378,462.38
-
19,354.70
19,356.70
#
-
-
3,003,709.40
3,066,356.70
-
Brooking, N. T.
N/W 4
International
Partable
-
2,857,534.70
2,887,536.70
$67,784.23
-
16,236.11
16,204.11
.
-
-
2,297,750.47
2,272,546.36
Dectric Co.
Prese Plants
le York, y. T.
Total
1,447,265.00
17,739,496.73
19,226,761.73
7,130,142.99
414,066.25
1,399,560.00
1,007,626.25
1,073,198.75
123,703.50
1,196,903.15
10,519,353.74
9,006,090.24
Siction Tettales
INCI
.
General
That Change
-
15,280,711.50
15,280,711.50
13,348,461.75
107,563.00
627,565.00
-
764,223.90
764,222.90
1,935,269.79
-
les Tork, a. x,
7
MARK International inter
Task Train & Spare
1,646,000.44
3,646,000.16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,46,000.00
-
-
Trank Cory.
Parta
Long Inland am N.t.
1-5%
.
The Matte Motor Go,
Trusks, total 92
-
1,617,805.30
3,627,805.30
-
-
-
-
-
-
.
-
3,617,805.30
Sim ton, N, I.
Caterpillar truster Da.
1,018,304.29
1,016,300.29
1,018,308.29
,
#
-
F-728 .
-
Truston
-
4
#
-
-
Pearla, m.
Total
-
21,585,423.53
19,650,575.78
,
$27,165.00
827,565.00
-
155,200.00
706,327.90
1,935,249.75
30,461.95
136
TE BRITISH PERCLASING MISSIONS
Page 3
FORMER FRENCH CONTRACTS OF $1,000,000. OR OVER
as At Fabruary 15, 1%1
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
We is 1. - Dollars
Total Value of Contract
Value
Advences Outstanding To Credit of Rissions
Value of
Belance
Classification
of
French Advances
JUM Advances
Indulivered
of
and
Supplier
Naterial
Capital
Product
Total
Deliveries
Capital
Product
Total
Capital
Product
Total
Naterial
Payments Due
Contract No.
Metale
Copper Export Ass's.
Ansconda Electrolytic
-
1,419,264.00
1,419,264.00
1,285,383.34
-
-
-
-
-
-
133,880.66
133,880.66
22
.
Set York, N. T.
Zine
Total
-
1,419,264.00
1,419,264.00
1,285,383.34
-
-
-
-
-
-
133,880.66
133,680.66
petroles Products
iviation Casoline
-
5,292,000.00
5,292,000.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,292,000.00
5,292,000.00
NI (a) Due 011 Co.
Philadelphia,Pa.
(a)
Compagnie Industrialle
Aviation Casoline
-
2,134,000.00
2,134,000.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,134,000.00
2,134,000.00
V-89
des Patroles
les York, 5, T.
Total
-
7,426,000.00
7,426,000.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,426,000.00
7,426,000.00
Total Non-tircraft
1,487,265.00
79,912,883.98
$1,400,148.98
52,694,063.88
414,066.25
7,129,479.70
7,543,545.95
1,073,198.75
689,926.40
1,963,125.15
27,218,820.10
19,199,414.00
Orand Total French
1,487,265.00
539,372,435.25
540,859,700.25
214,243,873.06
414,066.25
52,738,065.80
53,152,132.05
1,073,198.75
97,196,804.20
98,270,002.95
325,128,562.19
175,193,692.19
. Contracts being completed by April 30, 1941.
(a) Contracts in process of Cancellation,
British Purchasing Commission
Statistical Division, See York
February 25, 1941
Revised March 9, 1941
Regraded Uclassified
137
Page -
no BUYING Missions
ORITING CONTRACTS OF $,000,000, or wa
Will La u; a. Dellars
a at Fationality 15, 19d
STRICTLY CONSIDENTIAL
Total Value of Contract
Value
Advances - Credit at Wisstons
Value of
Mes
and
of
Undelivood
if
Contract Br.
Suppliar
Material
Capital
Product
Tital
Delivaries
Depital
Product
Total
Material
Payments De
Airfrease
A=37
Consulidated Aircraft Cary.
firing Sexte
-
16.250.598.03
16,259,08.03
240,875,16
-
10,205,488.61
10,205,488.61
15,018,764.87
5,613,276.26
Sea Diago, Calif
1-67
Lockbred Aircraft Cary.
Hadem I, II . m
-
22,381,810.59
20,981,810.57
22,328,990.90
-
207,426.76
202,646.26
252,819.69
50,773.15
callf.
A-68
Lockboad Aircraft Curp.
Single Sent Pightere
-
30,566,978.29
30,566,778.29
.
7,271,994.34
7,277,991.14
17,190,871.03
Burlank,
I-75
Deventer corr.
buffalows, Naming too
-
12,190,396.37
12,190,376.37
3,060,350.44
-
3,588,381.00
7,100,045.93
1,90,000.93
in The N. T.
A-14
Ourtier-Rright Corp.
liast CA & 87A
-
(3,331,628.88
29,002,930.46
-
10.120.107.97
10.420.107.97
7,408,990.45
Yes form, 5, T.
4-07
Donglas Aircraft Corp.
Diatim Benders
-
62,120,155.43
22,128,194.43
52,781.20
-
14,794,021.47
27,081,336.36
Santa Mondal, SALE
1-16
Birth American Ariation
Harvarda
-
24,507,560.78
-
3,193,517.80
3,193,517.80
13,573,700.50
9,280,182.50
Baglemod,Callf.
A-150 .
Cookheed Attents Durp.
Planse
-
1,500,000.00
1,500,000.00
20,10.01
-
-
-
1,130,596.79
1,138,958.79
turback, CALLE
-
Dall Aircraft Corp.
-
11,910,927.50
11,010,927.50
17.55
-
4,850,900.00
4,740,000.70
11,710,374.55
6,150,399.35
quitain, 1. Y.
4-2%
Giam L. Wartin D,
liabers Modal 127
464,000.00
11,213,00,0
55.677.531.40
-
132,667.51
32,880,317.01
22,797,316.39
Baltimore, No.
1-20
Lookheed Aircraft Curp.
Model 322
150,000.00
51,523,928.13
51.978.926.12
.
.
15,462,177.22
19,462,177.32
51,328,928.11
36,536,750.90
Burbank, Callf.
4-250
North America Aviation
N.A. 73's
-
14772,784.30
14,772,794.30
-
-
3,697,304.76
14,772,796.30
11,113,427.32
Englamed, Calife
A-344
Lookhered Aircraft Corp.
Modal 37's
-
33,033,460.50
33,033,660.40
.
-
11,106, 29.96
11,504,429.96
33,013,560.00
21,127,000.44
Burber Chilf,
- -
Leakhand Aircraft Corp.
Midel
-
2,154,347.39
2,532,347.39
-
26,138.61
57,180.72
Burback,
-
forth Aviation
II
-
1,578,510.51
3,970,510.51
111,01.91
P
1,504,983.51
1,604,193.61
3,607,066.70
Englawood, Celle.
Invelor Corp.
Single Seat Pightare
,
1,371,385.89
1,371,325.39
1,371,315.99
-
.
1
-
-
See York, N. 1.
1-00 -
halgian Government
Stagle Sest Pightare
-
1,192,101.10
1,192,140.10
1,192,166.10
1
.
F
-
,
6-157
fulles Aircraft Corp.
Dive lisabure & Spare
-
64,395,612.50
44,395,512.50
-
.
15,400,513.50
15,40,513.50
44.395.623.50
27,795,099.00
Vulten Field, Galif,
Bremiar Aerosantical Darp.
Dive
-
35.439.412.50
35,939,412.50
-
.
17,861,576.90
27,861,576.90
35,939,02.30
15,075,533.40
New York, M, To
Mill
.
Borth Aviating
dipare Peria - [arvard I
-
1,274,574.35
1,274,976.85
254,257.80
.
503,531.03
103,573,03
1,020,319.05
516,596.32
Englawod, Calif.
LOST
Pao America Airways
Figing Boste
3,328,986.00
3,328,986.00
-
-
-
1,553,100.00
1,193,100,00
3,328,986,00
1,775,860.00
lime York, M. 1.
A-1340
Dell Aircraft Corp.
2.400
-
9,875,000.00
9,975,000.00
-
-
5,307,500.00
5,307,500.00
9,875,000,70
4,587,300.00
Buffalo, 4. T.
4-3-51
.
Lockheed Abroad Corp.
Codestar Airplaner
-
1,143,568.87
1,123,568.87
306,013.45
-
236,508.17
238,508.72
677,553.42
199,047.20
Burlmak, CALLE,
6-1276
Bell Carp.
Aireclente
-
13,893,000.00
13,991,280.00
-
-
6,757,066.30
6,252,066.00
13,973,680.00
7,60,000
autrain, & 1.
1-3/20
invester Americantical Corp.
par lites
20.191,709.00
20,291,709.00
-
-
-
4,512,844.34
4,512,546.34
20,291,709.00
13,779,066.54
See York, a. T.
1-1/93
North Amertano Aviation Inc.
9473 Airplanes
-
11.292.677.50
15,292,677.50
-
-
6,764,119.00
6,264,119.10
15.192.677,50
9,026,558.10
Englament, Cellf.
trumes dircraft & Engineering Gorp.
0-35A Purvuit Fiance
-
6,381,556.00
4,381,586.40
-
-
2,943,587.50
1,943,587.50
3,438,098.70
Page, N. T.
Aircraft Corp.
Vultam Dive Sundaire
17,511,330.50
17,511,330.70
-
-
-
6,817,058.00
4,817,056.00
10,794,274.50
instrums, DALLE
--1*36
Valitam Aircraft Curp.
48-C Pureuit Flacho
-
10,186,791.38
10.186,795.38
-
-
5,687,967.49
1,007,567.59
10,186,795.30
Field, Callf,
1-1748
Lookheed Corp.
Places
-
0,229,862.50
61,229,862.50
-
-
12,825,000.00
13,815,000.00
(1,229,862.30
Surback, CALLE
4-17 19
Lockheed Atrantt Copy.
the D a Airliness
-
42.595.649.31
62,395,649.31
2,921,967.43
-
17,338,186.74
17,138,186.78
39,073,579.93
22,131,493.05
Calif.
J-1835
Obtise-Rright Corput
07A Airframes
-
23.11.067,20
22,414,007.70
-
-
10,850,000.00
10,850,000.00
23.014.047,20
11,164,087.20
kee Tork, a. 1.
Cortise-Rright Orrgo
754 - in 3 Mark Sparas
-
1,154,359.69
1,158,399.49
121,271.09
-
201,532.17
1,035,008.60
New hrs, a. 1.
4-2587
Airents
nytie losts
-
1,05,000.00
1,05,000.00
1,635,000.00
-
-
-
-
-
Jas Diags, CALLE
1-5068 .
Liberator Airplanes
2,44738.50
1,0479.00
6,754.87
-
Attnum Corpo
-
1,152,701.93
2,262,741.93
2,477,984.15
145,742.22
SAL Calle,
Total
612,000.00
659,184,714.70
659.796.924.70
132,667.61
237,537,753.97
237.670,121.58
578,213,264.35
341.154.842.77
Regraded Uclassified
138
e (
THE BUTTER PINCIASING
BUTTER contracts OF $ 000,000. in one
Value La 9, 1. follows
M at Patenary 15, 1941
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Total Value of Contract
Telm
at
Advance in Credit of classics
Value of
Valages
Destract Mr.
Supplier
Material
of
Cepital
Product
Undeltrund
&
Total
Delivries
Capital
Product
Total
Material
Payments -
Airgine Ingines
United Aircraft Ourp.
F. & R. BC36 Inglass 4 Propalisms
-
1,113,931.60
1,115,931.60
Nortford, Over.
1,115,931.60
#
-
.
-
-
1-75
Durties-Mright Corp.
CHISED & 26008
-
20,342,400.00
20,362,400.00
Eav Tork, N. 1.
12,252,111.60
#
3,635,596.60
5,635,995.10
8,000,288.60
4-196
Ourtine-Reight Corp.
furioda Biginess
16,305,200.00
64,894,161.50
81,201,361.50
Sev Tark, 5. T.
3,077,659.35
14,450,700.00
32.261.130.68
46,711,830.48
61.615,701.95
51,432,071.47
4-196
General Motore Corp.
Alliem Englass
4,465,837.00
63,190,680.00
69,657,517.00
New York, N. 1.
6,393,113.90
36,820,613.90
34,325,311.57
23,971,335.07
4-284
Dustad Aircraft Corp.
P. & R. name
6,406,634.00
14,300,140.00
20,906,374.00
but Hartford, Come
26,950.25
6,400,634.00
8,286,490.00
14,592,914.00
6,184,707.72
4-532
Durtine-Bright Corp.
Ragis Spares
-
2,792,847.65
2,792,547.53
1,178,601.39
-
New Terk, N. I.
791,892.07
791,892.07
1,614,246.36
882,354.19
A-787
Parkard Motor Da.
Solle Boyee Barlin II Inginee
24,900,000.00
110,000,000.00
134,900,000.00
-
Detrait, Wish,
26,900,000.00
19,549,904.56
44,449,904.36
110,000,000.00
90,450,099.44
4-5093
Outled Airoraft Corp.
Frutt & Whitesy Ragione
-
45,921,206.00
45,921,201.00
-
.
last Hartford, Come
11,480,201.50
11,480,301.50
43,921,204.00
34,460,904.30
Total
54,078,471.00
322,759,366.75
26,528,424.85
52,156,247.50
108,637,805.01
160,583,052.51
296,230,961.90
189,726,360.39
Airgine Answesorten
4-257
Corp.
Propellare
2,140,200.00
15,556,840.00
I've Tork, N. T.
17,696,640.00
325,863.08
2,140,000.00
7,613,288.34
9,733,280.54
13,230,076.40
7,617,688.38
4-320
United Aircraft Gorp.
Propellars
-
10,408,233.00
10,408,353.00
519,299.56
-
last Barkford, Come
3,944,921.04
5,944,991.04
9,899,053.16
3,546,138.00
4-324 .
Sperry Qyroscope Go,
-
1,260,000.00
1,260,000.00
1,105,333.75
-
Browdyn, a. 1,
17,403.74
17,403.74
76,466.23
$7,262.51
d-521
Fairebild Aviation Corp.
Others Thise
-
2,485,610.15
2,685,610.15
-
-
Jamaine, 9. I.
1,242,805.00
1,262,805.08
1,262,905.07
4-1453
Fairshild Aviation Dary.
Quants Nacidas -
-
1,160,198.15
1,160,198.15
116,436.75
.
Jamina, M. T.
515,506.56
$14,504.56
1,00,751.40
538,256.84
A-2551
Inited Aircraft Corp.
Propallars
-
4,458,120.00
4,458,120.00
.
-
1,114,530.00
Dat Barkford, Come
1,114,330.00
4,458,120,01
3,343,390,00
A-2553
United Airoraft Corp.
Propaliers, Complant Syret Contrile
-
1,797,600.00
1,797,600.00
-
-
last Hartford, Come
710,040.00
719,040.00
1,797,600.00
1,078,360.00
6-2552
United Airoraft Corp.
Propelliers
-
1,268,760.00
1,268,760.00
-
-
Date Burkford, Coun-
507,504.00
507,504.00
1,268,750,00
761,236.00
4-2555
United Alreraft Corp.
Propellers
-
1,110,523.00
1,110,523.00
-
-
Mat Sert/and,
277,630.75
277,600.75
1,110,523.00
€12,892.25
4-2556
libitted Alreraft Corp.
Propellars
.
2,813,400.00
1,813,400.00
-
-
and Nart/ord, Come
1,125,360.00
1,123,MA,00
2,813,400.00
4-2557
United Aircraft Carp.
Propallare
-
1,519,236.00
1,519,236.00
-
.
-
-
Duet Come
1,519,236.00
1,519,236,00
4-50%
Sperry Do.
Dosbeights, anything nam, ato
*
1,390,542.68
1,590,542.66
-
-
5.60.095.30
540,055.30
Brooklyn, x, T.
1,590,542.60
1,050,007.38
4-31.07
Corp.
Propellare
#
1,518,266.00
1,518,264.00
149,130.00
-
626,110.00
live Tat. 4. I.
626,110.00
1,309,134.00
70,000.00
Total
-,140,000.00
46,947,446.98
49,097,446.99
1,296,063.12
2,140,000.00
20,244,253.01
20,384,153.01
24,417,230.85
Total Aircraft Products
56,830,471.00
1,028,891,728.13
1,003,722,199.13
109,796,136.32
56,422,915.12
366,214,711.99
620,637,627.10
919,093,590.11
555,278,434.01
Regraded Uclassified
139
If NAITING namero came
GUYES OF EL,000,00 2
Age +
- at Ninary 15, 1942
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Qualified's
Total Value et District
film
to
Who of
belance
call
Gistrest Box
Reterial
at
Supplier
Capital
Condit st
intellived
of
froduct
Total
Indiverial
Copital
Product
Total
Wherld
Paymentle Dire
Machine Their
6-415 .
Louis a. Issues Gas,
Twile
-
1,277,250.30
1,277,294.00
1,277,050.00
-
-
-
#
-
Chicago, 111,
A-707 .
Lendo a. terms City
Dead Trule
-
1,275,000,00
1,273,000.01
1,227,050.00
-
#
-
Chinge, 111.
17,190.00
L-PIT ,
International markins Nd Dr.,
Lather
-
1,037,352.50
-
-
Last.
1,037,362.50
518,585.22
$13,585.00
1,037,368.50
518,777.38
4-1000
See Machine Down
Serve Buckines
-
1,310,600.00
1,310,600.00
-
-
line Britale, -
773,03.00
790,675.00
1,310,600,00
417,125.00
-
4-1212
krim Co.,
-
1,420,870.84
Burnetar, BMI.
541,409.30
-
327,845.04
327,843.04
881,201.56
933,776.50
4-1719
Milling Recking Gas,
Milling Manhine
-
1,196,166.50
Cinsinsai, Ohio
1,396,166.90
97,411.50
-
60,72.50
647,990.30
1,298,300
6-20-2 .
Lenda N. terms Co.,
Gast Bachine Tocks
-
1,05,000.00
1,235,000.00
1,205,450.02
-
Disage, n.
1,870.00
5,870.00
29,250.00
23,480.00
A-2300
Bakinnal - a,
Cheaking Menhines
-
1,962,673.00
1,962,075.00
-
-
Classland, Chile
$64,651.00
$64,082.00
1,982,875.00
1,097,993.00
A-3362
Cinsissati Billing Machine Dive
dilling Bechines
-
3,755,235.60
3.755.235.60
-
-
Custiments, Chio
1,251,745.20
1,151,745.20
3,755,235.60
1,503,490.40
A-3375
Clabult Markins CA.,
forget Latime * Epilyment
-
2,622,000.00
2,622,000.00
.
-
Midleon, Elet,
€74,000.00
$74,000.00
2,642,000.00
1,748,000.00
1-3629
& Sensary
Läthes & Equipment
.
2,167,125.00
2,167,125.00
-
-
-
-
Claveland, Class
1,187,125.00
2,167,125.00
6-3436
Weshine Gast
Lather & Spipment
.
1,072,781.85
1,672,761.83
-
-
197,573.95
Mediaso, Res.
557,993.95
1,672,781.85
1,115,187.90
6-352
4 Treder Corp.,
Billing Dattar Arbers
-
2,782,033.00
2,782,033.00
-
-
-
-
3,784,003.00
2,782,013.00
4-3527
National - Go.,
Automatic Serve Bachine
-
1,290,000.00
1,290,000.00
-
-
322,500.00
Claveland, Galo
312,300.00
1,290,000.00
967,503,00
6-3579
International Machtas 2 One,
farret Latine
.
1,007,190.00
1,007,190.00
-
-
251,797.50
251,797.50
Indianapolis, 1
1,007,190.00
755,382.50
Total
-
26,212,886.29
26,212,888.29
4,349,020.80
-
25,442,101.08
Explaine à Propellaste
1-27
are Feeter Co.,
TelleTs
667,000.00
2,000,000.00
2,567,000.00
741,072.97
222,333.33
-
Filsington, Del.
222,773.33
1,258,927.03
1,703,990.70
4-80
dilas Ferder Da.,
T.N.T.
760,000.00
2,000,000.00
3,760,000.00
199,360.00
257,333.33
#
253,333.33
Wilmingto, Dal.
1,804,640.00
2,311,306.67
1-111
Marvales Portar Days
Bicle Fundar
3,015,633.76
4,336,000.00
7,551,633.76
3,878.64
3,025,633.76
1,750,000.00
6,760,633.76
Wilmington, Dal.
4,534,131.30
A-174 .
E.I. dePost de fairure & Go, Inc.
Prite
-
1,308,800.00
1,308,800.00
782,00.16
.
(79,130.00
Ellatagica, Dale
478,150.80
526,329.66
67.899.06
1-676
Ive January Funden Cove
F.B.T. à Restations Rifle for
-
13,832,000.00
12,831,000.00
-
.
1,740,000.00
1.740,000.00
Isevil, New Jareey
12,832,000.00
11.092.000,00
A-502
Footer Date
Flast Rependion
25,004,000.00
,
25,474,000.00
-
25,279,000.00
-
23,279,000.00
#
The
215,000.00
(Mill .
Sex James Evenber Go.,
Flank Repartion
10,166,000.00
-
10,566,000.00
-
9,827,730.45
-
7,827,730.43
-
[sert], New Junes
738,269.59
Total
40,509,433.76
21,676,800.00
63.179.433.76
1,720,781.61
38.198.030.87
3,968,200.00
20,956,018.19
Ammilia
4-212
Americas Day a Printry Date
1,096,000.00
7,548,000.00
3,64,000,00
509,484.40
1,096,000.00
.
1,096,000.00
Bareish,
6,408,515.60
6,650,315.60
4-236
Bridgeport - Dov.
Durtridge Dates
325,000.00
1,469,000.00
1,750,000.00
261,383,45
325,000.00
300,916.65
625,926.65
-
1,303,446.53
502,701.90
1-190 .
Verturs Certify Dr.,
45 Cartridges
-
1,174,176.00
1,174,175.00
1,174,176.00
-
-
-
-
But Altra, m.
-
4-3,36
Our us. Day
$ Shalla
424,000.00
2,485,000.00
2,780,000.00
260,932.53
$21,000.00
Nove Tork, 1. L
738,590.07
1,910,06,60
+-31)
Beters a
-303 Caricidge
-
6,127,500.00
6,127,900.00
3.239.176.79
-
.
-
last live, m.
4-305 .
Imagingion Are -
42 Carteridge
-
1,430,755.20
1,430,755.20
1,009,465.21
-
407,861.19
Bridgepart, -
607,001.19
421,289.99
13,406.00
-
Area Sex:
.90 Certridge
315,030.00
1,352,266.00
5,668,116.00
165,808.25
315,000.00
Bridgeport, Code
1,80,507.96
3,156,542.94
5,136,477.75
1.10.799.51
-09 .
Burrisberg Stand Corp.,
1
-
1,107,781.35
1,207,781.35
3,107,781.38
-
,
-
-
-
Pass.
A-MI
Date Dritimes Registers, Tax.,
1
-
10,097,200.00
10,097,500.00
3,510,016.25
-
Olais
99,45.00
989,05.00
4.987.431.75
5,598,008.73
HM
Restagion known 05.,
30 Sall
Dridgeport, -
938,501.00
8,750,000.00
9,000,500.00
369,567.00
925,000.40
5,607,508.25
6,352,408.25
4-779 .
L 1. Blise 4
The Return Certify a
1.11670.80
-
1.3670610
#
572,048.21
-
-
Breklyn, L L
742,056.50
A-002
! I
3
by liver, Com.
1560673
-
1,962,187.60
2,01,642.35
6,083,000.00
2,100,000.00
140
THE
Pum 7.
CONTRACTE or $1,000,000 - NO
- et Petruary 15, that
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Total Value of Contrast
Outstanting Le
Paline of
belame
and
of
Credit of Redeme
Indelivered
of
No.
Auppliser
Naturial
Capital
Product
Total
Dellerdam
Capital
Prvitiret
Total
National
Payments the
- (Contime)
Carter Co.
Prose
1
-
1,171,472.00
1,171,472.85
$99,990.00
.
118,637.42
118,637.40
611,000.05
493,245.45
21. Louis, -
MII
Curter Carbureter Co.,
Poses
347,212.00
4,223,800.00
4,471,012,00
-
$47,212.00
644,760.00
1,091,972.00
4,225,800.00
3,379,040.00
St. Louis, Mo.
RoebLing Netal Corp.
Pleasing a Prontair Ret
-
10,000,000.00
10,800,000.00
-
-
2,700,000.00
2,700,000.00
10,800,000.00
8,100,000.00
Middletom, Com.
A-LID
S.A. Fooda Machine Co.
-75 = Shalle
914,881.00
3,840,000.00
6,754,801.00
-
$94,732.19
1,471,814.00
2,366,546.19
3,840,000.00
2,389,336.01
De. Boston, Sear.
A-LND
Netional Co.
37 - Fistreing Shirt
150,000.00
1,420,000.00
1,580,000.00
-
-
395,000.00
395,000.00
1,420,000.00
1,169,000.00
liew Tork, 1, T.
A-LMG
Iridgeport Brans Ce,
Cartoridge Canse
#
1,103,400.00
1,103,200.00
282,750.00
-
275,850.00
279,450.00
$20,650.00
$44,800.00
Bridgeport, Com.
A-1562
Seatern Cartridge D.
Jos Bille Cartridges
1,850,000.00
11,095,000.00
13,745,000.00
1,000,833.83
1,804,000.00
1,829,250.00
3,633,250.00
10,371,164.18
9,090,716.18
last Altan, 111.
d-1447
Trajas Porter Co.,
Assechling, Louding 10 1b. Bonks
-
1,600,000.00
1,600,000.00
-
1
400,000.00
400,000.00
1,600,000.00
1,200,000.00
Allantews,
6-1720
Bridgeport trues Da.
20 - Cartridge These
-
1,578,150.00
1,578,130.00
-
-
394,537.50
394,537.30
1,578,150.00
1,183,612.50
Bridgeport, Come
6-2263
Pollmo Standard Car Et. Osy
Shalle
385,000.00
2,675,000.00
1,060,000.00
I
385,000.00
672,500.00
1,057,500,00
2,875,000.00
2,002,300.00
See Tark, y, T.
A-2731
Tokheis all Task & Pap Co.
Installation of Special Equip.
206,768.00
2,167,500.00
2,374,268.00
-
206,768.00
327,125.00
331,093.00
2,167,300.00
1,842,370.00
Part Rayne, Ind.
HOW
Crooker Cheeler Electric Mrg. Do,
10 1h, Mortar Donte
161,000.00
2,153,637.00
2,312,637.00
-
101,000.00
$37,909.00
695,909.00
2,151,677.00
1,813,708.00
des Tark, 5, E,
win
Area Co.
,30 Dalibre
1,831,000.00
1,169,000.00
3,000,000.00
-
1,831,000.00
1,169,000.00
3,000,000.00
1,169,000.00
1
Artigsport, Com.
1-27695
Vertam Cartridge Do,
45 Callbre
-
2,378,250.00
2,376,250.00
195,206.51
.
1,070,213.50
1,070,212.50
2,183,043.49
1,112,000.99
DAIS Alson, m.
L. 1, Alles & Co.
Marhine Tosis for Turgedose
1,000,000.00
6,250,000.00
7,250,000.00
-
$80,000.00
775,000.00
1,273,000.00
6,250,000.00
3,977,000.00
Brooklyn, N. T.
HW)
Materbury Block Co.
Place
177,398.57
3,490,000.00
3,647,398.57
-
-
622,300.00
622,500.00
2,490,000.00
2,044,008.57
Waterbury, Cons.
-
National Fireworks Iss.
Leading à Aaranh Ling 75 - Omplete
-
3,892,000.00
3,992,000.00
-
-
300,000.00
300,000.00
3,892,000,00
3,592,000.00
Test Recorder,
Rande
1-2998
Bridgeport Breas Oa,
an - Cartridge Cases
$25,000.00
1,750,000.00
2,275,000.00
-
$25,000.00
-
523,000.00
1,710,000.00
1,750,000.00
Bridgeport, Com,
4-17%
National Fireworks Inv.
Shalle
32,690.00
1,720,000.00
1,742,690.00
,
22,640.00
397,000.00
379,600.00
1,720,000.00
1,363,000.00
Fast Secret, Mass,
Total
12,349,479.12
115,019,188.40
128,268,667.52
16,068,214.46
10,609,525.18
26,685,240.90
37,374,766.08
99,832,968.82
Ordinance
1-3
Tourry Cyrcatope Da,
Preditions
-
1,295,623.00
1,295,625.00
988,350.00
-
-
-
307,075.00
Prooklyn, N. T.
Coll's Patent Fire Are Or,
Markine Gune, visa,
001,835.00
6,112,549.41
6,913,344.41
507,324.01
000,025.00
1,273,743.58
2,074,578.50
3,605,225.60
4,331,401.00
Nartford, Down,
4-312
Note Intrance
Sub-tachton Dues
-
5,672,237.50
3,471,237.50
5,473,237.50
-
-
-
-
-
Exe Two N. T.
4-411 .
" 5, Steed Require
Riflee,Cartridges, Predice . Tasks
-
49,174,864.40
49,174,864.40
49,174,864.40
-
-
.
-
-
for Tera, N. I.
6-LTI .
Asto Ordines Corp.
Guns
-
3,250,000.00
3,250,000.00
2,757,040.00
-
276,980.00
278,980.00
492,960.00
213,980.00
New N. T.
6-470 .
Note Ordinance Darp.
Registrar
-
1,750,000.00
3,850,000.00
1,850,000.121
-
-
-
F
-
New Toek, H. T.
4-560
6 Inc.
Come
-
1,795,000.00
1,785,000.00
17,360.00
-
441,957.50
661,957.50
1,767,640.00
1,325,702.50
Not,
4-422
Steal a. of America
Program
$09,850.00
2,150,000.00
2,959,850.00
-
728,001.00
643,000.00
1,373,861.00
2,130,000.00
1,585,985.00
New Tork, H. T.
-
Cittle Felant Fire Area One
-50 Calline Adveraft Nechine Game
8,516,005.00
8,512,009.46
17,426,174.46
-
M,914,005.00
3,883,335.78
6,512,009.46
4,608,753.68
lactford, Dona,
-
National Postamic Day
Ankl-Mak Rquipment
273,050.00
1,240,493.00
1,513,543.00
-
238,537.50
310,123.25
548,660.75
1,240,493.00
$64,882.25
Rdw Tark, N. T.
Wheel Go.
Aircraft Workins General
latratt, Bah.
$,000,000.00
9,445,577.79
17,445,577.79
-
6,100,000.00
2,376,875.96
0,476,875.96
A-1380
PHONES Wt. Co.
Links, .30 & -10 Calibre -
650,000.00
451,066.60
931,066.60
increato, N. T.
500,000.00
1,031,000.00
2,131,000.00
426,796.00
1,202,203.99
771,137.39
-
Terry Пуссаворе Do.
Predictors
-
1,713,000.70
1,713,000.00
,
-
600,250.00
600,250.00
1,715,001,00
1,114,750.00
4-1522*
browlys, ". T.
Droxby co.
Regulation
-
1,100,000.00
1,100,000.00
600,000.00
-
$23,000.00
125,000.00
500,000.00
375,000.00
-
N. T.
us Standard are. Co.
30 Californ Date
3,723,000.00
8,199,036.00
11,822,036.00
297,993.43
3,323,000.00
3,337,239.00
1,560,259.00
0,20,112.37
3,943,433.37
4-13%
Name One,
insur & Ins.
Reviewere, 5"
-
1,623,500.00
1,523,300.00
17.90
-
.
-
1
1,625,482.10
1,623,482.10
fortagfield, Mans.
Regraded Uclassified
141
COVISE COMMINITOR
CONTRACTO e $1,000,000 on OVER
Tables is 9. s. Dollare
AM at Faturary 15, 1941
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL Tage 4.
Redication
Tutal Palse of Gestrable
to Credit of Entime
false of
Relation
and
informationed
of
Contract No.
Suplier
deterial
Capital
Probast
Total
Deliverias
Cepital
Frank
Total
Refertal
Pagerota Date
Acquest (Cont'd.)
-
bilfale Lre Ga,
-30 falilite Gals Aireraft Day
5,552,040.00
6,931,270.10
12,783,510.10
#
1,852,040.00
1,995,327.50
7,847,357.50
6,931,270.10
4,133,952.10
has Tark
MAIS
Tark Safe 4 Lost Covy
37 - Carriages
I
1,250,000.00
1,260,000.00
-
.
315,000.00
315,000.00
1,260,000.00
965,000.00
fort, Pa.
6-2966
True Foundare Inc.,
31 - - 9. 1. Army Design
750,000.00
5,500,000.00
6,250,000.00
-
750,000.00
2,800,000.00
3,250,000.00
5,500,000.00
3,000,000.00
Ellasbeth, #. 2.
1-2252
Cary..
for & Dra Nagurations for
-
1,8,0,001,00
1,840,000.00
1,092,720.70
-
461,505.00
243,505.28
N7,273.30
525,748.08
Bre form, a. 1,
1-220
Date
-
2,691,000.00
2,691,000.00
-
-
$1,850.00
961,850.00
2,691,000.00
1,719,150.00
Brooklyn, #. 1.
Corp.,
Thompson Gas Notel 26-A
-
6,931,332.00
6,901,332.00
125,237.47
=
0,309,175.37
1,309,175.37
6,805,009.53
4,690,923.96
les fork, 8. E.
Pational Ou,
Task Date . Spare Parta
550,000.00
1,560,360.00
2,110,360,00
-
$50,000.00
390,050.00
560,090.00
1,560,360.00
1,170,270.00
les In, ». 1.
A-200
Cruditio Mail & of Amries
Forgiage for Topie Barrale
1,889,729.00
4,300,000.00
4,189,329.00
-
1,700,756.13
I,250,000.00
1,990,756.11
6,300,000.00
3,198,972.89
Are In, 1, I.
1-2795
Merisan Gerry,
20 - Date Banda
$38,350.00
5,469,210.00
6,307,560.00
-
285,000.00
1,209,060.00
1,488,050.00
5,449,230.00
4,829,500.00
No Tark, F. T.
A-3457
Septire Contration Cory,,
- - Tack Change
,
6,175,000.00
6,175,000.00
-
-
1,568,125.00
1,368,125.00
6,175,000.00
4,606,875.00
Rev Turk, 1. r.
1-2773
know Only,
.30 lifies
2,764,861.70
13,812,000.00
36,976,861.70
-
2,766,851.70
1,235,138.30
4,000,000.00
23,812,00.00
32,576,261.70
Coss.
1-779
Strethers Malla Situarille Chirp.
4" - m Star a 1,7 M. . 0 Que
1,497,500.00
4,236,640.00
5,714,340.00
-
1,129,125.00
1,054,210.00
2,197,335.00
4,216,840.00
5,577,005.00
7a.
Barrida
6-308
Repire Carp.,
to 75 - Task Dues
-
7,000,000,00
7,000,000.00
-
-
700,000.00
700,000.00
7,000,000.00
4,300,000.00
New fun, N. 1.
4-547
Regize Intrance Date.,
Need) for 79 - Tank -
-
3,000,000.00
3,000,000.00
-
-
300,000.00
300,000,00
3,000,000.00
2,700,000.00
fee York, 3. To
Total
36,763,300.70
199,562,981.56
231,900,385.36
63,289,052.42
33,181,105,32
28,697,063.28
62,278,144.77
106,739,064.17
Taxe & Task Sydgement
4-111
Tradito Discher Co.
95,000.00
1,325,000.00
1,00,000.00
1,325,000.00
95,000.00
1
95,000.00
-
-
Fimilar, Oble
MA
Tractice Ribert Details
Transmistions
£0,000.00
3,004,015.00
1,124,045.00
212,845.00
-
1,375,600.00
1,372,600.00
2,571,200.00
1,335,600.00
Finilar, Ohio
HIS
les date à Lody Go.,
Co-orial Missidiage
25,000.00
1,115,773.72
1,140,773.00
431,388.00
25,000.00
212,095.50
237,695.50
663,989.00
471,289.50
fork, Fax
W%
-
Amino Cap 4 Funday Date
haspination Unite
19,800.00
1,108,605.00
1,128,405.00
513,930.10
-
100,150.00
108,150.00
396,574.90
506,306.90
Pa.
6-190
Our Mr. Date,
N-3 Taste
1,500,000.00
25,000,000.00
26,500,000.00
-
1,332,520.00
5,500,000.00
6,832,520.00
25,000,100.00
Dusage, I.I.
Continuial Motor
Wright 6-97)
-
24,934,340.00
24,924,340.00
-
-
5,800,000.00
3,800,000.00
$4,924,340.00
19,124,340.00
Rick.
4-17%
General Stan1 Cestings Corp.,
Anive Cartings
-
2,520,000.00
2,520,000.00
-
-
07,689.74
07,089.24
2,520,000.00
2,082,510.76
Pm.
4-17M
Pressed Steal Date Do.,
I-) Tacks
1,500,000.00
25,000,000.00
26,500,000.00
-
100,000.00
3,500,000.00
6,007,000.00
25,001,000.00
20,500,000.00
Fitteburgh, Fax
6-1(60
Baldwin Dov.
8-3 Tacks
150,000.00
39,253,925.00
39,423,925.00
-
#
3,685,000.00
5,685,000,80
27,253,925.00
33,718,925.00
Abbystone, he
44,460
Res Loomotive Bunks,
I-3 Tenks
725,000.00
22,000,000.00
22,325,000.00
-
725,000.00
4,400,000.00
5,125,000,00
32,000,000.00
17,600,000.00
Liam, as
A-2125
Oil,
for Task Turreta
105,000.00
1,050,000.00
1,155,000.00
-
75,000.00
658,730.00
533,750.00
1,050,000.00
621,250.00
Pittsburgh, 7a.
Gamitell Pyant Quent Twentry Date,
Task Parks
18,690.00
1,231,800.00
1,250,490.00
4,097.40
18,090.00
311,310.00
150,000.00
1,217,764.00
896,452.60
Minlergen, us,
4-2ave
Republic Mast carp.,
Heal Flate For Tamile
4,125,021.00
17,880,000.00
33,945,000.00
4,125,000.00
500,000.00
6,625,000.00
17,630,000.00
I
17,300,000.00
Contant, Ode
Total
8,303,490.00
168,133,058.00
173,756,578.00
2,487,200.50
6,096,210.00
30,309,194.74
37,209,404.74
133,843,972.76
Relie
4-7)?
Caryalar Signes Comp.,
5,188,007.00
-
Drigo Tranks
-
#
-
-
-
Detroit, Rich,
441395
The Visal Detre -
True
3,102,000.59
3,100,008.59
1,433,262.14
02,000.00
470,889.44
1
.
1,175,856.43
Visa,
4-1597
a
Tour Thes) Drive Co.,
has Road Drive 2-03 Date
1
3,061,362.16
3,062,362.16
-
169,317.06
669,317.00
3,061,362.18
-
2,198,045.26
Distorrille, Est,
4-322
Daryalar Regist am.,
Datge Trusks
-
3,008,535.52
3,068,505.52
-
915,409.01
113,409.01
3,068,909.52
2,132,996.31
-
Detends, 11th.
4-3033
Maria Rig. Carp.,
Tax The Medic Trusks
#
1,100,000.59
3,10,001.39
232,502.20
-
72,726.97
774,726.97
2,870,910,19
1,096,183.22
Long Island Qty, #. 1.
Total
+
17,03,376.18
17,003,375.48
7,170,852.70
-
1,032,542.30
1,000,50.50
10,629,523.78
7,196,903.30
Regraded Uclassified
142
= POSSIBLE -
, -
BITTON INVOICE CF 40,000,000. . -
Value in 5. 1. Dollars
- - Newsy 1% 2943
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Classification
Total Riw at Contrest
Value
Advices Outstanding W Chedit if Union
Value <
and
Name
Intertal
or
Detract By
Supplier
Capital
Product
Total
Deliveries
if
Capital
Probact
Total
Due
metale
-
NE
Go, of
lote. a
-
2,302,045.60
1,342,78.60
les Type city, 1, L
1,630,450.87
-
073,558.00
673,958.40
358,056.13
6-377 #
associate Rize à Cable Co.
Dopper Time Rode
-
1,075,200.00
1,075,200.00
1,075,200.00
-
Set Tark City, N. I.
-
-
-
-
A-610 .
American Dráss Co₂
Cartridge Brans Strip
-
1,176,000.00
1,176,000.00
1,095,345.09
-
Materbury, Come
30,154.21
20,136.23
80,654.92
60,500.70
HM .
Bridgeport true Co₂
Carteridge Itress Strip
-
2,352,000.00
2,352,000.00
2,352,000.00
-
Bridgeport, Conn.
-
-
-
-
- .
limite Copper & Brann One
Dertridge breas Strip
.
2,352,000.00
2,352,000.00
2,352,000.00
-
Not Twele City, 1. T.
-
/
#
.
1-140 .
American trues Co,
Cartinlige Trais Strip
-
1,176,000.00
1,176,000.00
1,079,076.60
-
Univerbary, Genn.
52,636.25
R.6%
96,923.40
4287.15
$100 .
Date Brans & Copper Ce,
Cartridge Brass durip
*
1,175,000,00
1,176,000.00
1,176,000.00
-
-
Waterbury, Com.
-
-
.
1-1444 -
American Breas Date
CarterLige Drass Strip
-
3,920,000.00
3,920,000.00
2,824,936.01
-
Baterbury, Country
980,000.00
960,000.00
1,073,065.00
115,065.99
.
lavore Dopper & final Go,
certifye Breas Burly
-
1,176,000.00
1,176,000.00
772,414.36
-
les Tork City, 1, I,
294,000,00
294,000.00
403,585.64
109,885.46
4-145 .
havers Copper & Druss Die
CarietAge Imas Strip
-
3,136,000.00
3,136,000,00
3,136,000,00
-
-
New York, X. T.
-
-
-
d-1536
Dow Chemical Co,
Vigation Ingota
-
1,536,000.00
1,530,000.00
-
-
Midiand, no.
360,000.00
360,000.00
1,536,000.00
1,176,000.00
was
Dow Dr.
Superine far Ingote
2,750,000.00
2,100,000.00
4,850,000.00
-
Kidlend, Rich,
1,300,000.00
-
1,300,000.00
2,100,000,00
3,550,000.00
6-1037
Reports Metals Do,
list . Ber
-
1,195,040,00
1,195,040.00
-
-
Rev Tork, M. T.
$40,000.00
240,000,00
1,193,040.00
955,040.00
4-5075
Reynolds Metale Go,
Sharts
-
1,123,524.24
1,123,826.24
.
-
-
Sex Tark, N. T.
i
1,123,876.24
1,123,814.34
A-5082
Alunteum Code of Amriso
Nod * Alloy lars
-
1,046,281.60
1,046,251.60
-
-
lieu York, N. L
#
1
1,046,281.60
1,046,281.60
Total
2,750,000.00
25,882,411.44
29,432,411.44
17,343,420.93
1,300,000.00
2,660,368.56
3,760,348.86
9.538,990.51
8,528,641.65
Ships & Birina Redpect
4-345
heard Notor Car a
Barine Engine
-
Deteroit, Mith,
2,360,000.00
2,360,000.00
2,029,348.70
-
83,600.00
$2,600.00
330,151.30
247,551.30
in
Starling Ingine Com
Enginee
-
1,375,000.00
1,375,000.00
-
Buffalo, R. T.
458,333.33
458,333.33
1,373,000.00
716,666.67
A-1032
Passant Motor Car Go,
Marica Englose
.
Detendit, Rich.
2,360,000.00
2,360,000.00
=
-
590,000.00
590,000.00
2,360,000.00
1,770,000.00
1-2356
Faciard Mrtor Car One
Marine Dagines
-
Details, Mich,
4,720,000.00
4,720,000.00
-
.
944,000.00
944,000.00
6,720,000.00
3,774,000,00
Hall=Scott Motor Car Co.
Marine Suplome
-
Derkalar, Calif.
1,774,000.00
1,774,000.00
-
-
-
.
1,774,000.00
1,774,000.00
Todd-Bath Shipbuilding Corpo
Date Stamate
de094,000,00
44,742,000.00
40,836,000.00
-
Bouth Portland, Mather
2,020,000.00
10,000,000.00
12,000,000.00
44,742,000.00
36,836,000.00
A-316
Todd-Califormia Shipbuilding Curp,
Darge Statement
4,105,000.00
43,945,000.00
47,150,000.00
-
Cakland, calle,
1,500,000.00
10,000,000.00
11,500,000.00
43,045,000.00
35,650,000.00
Total
5,199,000.00
100,776,000.00
100,575,000.00
2,029,848.70
3,500,000.00
22,074,933.33
25,574,933.33
98,346,151.30
80,970,217.97
Requirement
NM
listle Corp.
Epare Natio Instruments
-
1,896,569.30
1,896,569.33
-
1
Md.
379,313.87
379,313.87
1,896,569.77
1,517,255.42
Total
-
1,896,569.33
1,896,569.33
-
-
379,313.07
379,313.17
1,896,509.33
1,517,255.00
ALL She
.
Handard 021 Ca., of N. 4,
Payments to credit of Angle American
-
line bei, = T.
1,070,092.60
1,070,000.60
1,070,092.60
-
-
.
#
all Co.,
-
total
-
1,070,092.40
1,070,092.40
1,070,092.60
-
-
-
.
-
MAI
108.887.903.58
673,793,399.20
782,662,302.78
115,729,680.22
74,564,871.36
324,023,754.67
448.344.196.53
RAD NTA. BITDE
165,696,374.58
1,702,685,127.63
1,86,303,502.21
225,525,618.54
148.067.784.27
639,725,253.13
1,277,159,509.09
1,003,632,430.14
. Contraste being completed by April 30, 1941.
Vittal Mirchasing Comission
o
Millation: livision, law Tork
Neury 25, 19d
Mine % 1941
Regraded Uclassified
143
EXHIBIT
THE - PURCHASING WIDSIONS
POLMCE FRENCE CONTRACTS THE TOTAL OF DESTION ADVANCES
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Tage 1.
AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DUE IS IN RECEIVED OF $10,000,000
Value to Thousands of U. 1. Dollare
As AS February 15, 1941
Retirated Payments
Trial of
Total -
Classifteation
Advances Outstanding to Credit of
Balance
bille
Brittle & Fresh
Supplier
Material
French Advances
bitter Advances
Y
Pub.
i
and
Apr.
my
June
July-
After
Advance 6
Advenue à
No.
Capital
Product
Total
Capital
Product
Total
Payments Doe
16 28
is
Date
balance
Das
Das
Glenn L. Martin Do.
Martin Model 167-7,
-
877
877
-
4,386
4,386
7,640
034
1,800
1,800
1,800
1,606
-
-
1-272
12,036
12,903
Saltimore, M.
Parta & Dysipment
1-472
Bowing Aircraft Do.,
240 00-70 Airplanes
-
5,916
5,916
-
10,531
10,531
14,136
-
-
-
300
600
13,236
-
24,667
30,583
Seattle, Wash,
& Spares
M77
Consolidated Aircraft Corp.
Sombers 18-30 Operas
-
1,434
1,838
-
15,000
15,000
21,874
-
1,620
980
1,820
2,100
15,154
-
36,074
36,712
San Diage, Callf.
P-7%
Nerth Aviation, Inc.
Trainer Planse,
-
4,0%
4,096
-
4,770
4,770
9,615
-
-
-
-
-
7,935
1,680
14,385
18,481
Inglawood, Callf.
Pratt & Whitney Bagines
F
P-719
Donglas Aircraft Corp.,
10-79 Airplanes,
-
3,871
3,871
-
13,510
13,510
13,158
-
-
-
-
2,200
10,958
-
26,668
30,539
Santa Sonice, Calif.
Spares
Total
-
16,598
16,598
-
48,197
48,197
66,423
634
3,620
2,760
3,920
6,506
47,283
1,680
114,620
191,218
Airplant Includes
P-211
United Aircraft Corp.,
Tasp Ingines
-
7,250
7,250
-
-
10,317
10,317
12,381
912
2,400
2,000
1,500
1,500
4,069
-
22,690
29,968
East Hartford, Coun,
7-296
(1) Ourtine-Wright Corp.
B-2600 Cyclone Engines
-
3,498
3,498
-
27,792
27,792
51,923
1,028
5,441
5,135
5,796
6,208
16,598
11,717
79,715
0,213
New Tark, N. T.
Total
-
10,765
10,748
-
38,109
38,109
64,304
1,940
7,841
7,135
7,296
7,708
20,667
11,717
102,413
113,161
Trial Presch Contracts
-
27,346
27,346
-
86,306
66,306
130,727
2,574
11,461
9,915
11,216
14,214
67,950
13,397
217,033
246,979
(1) Includes that partion of A-5103 which - forwely the option - P-296.
Brittsh Purchasting Commission,
Statistical Division, les York
Breh 1, 1941
Bevised Barch % 1941
Regraded Uclassified
144
THE PERCHASING MISSIONS
BUYIN CONTRACTS THE THE TITAL OF ADVANCES
They a
AND PALARCE OF PATIENTS X IS IN EXCESS OF $10,000,000
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
THE Le Through of Y. 5. Dollars
is AL Fatriery 15, 1961
Advense
Restarted Payments
Total of
to Credit of
Nalance
Fab.
2dy-
After
Advances &
and
Supplier
Destription
trittle Advances
This
16-22
Bir.
Apr.
by
June
Date
Das.
Balance
Suitent So,
Central
Product
Total
Date
Aw??
Consolidated Airoraft com.,
Fiyles Doete
-
10,205
10,205
5,913
73
291
2%
479
379
3,611
675
16,018
545 Diago, Callf.
A-68
Lookbeed Aircraft Comp.,
Single Seat Fightars
-
7,278
7,278
17,591
W/O
3,054
3,197
3,147
2,914
4,384
-
24,869
Durbank, Calif.
-
Ourtine-Wright Corp.,
Hawki SEX. & 97A
.
10,420
10,420
7,909
408
2,222
2,501
2,779
,
-
-
10,379
line York, N. T.
A-87
Douglas Aircraft Corp.,
Borton Bonders
-
14,3%
14,394
27,681
35
aus
926
1,534
3,992
18,669
3,499
42,075
Ranta Monies, Celif,
1-25
North American tristion, Into,
Harvards
.
3,194
3,194
9,280
595
3,129
2,682
and
424
1,782
-
12,474
Inglewood, Callf,
A-218
Mill Airereft Carp.,
Airanstras
-
4,%0
4,860
6,151
-
905
1,631
1,410
1,446
759
-
11,711
Buffalo, Sew Tork
1-22L
Gless L. Martin Co.
Bedars this] 187
13)
32,747
32,880
22,797
105
507
1,956
2,623
3,165
14,381
#
55,877
Raltimore, M.
1-242
Lockheed Aircraft Company
Main? 322
-
15,462
15,462
36,537
-
3,271
3,301
4,463
4,645
20,777
-
51,979
Burtenk, Calif,
6-250
North American Aviation, Ins.,
N.A. - 73's
-
3,659
3,659
11,113
-
me
1,63
2,060
2,084
4,510
-
am
Inglewood, Dalif.
1-346
Lockheed Aircraft cary,,
Model 37%
-
11,507
11,507
21,527
-
71
-
as
715
20,526
-
33,034
Burbank, Calle,
4-557
Vultee Aircraft Corp.,
Dive Brabere à Spares
-
16,401
16,401
27,995
1,923
402
675
46
507
9,420
15,022
64,796
Vultee Plaid, Calif,
1-662
Enwater Aeronantical
Dive Desters
-
17,064
17,864
18,076
-
2,018
2,420
2,130
2,420
0,798
--
35,960
New Tark, N. T.
6-1675
Tall Aircraft Corp.,
Airecutras
-
6,252
6,252
7,641
-
696
-
-
-
3,476
5,473
13,093
Buffalo, ", T.
4-1692
Presster Aeronautical Corp.,
300 Dive
-
4,713
4,513
15,779
812
812
612
ma
812
7,425
4,794
20,292
New Tark, N. T.
4-1493
North Imprison Aviation, Ind.,
9.1.73 Airplanes
-
6,264
6,264
9,029
458
451
ASS
AN
-
4,473
2,745
15,293
Inglawood, Calif,
4-1555
Acrthrop Aireraft Cary,,
Vultee Dive Boabers
=
6,817
6,817
10,7%
1952
831
-
-
-
4,152
4,959
17,612
Hartborne, alls.
A-1156
Valtes direraft Corp.,
Model 48-0 Pureuit Planse
-
1,686
5,668
4,499
-
-
193
245
315
3,806
-
10,187
Valtee Field, Oalif.
4-1748
Lockheed Aircraft Corp.,
Tenture Places
-
12,625
12,825
28,405
855
1,031
1,031
1,031
1,073
7,163
16,202
41,230
Burbank, Calif,
4-1749
Lockheed Aircraft Corp.,
Holoca II I Airfrance
-
17,538
17,538
22,135
3,026
7,324
4,717
3,483
4,760
1,825
-
39,073
Durbank, Calif.
A-1035
Ourtine-Wright Corp.,
OTA Bank AirPrases
-
10,850
10,850
11,564
-
-
48
129
164
5,963
5,260
22,414
New Tark, N. Y.
Total
133
218,718
216,851
322,316
11,137
24,747
28,690
28,000
28,005
145,398
56,331
542,187
Altriam
4-294
(1) Curtise-Wright Curp.,
R2600 A Enginee
14,451
32,261
46,712
31,412
15
2,783
3,80
4,207
4,101
12,669
3,795
78,124
Rew fork, N. T.
AM
General fotors Corp.,
Alliem Englase
6,393
30,428
M,821
23,972
906
4,374
3,704
3,122
1,081
6,195
-
60,793
Name York, 1. I,
A-280
United Aircraft Corp.,
P. 4% R2600 Enginee
6,406
5,207
14,693
6,184
16
572
775
932
1,240
2,647
-
20,877
Tast Hartford, Comm.
6-7-7
Packard Motor Co.,
Rolls layer Marlin 11 Engines
24,900
19,550
44,450
90,450
-
10,000
10,000
20,000
20,000
30,450
-
136,900
Detroit, Mish,
1-5015
United Aircraft Corry.,
Pratt . Whitney Engines
-
11,480
11,480
34,40
6,888
4,592
,
-
-
11,7%
11,567
45,923
fast Bartford, Conn.
Total
52,150
102,006
154,156
186,159
7,827
22,321
18,321
20,251
25,222
66,145
15,362
340,615
Exclusives N Propellacts
6-674
les Jersey Power Co.,
TNI à Rifle Powder
-
1,740
1,740
11,092
-
500
500
1,000
1,000
5,0%
2,016
12,052
Larril, I.V.
4-502
Powder Do.,
Plant Expansion
25,279
-
25,279
215
-
30
50
se
45
-
-
25,494
Memphis, Tean,
wn
fee Jeriey Portage Co.,
Plant Expensive
1,000
-
9,628
730
600
158
,
-
-
-
-
10,566
famil, 1. J.
Total
35,107
1,740
36,847
12,045
600
788
$
1,050
1,06
5,076
2,016
46,892
Regraded
THE one NOTICE
145
WRITIER CONTRACTS THE TOTAL OF PRESCOTERED ADVANCES
NP ,
450 PALANCE OF PAYMENTS DUE If IN EXCESS or $10,000,000
Talles in Thousanda of 1, E, Dollars
As AS February 15, 1962
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Advances Ortatanding
Bettemind Physents
Total =
Classification
to Credit of Miscione
Balance
Pob.
After
Mission a
and
Supplier
Demoription
trittsh Advisors
Due
16-29
mr.
Apr.
Bay
June
July-Dec.
Des.
Palance
Contract Mo.
Capital
Product
Total
Date
American
A-1028
Hosbling Metal Darp,
Amour Pispeing
-
2,700
2,700
8,100
-
550
600
TOO
750
2 Prinder that
1,500
-
10,000
Middletom, Com.
4-1562
featern Cartridge Ca.
,303 Rifle Cartridges
1,804
1,829
3,633
9,091
1,757
1,512
1,119
1,177
1,176
2,350
-
12,724
Tast Altan, ni.
Total
1,804
4,529
6,333
17,191
1,757
2,062
1,719
1,877
1,926
7,850
-
23,524
1-962
Coll's Patent Pice Area Co.
.50 Calibre Aireraft
8,914
3,883
12,797
4,629
-
-
387
-
-
1,158
3,0%
17,426
Hartford, Coan.
Machine Dune
A-1265
Whesl Do,
Aircraft Machine Ouns
6,100
2,377
5,477
0,969
-
600
600
700
-
3,496
3,573
17,446
Detroit, Mich.
A-1559
Bigh Standard Rt. Do.
,50 Calitre Machine Dune
3,323
2,237
5,560
5,964
-
-
-
300
500
2,950
2,214
11,524
in Harren, Conn.
4-1600
Muffalo lese Co.
,50 Calline Calt Aircraft
5,652
1,995
7,547
4,935
-
-
-
967
124
1,755
2,069
12,782
Buffalo, N. T,
Oune
L-2773
Randngton Area Co.
,30 Riflee
2,765
1,235
4,000
32,577
-
1,005
1,005
1,005
1,000
6,532
20,030
36,577
Bridgeport, Como,
Total
26,954
11,727
38,681
57,074
.
1,605
1,992
2,992
1,624
17,091
30,970
95,755
Take à
A-1382
Pullass-Standard Car Eg. Co.
M-3 Tanks
1,333
5,500
6,833
19,667
-
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
9,045
4,622
26,500
Chiengo, m.
4-1465
Continental Notor Co.
Bright B-775 Engines
-
5,800
5,800
19,124
1,120
700
700
700
1,150
8,320
6,434
24,924
Muskagen, Ech.
4-1795
Pressed Steel Our Co.
II-) Tanks
500
5,300
6,000
20,500
-
2,500
2,500
2,000
2,000
7,600
3,900
26,500
Pittaburgh, Prima,
6-1960
Saldwin Commotive Do.
M-) Tanka
-
5,685
5,685
33,719
.
2,300
2,200
2,300
2,300
11,000
13,719
39,404
Eddystone, Peson,
4-1962
Lim Losomotive Parts
M-3 Tacks
725
4,600
5,125
17,600
-
1,000
2,000
2,000
1,400
5,600
5,600
22,725
Lim, Chie
6-2MA
Republie Steel Corp.
Steel Plate the Tasks
4,125
300
4,625
17,320
141
1,100
1,700
1,700
1,700
6,000
4,079
21,965
Cleveland, Chie
Total
6,683
27,385
34,068
127,930
1,261
9,100
10,600
10,200
9,950
47,565
39,254
161,998
Stize
4-3165
Todd-Bath Shipheilding Corp.
Cargo Steasers
2,000
10,000
12,000
36,836
1,717
2,642
3,192
2,500
2,500
12,100
12,185
48,836
South Portland, Maine
4-3166
Told-Bath Shipbeilding Corp.
Cargo Stanets
1,500
10,000
11,500
35,650
1,000
3,255
2,200
2,500
2,500
12,000
12,195
47,150
Dakland, Calif,
Total
3,500
20,000
23,500
72,486
2,717
5,877
5,392
5,000
5,000
24,100
24,380
95,986
Intal british Contracts
126,111
386,105
12,436
795,501
25,299
66,520
67,372
77,380
75,792
314,825
168,313
1,307,937
(1) Includes that parties of A-3303 which - forwarly the optim - 4-196.
Pritish Purchasing Commission
Statistical Division, Shee Turk
Mary's 1, 1941
intent, March 9, 1941
Regraded Uclassified
146
March 10, 1941
9:15 a.m.
RE PORT CLEARANCE OF BRITISH TRADE VESSELS
Present:
Mr. Gaston
Admiral Waesche
H.M.Jr:
At Cabinet the question came up, and I
haven't got it, and Herbert, if you would
call up Stimson's office and ask him for
a copy of a letter which evidently Herbert
Hoover wrote to Stimson, and that is what
brought up the whole thing, in which he
talked about this delay in turning over
ships; and if we would turn it out and
speed up, it would make 80 many more tons
available, you see. If you can get the letter
from Stimson's office.
So the President turned to me and said,
"What about it?" And I said it was under
us. The President wanted us to look into
it and see what could be done, and any
other agency like Commerce, whoever else -
who else besides Commerce does inspection?
Oh yes, there is a 60-day - some kind of
labor contracts. I am not familiar with
it. It is on the unloading, stevedores
or something.
Well, anyway, I want you to get out a cable.
this morning to all your port captains and
say, "How long are ships being held in the
harbor, what is the average delay," you see.
I want a quick report and what are the causes
of the delay.
147
- 2 -
Waesche:
And that, of course, is just on the turn-
around to England?
H.M.Jr:
Well, wherever they go.
Waesche:
South American ports, too?
H.M.Jr:
Why not let's get the delay on all ships;
but let's start in with the English flag
ships. Let's start with the English flag
first, and then follow it up with the
others.
The amusing thing, when I was in the Navy,
one of the jobs that I had - there were
these delays in these coal colliers that were
coming up there. Remember the ones that --
Waesche:
Like the Cyclops?
H.M.Jr:
And they sent me down there, and they were
coming up from Norfolk. It took eight to ten
days to turn them around. I turned them
around in two days. So I am back to my old
job again, shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves.
But I turned them around in two days.
Gaston:
At Norfolk?
H.M.Jr:
No, New York Harbor. Two days, where it was
taking six to eight days.
Now, Herbert Hoover has some figures, but I
would like to step on this and get a report
from the President.
Waesche:
All right, we will get at it right away.
H.M.Jr:
That is the trouble. I think you will run
into trouble -- you will find out there is
148
- 3 -
something with the stevedores. I had the
same thing. It was hard to get them to work
continuously on the unloading.
Waesche:
Well, they usually like overtime.
H.M.Jr:
I went all through that. I got to be pally
with those fellows. I got the results. But
I wish you could get it out. New York would
be the first place. Have you got a good port
captain in New York?
Waesche:
Yes, Baylis.
H.M.Jr:
Find out what the hell the trouble is.
Gaston:
Harry Durning can probably be helpful in
those things.
H.M.Jr:
And - of course, the trouble may be that
they go from New York up to Halifax and lay
over up there. You may have to send 8. man
up to Halifax to find out.
Waesche:
Of course, we do know that there is a delay
in Halifax, in that they congregate there
and form the convoy, and they hold them there
until some of the ships get together to form
the convoy.
H.M.Jr:
How long do they keep them there?
Waesche:
The time varies. They keep them until they
get the number of ships to make up the convoy,
and the time varies.
H.M.Jr:
Could you find out who runs the convoys,
who controls them, makes them up?
Waesche:
I think the British Shipping Minister in
New York has 8. lot to do with it.
149
4
H.M.Jr:
The man in Canada is the C.P.R. Sir Edward
Behy has it in Canada, and he controls
Montreal and Halifax. But can you get into
it and get a picture fairly fast?
Gaston:
Oh yes. We can get a preliminary picture
on Halifax probably from this Customs man
we have got up there on the C.P.R. docks.
H.M.Jr:
I would like something pretty fast, kind
of an over-all report. They might be
clearing the harbors in New York very quickly.
Then they go up and lay around in Halifax
for God knows how long. I don't know whether
they accumulate ships for convoy for Bermuda
or not.
Waesche:
That is right, I don't know.
H.M.Jr:
And how many ships are they sending down to
Africa? I mean, the first thing is how long
are they delayed in American harbors, United
States harbors. Let's get that first.
Waesche:
Then follow them right through.
H.M.Jr:
Let's get that first, how long are they
here?
Gaston:
Yes. There is some stuff going from the
Gulf, too.
H.M.Jr:
But how long - what is the average length
in number of days from the time a British
flag ship comes in until she turns around
and departs. That oughtn't to take terribly
longi where is the delay?
Gaston:
Ships in the British trade, that includes
some Norwegian ships and Dutch.
Regraded Uclassified
150
- 5 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, will you get on it?
Waesche:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
You ought to have something for me tomorrow
morning.
Waesche:
I think we can give you a preliminary report
tomorrow morning.
H.M.Jr:
You ought to have something for me.
Gaston:
A preliminary report this afternoon on it.
Then they can get into trying to break the
jam after that.
H.M.Jr:
I have heard nothing from the President. I
gave him this last letter. You have heard
nothing from the President either?
Waesche:
No.
H.M.Jr:
Or from the English?
Gaston:
No.
H.M.Jr:
O.K., gents, thank you.
151
March 10, 1941
9:30 a.m.
GROUP MEETING
Mr. Bell
Present:
Mr. Haas
Mr. Young
Mr. Gaston
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Sullivan
Mr. Graves
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Schwarz
Mr. Pehle
Mr. Wiley
Mr. Cochran
Mrs. Klotz
Mr. White
Mr. Foley
H.M.Jr:
Schwarz, just as a matter of interest,
see where George Morris says that Morgenthau
is opposed to the aid to farmers. I mean,
I am just curious to see if that comes
out of the Department of Agriculture. I
don't think Mr. Wickard would say that.
Schwarz:
I will talk to them.
H.M.Jr:
Herbert, do we or don't we?
Gaston:
We have no obligation.
H.M.Jr:
On Wallace, you mean?
Gaston:
Yes.
152
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
But does he want it?
Gaston:
Not himself, but a group of his intimate
friends are terribly worried about the --
H.M.Jr:
Does he want it?
Gaston:
He does not.
H.M.Jr:
Then I would forget about it.
Gaston:
So Dave Coyle says. He wants to be left
alone. They are worried about the fact
that he wanders around alone and won't be
cautious and he won't accept any protection.
H.M.Jr:
Did you send somebody to see Wallace?
Gaston:
No, I didn't.
H.M.Jr:
I would suggest that you do have Chief
Wilson call on him and tell him that if
he would care to accept protection, we
would be very glad to give it to him. Will
you do that?
Gaston:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
I would let Wilson call on him and say if
he wants protection, we would be glad to
give it to him.
Gaston:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
How many men have we got looking after
Princess Martha and her children? I don't
know how many we have got. We have got at
least three, and maybe more.
Sullivan:
I saw one of them on the street the other
day, and he says it is a great job. She
153
- 3 -
is one of the nicest people he ever met.
H.M.Jr:
Who said that?
Sullivan:
One of the guards who used to be here. Our
cars were parked together at 8. traffic
light.
H.M.Jr:
We ought to look after Henry Wallace, too.
Gaston:
A young lady in Stimson's office said that
she had put that letter in the mail Saturday
night, but she is sending another one over
by messenger.
H.M.Jr:
O.K. Anything else?
Gaston:
No, I haven't anything else.
H.M.Jr:
John?
Sullivan:
I don't whink we have a meeting of the minds
on this tax returns of people in the foreign
diplomatic service, because the facts aren't
at all what you indicated. Here is a memorandum
on it. Here are the returns of all --
H.M.Jr:
Let's you and I sit down on it some time.
Shall we?
Sullivan:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
You ask for an appointment, and I will sit
down with you some time.
Sullivan:
Yes, sir. That is all.
H.M.Jr:
That is all you have?
Sullivan:
The boys are working getting ready for
Gulick and getting out all of the studies
154
- 4 -
that have been made in the last five years.
H.M.Jr:
Before he comes down, could I sit down with
you and --
Sullivan:
Yes, I would like very much to.
H.M.Jr:
And have a sort of a preview.
Sullivan:
Right.
H.M.Jr:
I would like to go to school on that.
(Mr. Bell and Mr. Foley entered the conference.)
Sullivan:
And when are you going to sit down on the
bill?
H.M.Jr:
Well, I thought tomorrow - these fellows are
busy on the House. I thought just as soon as
this Lend-Lease got through the House that
I would get - ask them - I wish you would be
thinking, should we simply do it with the
House side or should we try to get the House
and the Senate?
Sullivan:
I think you and I should have a pretty
definite idea of what we want to do, and
I think it should be cleared with the
President before we talk with them.
H.M.Jr:
He won't talk about it this week.
Sullivan:
He won't?
H.M.Jr:
I don't want to talk to him about it. I
would rather talk with you and then with
them.
Sullivan:
Then I think you and I had better get
together.
Regraded Uclassified
155
- 5 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, here is Lend-Lease this morning and
English finances tomorrow morning. How
soon are you ready?
Sullivan:
I will be ready whenever you are.
H.M.Jr:
Are you sure?
Sullivan:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Three o'clock tomorrow.
Sullivan:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Sullivan:
I think you would want some others in on
that, too.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you fix it up. You arrange for
whoever you want, will you?
Sullivan:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Cochran:
After our meeting Saturday morning, I
telephoned Mr. Gifford and that suggestion
was agreeable to him, and I got to Frank;
and he is having 8. group come down today
to talk it over. The British promised that
supplementary statement today.
H.M.Jr:
I spoke to Frank last night. He was going
to give me a ring before my four o'clock
press conference. He is having those men
come down this afternoon. He said he would
let me know what happened.
Cochran:
I told Mr. Gifford that the group would not
156
-6 -
be set up without consulting with him
further, that We would talk with him now.
H.M.Jr:
Exploratory?
Cochran:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
What else?
Cochran:
That is all.
H.M.Jr:
Would you some time before lunch go over
to the State Department and have 8. look-see
at the cables?
Cochran:
And see --
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Pehle:
Nothing.
H.M.Jr:
Are you sort of following this correspondence
between Hoover, President Hoover and the
English?
Pehle:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Ferdie?
Kuhn:
I have nothing.
H.M.Jr:
Philip?
Young:
Nothing.
H.M.Jr:
George? Are you feeling all right again?
Haas:
Yes, I am feeling better this morning,
thank you, Mr. Secretary.
(Handing reports to Secretary) Did you
want to see this?
Regraded Uclassified
157
- 7 -
H.M.Jr:
That is right, until you hear from Knudsen
or Meigs. Have you heard from either of
them?
Haas:
Neither of them.
H.M.Jr:
I wonder if Allison will ever really begin
to manufacture engines?
Haas:
They will probably have a slow-down again
when they switch over, you see.
H.M.Jr:
Yes. I might as well get this off my desk.
Ferdie, this is something - somebody told
me that Wilson's address on Lincoln, they
thought there might be something you could
pick out of there for some slogans.
Kuhn:
Oh, I didn't know what you wanted that for.
H.M.Jr:
For Defense Savings Bonds.
Kuhn:
Thank you.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else, George?
Haas:
I have nothing else.
H.M.Jr:
Harry?
White:
Nothing.
Schwarz:
The UP in the morning ticker has a weekend
story saying Treasury officials predicted that
1940 incomes would return three billion in
taxes, and I asked Knowlton. I said I didn't
think we had any such estimates. He said,
"Well, we got it out of the Budget and we
forgot that the Budget and Treasury weren't
the same any more."
158
- 8 -
H.M.Jr:
Anything else?
Schwarz:
That is all.
H.M.Jr:
Harold? What contracts are you letting
today?
Graves:
We are advertising today for the albums,
and we are trying also to get our copy
to - finished for these booklets for
banks and post offices.
I think we are going to do that, possibly
at the Government printing office this
time. We will take out the color and
so on.
H.M.Jr:
And how many stamps is the Post Office
going to order?
Graves:
Well, that is under discussion with them
now.
We are thinking of 30 million of these
albums, and the post offices --
H.M.Jr:
Each album holds how many?
159
- 9 -
Graves:
Twenty-five fifty in dollar stamps. Each album
would hole 75 and five dollar stamps, fifteen.
H.M.Jr:
What would be the total?
Graves:
Well, the 25-cent stamp a 25-dollar bond and the
50-cent a 50-dollar bond and the 75-cent stamp
a 75-dollar bond and a one-dollar stamp a 100-
dollar bond. The Post Office gave us their
estimate for stamps, and they were incredibly
low, and we have got to study that with them
again. Of course, there is no particular hurry
about getting the Post Office Department esti-
mates for stamps because we are manufacturing--
H.M.Jr:
Have you started?
Graves:
Yes, they are engraving now.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else?
Graves:
That is all.
Bell:
Are you going to the Government Printing Office
for speed, is that the idea?
Graves:
We will when--
Bell:
Cutting out the colors for speed?
Graves:
We will go there only in case we can get assured
delivery on time, Dan, but the reason why we
have not gone there before is the colors that
have been in these--
Bell:
Yes, I realize that, and I wondered if you were
cutting out the colors for speed.
Graves:
No.
Regraded Uclassified
160
- 10 -
Bell:
You don't like them?
Graves:
We figure that for information books, for
people who come to the counter at 8, bank or
people who come to the counter at & post of
fice and make inquiry about these bonds, we
can eliminate the color, simplify the circu-
lar.
H.M.Jr:
I made a criticism of the American eagle push-
ing a flag along, and Harold said it was too
late. I think it is unfair to the American
eagles.
Graves:
We are just bond to go ahead not later than
the next day or two and advertise. I was
afraid that we might get involved in delay.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Bell:
I have this list I would like to go over with
you right after this meeting if I can have two
minutes.
H.M.Jr:
I will give it to you. You want two minutes
after this meeting?
Bell:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
So do I. What have you got?
Thompson:
Elmer Irey has been anxious for sometime to get
& new badge. That is a design for it. Mr.
Gaston thinks the stars in the border should be
taken out and put in the center.
H.M.Jr:
Why couldn't you do this? I have got an idea.
Some people around the Treasury wanted some
sort of coordination, you know, which I have
always been against. Why couldn't you have one
badge--
Regraded Uclassified
161
- 11 -
Gaston:
I thought you were for coordination. I think
you started that. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
What I was just thinking, if you were going to
change it, why couldn't you have a Treasury
Department Intelligence Service and then just
somewhere, Narcotics or Revenue or Secret
Service?
Thompson:
Have them all alike but--
Gaston:
That is 8 good idea.
H.M.Jr:
So you know this is a Treasury man coming in,
but that is the Bureau he belongs to. Treasury
Department Intelligence or something, you see,
and then just - then just in one place would
be the word "Narcotics," or "Secret Service."
Gaston:
What is the matter with that badge for that
purpose, "Treasury Department, United States,"
then they have "Narcotics." All you need
there would be "Intelligence Unit," or whatever
it is.
H.M.Jr:
I think so.
Gaston:
I kind of like the eagle on top. Don't you?
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Well, here under here would be "Internal Reve-
nue, Intelligence," or just the word "Internal
Revenue." They don't need "Intelligence."
"Internal Revenue, the Treasury Department,
United States." If you could get in a Treasury
seal, it would make that "United States" stand
out. I like the "United States" standing out,
but how about in the background, instead of the
eagle, having a Treasury seal? I mean the
Treasury seal in the background.
162
- 12 -
Thompson:
Do you like the round one better than you do this
other one?
H.M.Jr:
Well, it is a question of - that on top, is that
going to catch on anything? It would be sort
of a nuisance.
Gaston:
I don't care too much for that. It looks to
much like an ordinary police department badge
with an eagle on top.
H.M.Jr:
But if you just had the Treasury Department with
the Treasury seal in the background and the
names under here.
Where is my Treasury seal?
Bell:
No Treasury seals. (Laughter)
Gaston:
I like the thing, if you could get the United
States - have the Treasury seal instead of the
eagle.
H.M.Jr:
I would like the Treasury seal in the background.
"Treasury Department, If and then just stick the
"United States" right over that. That is what
I would suggest. Then everybody would have the
same. Gaston and Harold Graves won't like this
but (Laughter)
Thompson:
I think that is a darn good idea.
H.M.Jr:
We get an idea once in a while.
Thompson:
I will have a design made.
H.M.Jr:
I didn't get anywhere with my eagle pushing a
flag. Maybe I will get somewhere on this.
Thompson:
Coast Guard have a Second Lieutenant in the
Reserves who is a cryptanalyst. They need him
Regraded Uclassified
163
- 13 -
for their own work down there, and I would
like to get a deferment for him, putting him
in the Reserve Officers' pool.
H.M.Jr:
Why, if he is in the Coast Guard?
Thompson:
He is a civilian officer, but he is a lieutenant
in the Reserve Corps.
H.M.Jr:
Why don't they put him in the Coast Guard Reserve?
Thompson:
He has been a civilian officer for sometime.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
Thompson:
If you approve, I will send it over. I think
it is a good case. That is all I have.
H.M.Jr:
You (Foley) came in since we started?
Foley:
I came in with Dan. I was in Dan's office talk-
ing about the meeting yesterday.
H.M.Jr:
Is that right? (Laughter)
Bell:
Yes, I had him in there at a quarter of nine.
Gaston:
Here is the Stimson-Hoover thing.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, nothing else?
Foley:
Nothing.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Regraded Uclassified
164
/
COPY
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 10, 1941.
MOST URGENT - BY HAND
Dear Cochran,
I enclose the data regarding our
existing contracts for which you asked on
Saturday.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) E. W. Playfair
M. Merle Cochran, Esq.,
U. S. Treasury,
Washington, D. C.
Received made R.M.
10.15
dm
165
Regraded Uclas
COPY
EXISTING CONTRACTS
A. Statistical Data.
Table I below gives estimates of all the contracts of the British
Purchasing Missions as of February 28.
Table II, compiled on the same lines as Table I, gives figures for
all contracts whose total value is over $1,000,000, as of February 15.
Table I covers several thousand contracts, many of them very small,
and has been compiled statistically; it is a close estimate, but not
accurate to the last cent. Table II, on the other hand, has been compiled
from the actual contracts, and, subject to any error, is exact. The full
data on which it is based is contained in Exhibit A, attached to this note.
The contracts covered by Table II are 242 in number, and cover nearly
90% of the outstanding value of all the contracts.
Exhibit B gives fuller details regarding those contracts where the
payments due after February 15 plus the advances standing to the credit of
the British Government exceed $10,000,000. These contracts, 50 in number,
cover about 70% of the outstanding value of all the contracts.
Table III gives estimates of the periods within which the payments
remaining to be made on all the contracts fall due.
B, The application of these data.
Assuming that it is possible simply to assign contracts as they stand
from the British Government to the U. S. Government, the liability which
the U. S. Government would assume would be the original value of the contract
166
- 2 -
1000 the value of deliveries already made (Item 3 of Tables I and II). Dat
when this resulted in the repayment to the Dritish Government of any advance
made by the French (Item 4). these would have to be paid to the State of
France. Such payment is made by placing dollars to the credit of the State
of France in an account at the Bank of Canada. France cannot withdraw such
funds, but they are lost to the United Eingdom, so that the benefit which
the British Government would receive from the assignment to the United States
would be reduced by that amount (Item 5). This benefit would consist of (a)
the repayment to them of advances made by them standing to their credit with
the contractor, including capital payments (Item 5 (a) ) and (b) the fact
that they would be relieved of future liability on these contracts (Item 5 (b) ).
In practice, the procedure for transferring contracts may not be BO
simple as suggested above. If the U. S. Departments concerned find it
necessary to negotiate fresh contracts, leaving us to cancel ours, there
may be cancellation charges, etc., to pay, depending on the terms of each
contract, and the benefit to the British Government say be correspondingly
reduced (of. the case mentioned in paragraph 6 of Section C of this note).
Owing to the amount of work involved, it has not been possible to
compile Tables I and II as of the same date. But it is not thought that the
difference in the outstanding value of the contracts between February 15
and February 28 will be great, since increases in the total value of contracts
placed during that period are offset by the value of deliveries received.
0. Assignment Negotiations now in train.
The following paragraphs give details of the negotiations for transfer
of contracts presently in train. The outstanding value of these contracts
is shown in Table IV.
167
3
1. Ourties-Wrisht Corporation.
The R.F.C. has examined this property and some negotiations have com-
menced. However, the condition of the title and other complications make
it deubtful that & sale can be concluded with R.F.C.
2. General Motors Corporation.
This has been mentioned to the R.F.C. as a possible case, but the
British Purchasing Missions had no knowledge of any current negotiations
which R.F.C. may be considering.
3. Tennessee Powder Company.
Arrangements for the sale of the Tennessee Powder Company plant have
reached the stage of agreement in principle and papers may shortly be executed.
The net cash realization which will be available after completion of plant
(expected to be in May, 1941) will be approximately $20,000,000. after setting
aside certain funds withheld as security for rent, insurance, etc.
4. New Jersey Powder Company.
Negotiations have been commenced for the sale of New Jersey Powder
Company and may proceed after Tennessee Powder Company has been concluded
as a prototype case.
5. Packard Motor Company.
The R.F.C. has stated that this should be & fairly simple matter to con-
clude in view of their present ownership of other Packard properties, but
negotiations have not progressed.
6. Colt's Patent Fire Aras Company.
This and the other three machine gun contracts that follow are in an
advanced state of negotiation on the following lines:
Regraded Uclassified
168
- 4 -
(a) The Army Ordnance Department is negotiating now contracts
for the product which, when concluded will leave the British
Purchasing Commission free to negotiate cancellation of the
existing product contracts. The cash recovery on cancellation
will be less than the advance product payments owing to
difference in price between old and new contracts, disappearance
of royalty payments in new contracts and other cancellation
charges to be settled between British Purchasing Commission
and the suppliers.
(b) The R.F.C. is concurrently negotiating for the purchase of the
plant facilities. The realization will be less than the value
of the capital advance due to the elimination of special tools,
personnel training cost and other intangible items, and in any
event payment will not occur until after each plant has been
completed in the latter half of 1941.
The above machine gun negotiations involve numerous complications remain-
ing to be resolved. It may not be possible to finalise the contracts until
some time in April.
7. Oerlikon Gun Subcontracts.
The British Purchasing Commission has proceeded to execute certain sub-
contracts for the manufacture of parts for the Oerlikon gun. The United
States Navy is carrying on negotiations with the principal supplier to whom
these subcontracts are to furnish certain parts. It is contemplated that
these subcontracts will be taken over by the United States Navy after the
basic contract has been concluded.
Washington
March 10, 1941.
Regraded Uclassified
169
TABLE I
Total outstanding advances & estimated future payments as
of February 28, 1941, on all existing contracts.
(In millions of U. S. dollars)
Capital
Product
Total
Original value of British commitments
180
2840
1.
3020
for capital + product. (including British
liability to French state for capital and
advances).
Less 2.
Value of product deliveries (including pro
795
795
rata repayment by British of French
advances).
3.
Total capital commitment plus value of
180
2045
2225
undelivered product (including balance
of British liability to French state for
capital + advance).
ess
4.
Balance of British liability to French
15
65
80
state for capital and advances.
5.
Net British commitment for capital + un-
165
1980
2145
delivered product (after deduction of
British liability to French state for
capital + advance).
Vis
(a) Payments made by British on account
155
660
815
of capital and undelivered product.
(b) Payments due to be made by British on
10
1320
1330
account of capital and undelivered
product.
Regraded Uclassified
170
TABLE II
Total outstanding advances & estimated future payments, as of
February 15, 1941, on all existing contracts whose value is over $1,000,000
(in millions of U.S. dollars)
Capital
Product
Total
1.
Original value of British commitments
167.2
2,242.0
2,409.2
for capital + product (including British
liability to French state for capital
and advances).
Less 2.
Value of product deliveries (including
439.8
439.8
pro rata repayment by British of French
advances).
3.
Total capital commitment plus value of
167.2
1,802.2
1,969.4
undelivered product (including balance
of British liability to French state
for capital + advance).
Less
4.
Balance of British liability to French
0.4
52.7
53.1
state for capital and advances.
5.
Net British commitment for capital +
166.8
1,749.5
1,916.3
undelivered product (after deduction of
British liability to French state for
capital +.advance.)
Viz
(a) Payments made by British on account
150.1
587.4
737.5
of capital and undelivered product.
(b) Payments due to be made by British
16.7
1,162.1
1,178.8
on account of capital and un-
delivered product.
171
TABLE III
Estimate of sums payable by the British Purchasing Missions in
respect of all outstanding contracts, as of February 28, 1941.
( In millions of United States dollars )
March
165
April
135
May
130
June
130
July - August
220
September - December
370
January - August 1942
265
September - December 1942
25
1440
Note: The total of $1440 millions is composed of the figure of #1330
millions shown under heading 5(b) of Table I, plus $30 millions out-
standing reimbursement due to the French State as of February 28, 1941
*Plus $80 millions shown under heading 4 of Table I
Regraded Uclassified
BRITISH CONTRACTS, THE TRANSFER OF WHICH HAS BEEN
UNDER DISCUSSION
As at February 15. 1941
Total of advances
Advances Outstanding
Balance
Outstanding and
Contract
Supplier
Material
Capital
Product
Total
Due
Balance Due
Number
A-194
Curtise-Wright Corp.,
R2600A Engines
14,450,700.00
32,261,130.48
46,711,830.48
31,412,071.47
78,123,901.95
New York, N. Y.
172
A-196
General Motors Corp.,
Allison Engines
6,393,113.50
30,427,500.00
36,820,613.50
23,971,535.07
60,792,148.57
New York, N. Y.
A-502
Tennessee Powder Co., Plant Expansion 25,279,000.00
-
25,279,000.00
215,000.00
25,494,000.00
Memphis, Tenn.
A-633
New Jersey Powder Co., Plant Expansion
9,827,730.45
-
9,827,730.45
738,269.55
10,566,000.00
Kenvil, N. J.
1-787
Packard Motor Co.,
Rolls Royce
24,900,000.00
19,549,904.56
44,449,904.56
90,450,095.44
134,900,000.00
Detroit, Mich.
Merlin -
II Engines
1-844
Colt's Patent Fire
Aircraft Machine
8,914,085.00
3,883,335.78
12,797,420.78
4,628,753.68
17,426,174.46
Arms Mfg.Co.,
Guns
Hartford, Conn.
A-1265
Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Co.,Aircraft Machine
6,100,000.00
2,376,875.96
8,476,875.96
8,968,701.83
17,445,577.79
Detroit, Mich.
Guns
1559 High Standard Mfg.Co., Machine Guns
3,323,000.00
2,237,259.00
5,560,259.00
5,963,853.37
11,524,112.37
New Haven, Conn.
A-1600
Buffalo Arms Co.,
A ircraft Machine 5,852,040.00
1,995,317.50
7,847,357.50
4,935,952.60
12,783,310.10
Buffalo, N. Y.
Guns
Am2795
American-Oerlikon
Cerlikon Gun
285,000.00
1,203,060.00
1,488,060.00
4,819,500.00
6,307,560.00
Gayda Corp.9ubcontracts
TOTAL 105,324,668.95 93,934,383.28 199,259,052.23 176,103,733.01 375,362,784.24
Regraded Uclassified
173
send
March 10, 1941.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mrs. Klotz
FROM: Mr. Gaston
With reference to the attached letter, Congressman Hunter
came in to see the Secretary at 10:30 this morning and I was
present at the Secretary's request. Mr. Hunter recited some
of the circumstances of the political situation in Ohio and
expressed the view that he ought to have the privilege of naming
the Collector of Internal Revenue at Toledo. The Secretary
told him that he could not undertake to decide these political
arguments but that he would cheerfully carry out any directions
given him by the White House. There seems to me to be no
need of any other reply to the letter. Mr. Hunter wrote me
practically the same letter, with the same enclosures, which I
have in our personnel file.
MD
Regraded Uclassified
CH
174
MOTOR al di
JOHN F. HUNTER
- Denect OMI
GETTINER at CARROLL
COMMITTEES:
Congress of the United States
AGRT. -
- - THE EXECUTIVE
House of Representatives
of - Vex PRESENT,
- - Concerns
- WORNTR. MD MAASURER
w. я I
District IF COLUMBA
March
seventh
1941
The Honorable Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Morgenthau:
Anticipating that a decision is near on the appointment of
a Collector of Internal Revenue in the Toledo(Ohio) office, it is
my desire to call your attention to certain facts which I consider
pertinent.
1. Mr. Ralph 0. Snyder, whom I have indorsed, was first
proposed in August, 1940, by Senator Vic Donahey. At that time
there was some publicity in the newspapers of Ohio; and I am
informed that many letters were sent to the Senator, expressing
approval of his choice. It is not probable that many letters from
the district were sent to any other source, as it was considered by
Democrats of the district that the Senator's recommendation would be
followed.
Later, when Ohio newspapers carried stories that there was
a contest and that Frazier Reams had some backing for the position,
the newspapers all stated that the decision would be made by
Honorable Edward J. Flynn, Chairman of the Democratic National
Committee.
I have been informed that a great amount of mail has reached
Mr. Flynn's office from persons in Ohio who urged Mr. Snyder's
appointment. Copies of some of these letters have been forwarded
to me.
There is one letter written by Tom Stahl, Ottawa County
Chairman, American Legion, and Chairman of the Democratic War
Veterans of Ottawa County, which I would particularly like you to
read as it conveys a plain indication of where some of the opposi-
tion to Mr. Snyder is arising.
Regraded Uclassified
175
Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
-2-
March 7, 1941
There is another letter in Mr. Flynn's files of which I have
no copy but which I am sure you can obtain from Mr. Flynn's office.
This letter was written by Mr. 0. L. Teagarden, Chairman of the
Ottawa County Democratic Committee, in which he tells of requesting
Jr. Reams to take part in the recent political campaign and of Mr.
Reams' refusal to speak for the President. I am informed of this
letter by Mr. Charles Scherer, Chairman of the Ottawa County Demo-
cratic Campaign Headquarters, who also wrote Mr. Flynn.
I would like to request that letters in Mr. Flynn's file be
secured and given consideration by your Department.
2. I am recommending Mr. Snyder because I believe his
experience, training and understanding of the public will make him
an outstanding Collector if he is appointed.
I have the utmost respect for Mr. Reams, but I do not
consider legal training alone makes him an outstanding candidate for
the position of Collector.
From the political viewpoint alone, these angles must be
considered: Mr. Snyder has been extremely active for the Democratic
party during recent years; he is known and respected throughout the
entire Northwestern Ohio.
Mr. Snyder's wife, Babette, was organizer of Roosevelt-
Wallace clubs in that district during the 1940 campaign.
On the other hand, Mr. Reams has taken no part in politics
in the last four years-even refusing to address meetings in behalf
of the President during the 1940 campaign, as attested by letters
in Mr. Flynn's possession.
We will concede that he was active prior to 1936. However,
any obligation incurred on behalf of the Party has already been paid
many times over. In the first place, Mr. Reams was given a license
for a radio station of which he is now president and general manager.
His law partner has been given a United States commissionership.
His law office also has had a large portion of the legal work of the
Home Owners' Loan Corporation and other Federal agencies and depart-
ments in the city of Toledo. This fact can easily be ascertained.
Under the circumstances, any claim that Mr. Reams has earned further
"pay" at the hands of the Administration seems to be greatly
exaggerated.
Regraded Uclassified
176
Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
-3-
March 7, 1941
3. For more than seven years, while the late Charles
Graves was Collector in the Toledo office, it was common knowledge
that Mr. Graves spent less than a day a week in the office or on
Collector's duties, devoting his time to his own law business and
other interests. In making my recommendation of Mr. Snyder, I
recommended a capable man who I knew would be prepared to devote
full time to this important position.
The opposition candidate is a very busy member of a law
firm handling a great deal of Federal business, and is president
and active in the management of a radio station. I am sure that
you have no desire to name men to important positions who are
prepared to devote very little of their time to the duties of the
office.
I have presented these few points as briefly as possible
in order to clarify a situation that has been considerably confused
by inter-party difficulties in Ohio. I know you will give them
your personal consideration.
With best personal wishes, I am,
John Very truly yours,
JFH:SC
Regraded Uclassified
177
Oak Harber, Ohio, Jun. 18, 1941
Hon. Edward J. Flynn,
Demecratic National Comittee,
Mayflower Hotel,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Flynn,
In connection with the appointment of Collector
of Internal Revenue, Tolede, Ohie, at a meeting of
our committee held last evening, they endorsed Mr. Ralph
Snyder of Telede and requested me to advise you of their
action. This, of course, is in further confirmation of
the endorsement of Mr. Snyder by the writer, about last
August 15th, 1940.
our committee is of the opinion, in view of Mr. Snyder's
endorsement by our congressman, Home John Hunter, and of
our Congressman at Large Non Stephen Young, Cleveland, Ohio,
that their recommendation should be followed and we request
your favorable consideration of this gentleman.
We believe that it is time that the leaders of the two
factions in Ohio reelise the necessity of harmony in the
party, and we believe that for the best interest of the
Democratic Party in Ohio, both Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Bittinger
should resign and pomeone be named who can secure the
support of all.
Please accept the writers best wishes
Yours very truly
(Signed) 0. L. Tegarden
Regraded Uclassified
178
WESTERN UNION TEIE GRAM
Celina, Ohio
1940 Aug 19
Hon Vic Denahey US Senater
Mercer County Executive Committee endorses Ralph Snyder
for Internal Revenue Cellector
Clyde Rutledge, county chairman
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
Defiance, Ohio
Honorable John Hunter 200 House of Reps
1940 Nov 27
Dear Mr. Hunter We recommend Ralph O. Snyder of Toledo for
appointment as Internal Revenue Collector at Toledo, Ohie.
Dan Batt, chairman Defiance County Executive Come
Richard Laudick, chairman Putnam County Executive Come
William Mentser, chairman Paulding County Executive Come
Regraded Uclassified
179
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
Van Wert, Ohio
1940 Aug 15
Senater Vic Denahey
Washington, D. C.
Van Wert County Committee recommends appointment Ralph
Snyder to succeed Graves, Internal Revenue Collector.
C. 4. Springer, chairman
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
Wapakoneta, Ohio
1940 Aug 15
Hon. A V Donahey, Senator
I hereby endorse Ralph O₂ Snyder of Toledo to pesition
collector of internal revenue Telede district to succeed
Charles Graves deceased.
Y. P. Killian, chairman Auglaise County
Demecratic Executive Committee
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM
Sidney, Ohio
1940 Aug 17
Senater Vic Benahey
Our endorsement and recommendation of Ralph Snyder for
Collector Internal Revenue office Tenth District Ohio
Leo J. McFarland, chairman (Shelby County)
Democratic Committee
Regraded Uclassified
180
RESTER
UNION
1940 Aug 15
Hom. Vie Denahey
Senate Office Bldge Washington, D. C.
Endorse Ralph Snyder Telede to be collecter of Internal
Revenue to succeed Charles Graves. Your assistance
his behalf will be appreciated.
A. L. Teagarden, chairman Ottawa County
Democratic Central Committee
L
Regraded Uclassified
181
THE DARK COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GREENVILLE, OHIO
August 16, 1940
The Hone Vic Donahey,
Washington, D. C.
Dear sir:
We the undersigned efficers of the
Darks County Central Executive Committee
appointed to make indorsements for vacancies
hereby recemmend and endorse Ralph Snyder to
fill vacancy caused by the death of Chas.
Graves, the pesition of Internal Revenue
Collecter.
Chairman
B.B. MoGriff
Regraded Uclassified
182
September 19, 1940
Honorable Franklin De Roosevelt
The President of the United States
Washington, D.C.
NY dear Mr. President:
On August 23rd, I suggested the name
of Mr. Ralph O₂ Snyder of Tolede, Ohio, to you
for the vacancy exisiting in the Toledo office
of Collector of Internal Revenue. The death of
Honorable Charles H. Graves left this post vacant
and it is of importance to the political well
being of Northwestern Ohio that the nest be filled.
Commissioner Helvering advises do your
full approval is awaited n this connection and
that a tentative investigation had been made of
Mr. Snyder. Snyder was the Secretary of Congress-
man John Fa Hunter and 18 IS vital to the interests
of Congressman Hunter the only democratic Repre-
sentative in Congress obvering all the northwest
districts of thirty some counties, and as well as
to Ohio that determination be reached before election.
It is hoped confirmation might be had before
adjournment.
Would you please inquire into this matter
and advise me the present status in order to favor
Mr. Hunter in this regard.
With sincere regards and best wishes,
I remain
Sincerely yours,
Vic Denshey
Regraded Uclassified
183
COPY
THE ALLEN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Headquarters 527 Dominion Building
Lima, Ohio
August 17, 1940
Hone Vic Denahey,
United States Senate
Washington, D. C.
Dear Senater Denahey:
A vacancy has occurred in the effice of the Collecter
of Internal Revenue of the Telede Districts A fine
capable Democrat by the name of Ralph Snyder who is
secretary to Congressman Hunter is a candidate for
this position.
I want to assure you that if you have any doubts as
to Mr. Snyder's ability and his integrity I have known
him for a good many years and feel that he is well
qualified to hold this position. As State Central
Committeeman from the Fourth District and as Chairman
of Allen County it gives me great pleasure to endorse
Mr. Snyder.
with kindest regards, I am
Yours very truly
(Signed) Francis We Durbin
Chairman
Regraded Uclassified
184
COPY
DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO
September 10th, 1940
Hone Vis Denshey,
U.S. Senator-Ohic,
Washington, D. C.
My Dear Senater:
My attention has been directed to
a vacancy that exists in the effice of Collector
of Internal Revenue, 10th District with Headquarters
in Toledo, Ohie. This vacancy was caused by the recent
death of Mr. Graves.
In this connection it is my pleasure to
recommend the name of Mr. Ralph Snyder, Tolede, Ohio
for consideration as appointment for this position.
Mr. Snyder is well qualified to perform the duties
required and his past connections present him as an
asset to the position.
Thanking you in advance for any consideration
extended to Mr. Snyder, I remain
Sincerely Yours,
(Signed) Theodore R. Black
Chairman, Wood County DEC
Regraded Uclassified
185
ALLIED INSULATING &
BUILDING CO. INC.
TOLEDO, OHIO
(COPY)
January 17, 1941
(COPY)
Hon. Edward J. Flynn, Chairman,
Democratic National Committee,
Mayflower Hetel,
Washington, D. C.
Dear sir:
May I, as a business man and war veteran, endorse the
appointment of Mr. Ralph Snyder as Collector of Internal
Revenue for the 10th Ohio District.
I have known and respected Mr. Snyder for the Past
15 years, both as a newspaper man and as secretary to the Hon.
John F. Hunter, Congressman from my home district and state of
Ohio.
Mr. Snyder has always been unfailing in his duties
to the public of this district and has brought credit and
prestige to the Democratic party of this district and state.
As a life long Democrat, I believe it is my duty
to endorse this appointment of an able and efficient
Democratic official.
Very truly yours
(signed) DENNIS G. BURNS
Regraded Uclassified
186
COPY
March 4, 1941
Regraded Uclassified
Mr. Edward Je Flynn,
Chairman
Democratic National Committee,
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, D. C.
ity dear Mr. Flynn:
I an writing to you with the hope that I may be able to
give you some information relative to the fight that has como
up between Ralph Snyder and Fraser Reams for the Cellecter of
Internal Revenueship at. Tolede, Ohio.
Both Mr. Reams and Mr. Snyder are personal friends of
mine, but I feel that because of the backing that Mr. Reams
has that he should not be entitled to this position, and here
is why I say this.
I am enclosing herewith a letter which I will mark Exhibit
A, which I sent out in behalf of John Hunter during the last
campaign. I am also sending you a copy of a letter marked
Exhibit B, sent out by Mr. Hunter's oppenent.
This copy, marked Exhibit B, was made from a letter handed
to a voter by Mr. William Zeis, an appointee of Charles Sawyer
and working out of Mr. Sawyer's headquarters, and paid by the
National Democratic Executive committee. These letters were
carried about with him and shown to different veterans, especially
veterans when Mr. Zeis queried and found to have received one of
the copies of Exhibit A as sent out by m. When Mr. Zeis found
that they had received such a copy, he made a personal attack on
m, alleging that I was a drunkard, and them handed to them a
letter sent out by Mr. White of which I have enclosed a copy as
marked Exhibit B. Now Mr. Zeis at this time was working out of
Mr. Sawyer's Democratic headquarters, was an employe of the
Democratic Executive committee, and receiving Demecratio money.
Up until that time I had always been a supporter of Charles
Sawyer, but when I found that he was employing this sert of men
187
with Demecratic funds, I felt as I de new that it was to the
best interest of the Demecratic party to get rid of him,
It seens to - that the opposition to Mr. Ralph Snyder is
not because of his personal integrity or lack of integrity, to but
is opposition en the part of Mr. Sawyer and his ceherts any-
thing that Cengressman Hunter wants.
In By humble opinion, now that Martin L. Davey has taken
himself out of the picture by illness, I feel that if Mr.
Sawyer were taken out of the picture by you, we would again
be able to get together in Ohio and start to go some place.
Sincerely yours
(signed) Tem D. Stahl
Chairman
Democratic War Veterans of
Ottawa county.
Regraded Uclassified
188
Regraded Uclassifie
January 20, 1941
Hon. Edward Flynn, Chairman
Democratic National Committee
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Flyant
I claim no political influence. I control no votes other than by
own. But I have been a consistent Democratic voter in Lucas County, even
at times when I had to make excuses for candidates offered locally by the
Democratic party. I have dons this because of my/hellef in the party's
principles and on the supposition that the national party would function
more advantageously with local Democratic administrations than otherwise,
I isagine that many more of the 80,000 who voted Democratic in Lucas County
in November felt the same way I did.
We were a bit disgusted with the intex party fight between Sawyer
supporters and Davey supporters which carried on right through the presi-
dential campaign. We were 60 fed up oh of the local candidates that
TO shed no tears over the defeat of two Democratic county cnadidates put
up by the local Quinlivan-Galvin machine. Tie resented the undercover
attacks by that machine on our naminee for Congress, John Hunter, and TO
helped give him a 15,000 majority over his Republican opponent.
We have resented the strong arm method of controlling political jobs
in Lucas County, which has resulted in the rather bitter jest common among
Democrato here that you can't get a political job unless you are related to
one of the "Six Families."
The Toledo Blade of Jan. 18th says that there is a dispute over the
appointment of a collector of revenue in Toledo. This is no surprise
because Congressman Hunter has never accepted the "Six Family" tradition
and has attempted to make appointments according to merit and qualifications.
We have an outstanding example of this in the appointment of a. career man
as postmaster in Toledo and by the appointment of boys to Annapolis and West
Point after competitive examinations. Democratic voters have applauded
these actions and have given Mr. Hunter growing majorities in his elections
as a result, while the "Six Families" lost the only two county offices
contested for in the election two years ago, and two additional county
offices in the last election.
Two years ago John Quinlivan, head man of the "Six Families" was a
candidate for ward committeeman. His only opponent was & boy of 23 who
had no job and who had never been active in politics. Quinlivan lost
189
Page 2
by & two to one vote. Reams was a candidate in the primary for the
nomination for attorney general-and lost. Sawyer was a candidate
for governor-and lost.
Now, Quinlivan, in the best"Six Family" tradition, proposes
Reams, a member of the "Six Families" in good standing, to Sawyer as a
candidate for collector of internal revenue in Toledo. Sawyer, accord-
ing to the Toledo Bhade has followed tradition and made the recommendation
to you.
Democratic voters of Lucas County are waiting to see whether you
will accept the recommendations of two persons they have repudiated
who are recommending a third person whom the voters also have repudiated.
Or will you follow the recommendations of the Congressman the
Democratic voters have elected to his third term by a greatly increased
majority, and whose popularity is at least partly due to the high caliber
of the appointees he has placed in public positions.
I am certain many loyal Democratic voters are awaiting your decision
with great interest.
C Very truly yours,
/a/ Frank M. Fisher
Regraded Uclassified
190
ALBERT M. MATTHEWS
Attorney at Law
1217 Sylvania Ave.
Toledo, Ohio
January 17, 1941
Hon. Edw. J. Flynn
Chairman of Democratic National Committee
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I wish to express my earnest desire, as an active
Democrat in Toledo for the past fifteen years, that you will
appoint Ralph Snyder as the new Collector of Internal Revenue
in Toledo, Ohio.
The fact thatt he is endorsed by John F. Hunter,
the only Democratic Congressmen from the district, should merit
the appointment. The long record in public office and at the polls
hase proven John F. Hunter, to be the most popular and outstanding
Democrat in this district of Ohio.
To deprive kim of his just right to make the
appointment would be extremely ungrateful and cause much
dissension. I am safe in asserting that the vast majority
of the local Democrats are wholeheartedly behind John F. Hunter
and likewise his candidate Ralph Snyder for Collector of
Internal Revenue in Toledo, Ohio.
Respectfully yours
/s/ Albert M. Matthews
Regraded Uclassified
191
AMOS L. CONN
Attorney at Law
921 Edison Building
Toledo, Ohio
August 20th, 1940
My dear Senator Donahey:-
May I bear a word of testimony on behalf of
my long time friend, Mr. Ralph H. Snyder Executive Secretary for
Congressman John F. Hunter, of the 9th District, who is a receptive
candidate for United States Collector at Toledo, there being & vacancy
due to the untimely passing of our mutual friend, the Honorable Chas.
H. Graves?
You know Mr. Smyder as well or perhaps better than
I do. However, I would like to say a word of commendation and recom-
mend him to your favor consideration. He is a man of good character
and is well and favorable known in this community. He is clear-headed
and has large capacity in getting things done. He is conscientious and
a man of strong convictions He has all the vigor and energy of youth,
plus the understanding and wisdom that comes with wide experience and
knowledge of men.
I feel that Mr. Snyder would fill this important
position with honor and dignity, be a credit to the Party, and render
a public service of such high character that will at all times justify
the confidence reposed in him. Your favorable consideration will be
greatly appreciated.
Please accept my good wishes and my assurances of
respect and esteem.
Cordially yours,
/s/ A. L. Conn
Regraded Uclassified
192
THE EAST TOLEDO DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Toledo, Ohio
August 19, 1940
Hon. Vic Donahey
U. S. Senate - Ohio
Washington, D.C.
T
My dear Senator:
As an organization of long standing
and which has the esteem of the Democracy of this
County, I beg to inform you that are heartily endorse
the candidacy of one Ralph 0. Snyder, able secretary
to Congressman J. F. Hunter for the office of Internal
Revenue Collector this district.
We kindly urge you to place his name
before President Roosevelt.
Thanking you beg to remain,
Sincerely,
/s/ S. J. Saxon
President
SJS:JJH
Regraded
193
CLARENCE J. MATTHEWS
2352 Georgetown Avenue
Toledo, Ohio
January 17, 1941
Edward J. Flynn
Chairman Democratic National Committee
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, D.C.
T
Dear Mr. Flynn:
Because of the interest and importance of the position of
Internal Revenue Collector in our district and because of
my desire to see harmony in the ranks of the local demo-
cratic organisation; I as writing xau on behalf of the
appointment of Mr. Ralph Snyder for the position of Inter-
nal Revenue Collector in our district.
Mr. Ralph Snyder is a democrat respected and well quali-
fied and surely deserving of such consideration.
However, whoever may receive this appointment should
certainly have the unqualified endorsement of the leading
democrat in our district, and that is our 9th District
Congressman, the Honorable John F. Hunter.
It is my sincere hope, and with no anticipation of personal
benefit, that Mr. Ralph Snyder will be recognised and that
Mr. John F. Hunter will be given the credit that is right-
fully his from the national organisation. I thank you for
this consideration.
Sincerely yours,
/a/ Clarence J. Matthews
CJM:B
Regraded Uclassified
194
January 15, 1941
Hon. Edward J. Flynn, Chairman
Democratic National Committee
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Flynn:
As I have been actively engaged in
Democratic Politics for a number of years
I an anxious that those who have labored
earnestly and diligently on behalf of the
party are properly rewarded.
An appointment is soon to be made to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Charles H. Graves, Collector of Internal
Revenue for this district, and would very
much appreciate you densidering Ralph Snyder,
Secretary to Congressman John F. Hunter. Mr.
Snyder has been very active in democratic
politics throughout this district for a number
of years, very courteous and highly esteemed
by all who know him.
I feel that the appointment of Ralph
Snyder would not only be a compliment to
himself, but a credit to the Treasury Department.
Very truly yours,
Myron A. Rosentreter
marjfuw
Regraded Uclassified
195
January 15th, 1941
Hon. Edward J. Flynn,
Chairman
National Democratic Executive Committee,
Mayflower Hotel,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Chairman Flynn:
1
When the matter of the vacancy in the office of U. S.
Collector at Toledo, Ohio, came OR for consideration (due
to the untimely death of our friend Charles H. Graves),
I lent what influence I had in Favor of Mr. Ralph 0. Snyder,
Executive Secretary to Congressman Hunter, as a well qualified
man to assume the duties of this important office.
Intervening events have strengthened my conviction as to
the all-round fitness of Mr. Shyder for this position.
Mr. Snyder is hard working Democrat in all kinds of weather,
and he is a man of recognized ability, wide experience, and what
is perhaps of greater importance, a man of good character. We
believe that your favorable consideration and your recommendation
of Mr. Snyder's appointment will be in the interests of public
service and tend to strengthen the Democratic Party in this dis-
trict.
With assurances of esteem, we remain
Yours respectfully,
Amos L. Conn
ALC:EVD
Regraded Uclassified
196
Oak Harbor, Ohio
Dec. 6, 1940
Hon. Chas. Sawyer,
Columbus, Ohio
Dear Mr. Sawyer:-
In view of stories which have appeared in
the newspapers recently regarding Federal patronage in Ohio,
I believe I an justified in assuming that you will have addi-
tional influence in Washington from now on.
There is one matter directly concerning our
County in which you might assist us, this 10 in the appoint-
ment of a Revenue Collector for the Tenth Treasury District
with headquarters at Toledo. Four months ago bur Committee
endorsed Mr. Ralph 0. Snyder of Toledo, Ohio, for this posi-
tion; he also received the endorsement of Senator Donahey,
Congressman Hunter and a majority of the County Committees
in the District. For some reason the appointment has never
been made. Congressman Hunter is the only Democratic Con-
gressman elected in the entire Instrict and I believe you
will see the necessity of backing his endorsements in such
matters.
This appointment has been delayed 80 long
that I urge you to help bring it to the proper conclusion by
concurring with Congressman Hunter's recommendation without
further delay.
With kindest personal regards, I remain
Yours very truly,
/s/ 0. L. Teagarden
Chairman
OLT:A
Regraded Uclassified
197
JOHN McSWEENEY
Attorney-at-Law
Wooster, Ohio
November 11, 1940
Mr. Ralph Snyder
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.
Dear Ralphs
I hope that you, Congressman, Mark and all
T
will realize how deeply grateful 1 and for
your kindnesses to me.
I was very glad that John war reelected,
and for me to share the enthusiastic help
of you friends was a wonderful advantage,
as the returns from Lucas Dounty show.
I hope some day I may show my appreciation.
Most Sincerely your Friend,
/s/ John McSweeney
JM:HMS
(Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in
the 1940 campaign.)
Regraded Uclassified
198
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Hotel Biltmore
New York City
Roosevelt-Nallace Clubs
Harry M. Washington
Director
October 18th, 1940
Mrs. Babette P. Snyder, Dist.Mgr.,
Roosevelt-Wallace Clubs,
1413 Eleanor St.,
Toledo, Ohio
Dear Mrs. Snyder:
T
May I thank you for your prompt 00-
operation with the Roosevelt-Wallace Clubs Division.
I can readily see by the aggressive way
in which you have developed this program, that you will
get splendid results in your Songressional District.
A Ht of campaign material is being sent
you similar to that which **11 be sent to other Clubs as
soon as their names and addresses together with the name of
the executive officer are received here.
Again thanking you and assuring you that
we will co-operate from here in every way possible, I am
Sincerely yours,
12/ Harry M. Washington
Harry M. Washington,
Director.
Regraded Uclassified
199
March 10, 1941
10:45 a.m.
RE AID TO BRITAIN
Present:
Mr. White
Mr. Bell
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Young
Mr. Foley
Mr. Cox
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Gaston
H.M.Jr:
I thought I would start this meeting off -
I am having lunch with the President today,
so it is fortunate we are having this meeting.
I asked this morning, Cochran to - if he
could by this time give me a summary of the
various things that I did with England, the
various sources that I had in connection
with their finances. I didn't give you much
time. Have you got something?
Cochran:
It is all dictated, and I think it will be
in while this meeting is going on. (See
attachment A.)
H.M.Jr:
Then we will just skip that.
Bell:
I asked Phil to do it, too. I don't know
whether he had a little more time.
H.M.Jr:
Have you got something, Phil?
Young:
Danny called me about 10:15 and I dictated a
page just on the general aspect of what our
Regraded Uclassified
200
- 2 -
office does down there on foreign purchasing.
(See attachment B.)
H.M.Jr:
This is a result of our eight o'clock meeting,
Dan. Well, when does yours come off your
machine?
Young:
It ought to be in in just a minute, I think.
H.M.Jr:
Then we will skip you.
Young:
It is very general in its nature.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let's wait until it comes in. I per-
sonally explained to Cochran what I wanted.
How soon do you think yours will be in,
Cochran?
Cochran:
It is not awfully short. It will be a couple
or three pages. It will take half an hour.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we will wait. How long?
Cochran:
Twenty minutes. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
When did you finish dictating? Do they
know we are waiting for it?
Cochran:
Yes, but I finished dictating it just before
I came in.
H.M.Jr:
All right. Professor Foley, what have you
got? Is yours off the machine?
Foley:
Well, all we have got is conversation,
Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
All right. (Laughter) Let's have what you
have got.
Foley:
It seemed to us that now that the Byrd amend-
ment is in the bill, that the problem breaks
Regraded Uclassified
201
- 3 -
down in so far as financial considerations
are concerned into a deal that would be worked
out for the billion three hundred million
dollars of defense articles on hand, which
could be made available and a deal which could
be worked out in so far as new defense articles
are concerned which will be acquired through
appropriations Congress will make from time
to time to carry out the purposes of the
Lend-Lease Bill.
Starting from there, it seemed to us that
under no circumstances should we be put in
the position of taking over any existing com-
mitments that the British have. In other
words, for us to take them out of any contracts
and agree to pay American manufacturers for
defense articles for which the British have
agreed to pay American manufacturers would
not sit very well with the country.
H.M.Jr:
The fact that I am quiet doesn't mean I
agree. I thought I would let you run through
your story.
Foley:
Yes. And that is substantially what you told
the committees when you appeared before the
committees, and to go back on that might be
unfortunate.
Now, the British have advanced to American
manufacturers for land, for buildings, and
for machine tools, approximately a hundred
and thirty-four million dollars, and that
investment --
H.M.Jr:
Have you got that figure?
Cochran:
No, sir.
H.M.Jr:
What is that figure again? The British have
what?
Regraded Uclassified
202
4 -
Foley:
A hundred and thirty-four million dollars.
H.M.Jr:
A hundred and thirty-four represents what?
Foley:
Well, for instance --
H.M.Jr:
You mean this is capital or down payment?
Foley:
Well, let's take the powder plant in Tennessee.
They have made a total payment of $21,459,000.
The land is & million three, the building is
five million eight, the machine tools are
eighteen million.
The land, the buildings and the equipment
are owned by the Tennessee Powder Company,
which is wholly owned by the United Kingdom.
H.M.Jr:
But I thought that was one of the ones that
the RFC --
Foley:
And that is being operated by DuPont. Yes,
this is one of the ones that they are talking
about with the RFC.
Now, they are talking about that with the
RFC as a means of raising additional dollars.
It seems to us that they don't need those
additional dollars in order to pay for commit-
ments that they have already made in the light
of the figures that we got, as analyzed by
Harry yesterday. All of that plant investment
could be made available against 80 much of
the billion three of existing defense articles
that could be made available to the British
at once. In addition to that, we could take
& certain portion of their exports to the
United States of tin and rubber, strategic
materials.
H.M.Jr:
Let's just stop right there. What I have
asked for is this. You are getting down into
Uclassified
203
- 5 -
too many details now. You give me a figure
here of a hundred and thirty-four million
dollars, which I take it is down payments
and property and tools and 80 forth that
they have advanced.
Foley:
Land, buildings and tools.
H.M.Jr:
Now, this breaks into two things. One thing,
I asked whether the Army is negotiating for
part of this.
(Unrecorded telephone conversation.)
H.M.Jr:
Somebody calls up for Harriman a few minutes
ago and said he wanted to talk to me to thank
me for my message, and then when I said I
was busy, "Well, Mr. Harriman is just about
to leave." The Clipper left two hours ago.
I don't understand it.
Now, let me just get this thing straight.
I am not going to get tied up with a lot of
figures. The RFC - I wanted the figure, I
y
may not get it - is negotiating for the pur-
chase of the English --
Foley:
Plant investment in this country.
H.M.Jr:
And how much does that amount to?
Foley:
One hundred and thirty-four million dollars.
H.M.Jr:
Are they negotiating for the whole amount?
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Then of this hundred and thirty-four, the
RFC is trying to buy the whole bunch, is
that right?
Foley:
That is right, take them out of what they
204
- 6 -
put into plants in this country.
H.M.Jr:
A hundred thirty-four.
Foley:
A hundred thirty-four.
H.M.Jr:
Is that the figure?
Foley:
That is the figure.
H.M.Jr:
RFC in process of buying one hundred thirty-
four million of English plants, munitions
plants in U.S.A.
Now, of the hundred and thirty-four, have
they concluded anything?
Foley:
I don't believe they have concluded & thing
yet, and they are not taking it up on the
over-all basis. They are taking it up in
connection with specific plants that our
Army or our Navy could use and could reim-
burse the RFC for it if the RFC took the
British out. It may all add up to the one
hundred thirty-four. That is the over-all
commitment.
H.M.Jr:
Now, the thing that I call the McCloy plan,
where the Army is trying to buy it, like
that Kelsey Wheel thing, is that in the
hundred and thirty-four?
Foley:
No, that is separate.
Cox:
That is mainly & take-out on orders and not
on plant.
H.M.Jr:
How much does that amount to?
Cox:
Well, the total figure on the ones they are
negotiating on now is a little over five
million.
Begraded
205
- 7 -
H.M.Jr:
But I thought it was a couple of hundred
million.
Cox:
No, they are taking the Kelsey Hayes and
one other as a pattern, and they are working
on that with the theory that if they get
that executed they can step it to a much
larger dollar amount of present existing
orders.
H.M.Jr:
How much?
Cox:
I don't think McCloy knows the figure on
that.
H.M.Jr:
Doesn't anybody know? This RFC and then
United States Army. They are buying up
contracts, too, aren't they?
Foley:
Yes, and that is the phase of it we thought
we ought not to go into.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I have asked for this for tomorrow.
I don't know why it is so difficult to get
this. Buying up English munitions contracts
as against plants, is that right?
Cox:
That is right.
Foley:
That is right, supply contracts.
H.M.Jr:
And how much that amounts to you don't know?
Cochran:
Playfair told me he would give us their
figures today on both the RFC and the Army.
H.M.Jr:
Now, Ed, as far as I am concerned, I would
not interfere in this, and I say I don't
want to get bogged down. I don't want to
take the idea of stopping this and leaving this
as 8. mortgage against - that the powder plant
is an asset against what we are going to
Regraded Uclassified
206
- 8 -
lend-lease. My answer to you on that is
definitely no. I mean, this is in the
process that they are counting on the money
that they are getting from these things to
use for English specification things, and
they are going to need that.
Foley:
Well, I --
H.M.Jr:
And this has all been agreed on over a period
of months, and I don't care what Harry says.
I mean, it doesn't -- I have got my - I
have got a definite understanding with these
people that the money that they get - we
went through hell on this thing, and now we
suddenly say no, that we don't want this
thing, and then they come back and say,
"What are we going to use for money to buy
English specification stuff?" I don't know
where Harry gets his ideas. This is & thing -
it is peanuts, anyway.
White:
Well, apparently there was an agreement among
six of us. It isn't only my idea. We were
discussing it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I mean it isn't worth discussing. I
am trying to get a formula for several billions,
and here --
Foley:
Well, a billion three, Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let's start - no, I want a formula
for billions.
Cox:
Right, but look, can we argue to that point
& minute?
H.M.Jr:
What?
Cox:
To the powder plants in this country? It
Regraded Uclassified
207
9 -
seems to me that - and I think most of us
were agreed - that on the first disposition
without disclosing what the equipment was
that you were disposing of because it might
be & military secret, you might still want
to say to the public who had been led to
believe that all this stuff is being given
away that as to those things which are
exhaustible like bullets and 80 forth, we
are getting powder plants and 80 forth.
H.M.Jr:
Doesn't appeal to me at all. It is chicken
feed.
Cox:
I know it is chicken feed, but --
H.M.Jr:
Well, do you mind? It is part of the other
picture, which I have agreed to, and it
would upset Stimson, it would upset Jones.
It has all been agreed that they should
work on this thing and this should flow into
the pot to be used to give the English money
for new orders to be used for English speci-
fications, you see. We are sort of back-
tracking, and it just isn't worth it.
White:
Does the Lend-Lease Bill exclude the purchase
here of items which satisfy British require-
ments but not our own? I didn't gather that
it did.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, it does.
White:
Well, the lawyers don't feel that way.
H.M.Jr:
Well, they are wrong. Certainly the Army
feels that way. I mean, to give you an
example, I will give you a specific example.
There was a certain kind of plane, I can't
just think of the name, but maybe Philip
can. Knudsen said to me, "Now, the English
208
- 10 -
want a certain kind of plane."
Young:
Typhoon?
H.M.Jr:
Well, I don't know, & dive bomber or something.
Let's say type "X", Knudsen has been the most
difficult on this. He says, "Now, we don't
have this plane. They want six different
types. We don't have two types. I am talking
generally." He said, "All right, until we
get it, I, Knudsen, will say that we will for
six months build the kind of plane that the
English want, because we don't have that
kind of a plane and we will try to develop
one ourselves; but for six months I will
make a strictly English type plane because
they need it, you see."
Now, that was crossed - Philip, you were
there on that stuff. Did you hear what I
said? Am I telling it about right?
Young:
Yes, sir. Knudsen did say at one point that
when we first talked about the lend-lease
thing that he visualized placing orders
himself for British type goods.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I know he did in this case.
Foley:
That would be with appropriations that would
be made to carry out the Lease-Lend Bill.
Young:
Out of the theoretically floating part of
the fund as distinguished from a specific
War and Navy appropriation.
Foley:
Yes, but as I see it, Phil, I mean the dis-
cussions we had out at the Secretary's that
day, have been cut across now by the Byrd
amendment, and the Byrd amendment makes it
necessary, and I believe that they have
Regraded Uclassified
209
11 -
acquiesced in it, Harry Hopkins and Smith,
of going down and asking for a lump sum
appropriation to carry out the Lease-Lend
Bill and not appropriations to the Army
and not appropriations to the Navy to carry
out the Lease-Lend Bill. That is the fight
that we made, and we lost when Jimmie Byrnes
agreed to the Byrd amendment, and now they
are going to agree to it in conference.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Ed, I am still groping for the thing
and I don't see that there is very much
difference - I mean, start with & billion
three. Supposing the President says, "I
won't wait until we get an appropriation
bill. I want to act up to 8. billion three."
Let's just take that.
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
And he says, "All right, Henry, now we
want to operate on that."
Foley:
We will make up a consideration that I can
announce to the American public that I am
getting this billion three.
H.M.Jr:
Then he will say, "On the billion three, I
want to give them so many ships and planes
and that and the other."
Foley:
Now, what can we get?
H.M.Jr:
What can we get and what legal form can
it take? That is what I am groping for
today.
Foley:
Well, that is what we are trying to give
you, Mr. Secretary. Now, we thought --
H.M.Jr:
I don't like this RFC stuff, I don't like
Regraded Uclassified
210
- 12 -
the Army stuff, because I think it has all
been done once, and I don't want to disturb
it because I don't want to disturb Jones,
I don't want to disturb Stimson, and I don't
want to disturb the Purchasing Commission.
Foley:
As far as the Army is concerned, the supply
contracts are not in this at all. This
wouldn't cut across anything the Army was
trying to take them out of, and in so far
as the RFC is concerned, it might be a much
more feasible and much more effective way
of getting the whole thing, because the RFC
may end up by taking only so much of the
stuff as could be disposed of in this country.
A lot of this machine tool stuff they may not
want to touch. They would only want to touch
what they could put a mortgage on.
H.M.Jr:
I don't want to get on that basis either. I
get what you have in mind. Let's just forget
it.
Foley:
We were going to suggest that plus a portion
of their tin and their rubber exports over
a period of five years.
Bell:
Well, can he lease or lend the material under
the billion three?
Foley:
Yes.
Bell:
Well, what do you have to have? You don't
have to have dollar for dollar, something
coming back, do you? It is either a re-
payment in kind or a payment of rentals.
Gaston:
You don't have to have anything but a promise.
Bell:
That is all you have to have, is a promise.
211
- 13 -
Foley:
We thought the problem broke down as to
the billion three, and as to the new stuff
and as to the billion three if you want
to make it all available to them right
now, it might sit better with the American
public to show that you had worked out 8
good sound financial arrangement and got
good consideration for so much of those
defense articles on hand as you made avail-
able at the present time.
Bell:
I have had 8. little difficulty --
Foley:
Then so far as the new appropriations are
concerned, you go into the more intangible
values such as the British fleet and such
as what happens if the British go down and
what happens if the British win the war.
Bell:
I have a little difficulty distinguishing
beteeen what goes out under the billion
three and what goes out under the Lend-Lease
appropriations.
Foley:
Well, I don't blame you. The only distinction
that you make is because of the distinction
made by the Byrd amendment. The Congress has
said that ten per cent of the articles pur-
chased with appropriations made prior to the
past bill may be disposed of, and that creates
a difference between articles on hand and
articles to be procured in the future.
Bell:
Only as to limitation.
Foley:
Only as to limitation.
Gaston:
I don't think it will sit better with the
American public that we have made a chiseling
bargain by which we are going to get back
the value of what we are going to give them.
Regraded Uclassified
212
- 14 -
I think what is going to sit best with the
American public is the impression that we
are doing something to aid England.
Bell:
I think 80 too. I don't think that - what
is coming back amounts to a tinker's damn in
the public mind.
Cox:
Now wait a minute, you are going to have
pending an appropriation request when these
first dispositions are made, and it seems
to me you ought to state in the financial
terms of the disposition your two policy
things, that is, that it isn't 8. Shylock
deal by which you squeeze somebody that is
in need, and secondly, that in addition to
the intangible benefits which the United
States gets, it is also as to things which
are exhausted, getting something that is
direct and tangible by which the British
really give up very little except the pos-
sibility of dollar exchange; and secondly
that as to the lease-lend end of the thing,
you are going to negotiate that out on both -
on a governmental basis, that it isn't only
a straight business transaction, that what
you are going to do is look after the benefit
of the United States as to that.
Now, I don't think that on the first disposition
you could have ready a complete financial docu-
ment which will cover the rest of the billion
three or the appropriations up to "X" billion,
which will come under the new bill, and it
is just a question of what you first present
to the public on the first disposition, on
"A", possibly something concrete, and "B",
something which you possibly can't answer
for this time.
H.M.Jr:
Just hold yourself for 8 minute. I want to
Regraded Uclassified
213
- 15
-
ask two things. What is the last position
-
what are the commitments of England in this
country, do you know? The last figure I
heard was a billion, their contracts. Has
anybody got it?
Young:
You mean unpaid balances?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, how much do they owe American contractors?
Young:
It is about a billion three, isn't it, Harry?
White:
Including these additional orders it must
be at least that.
H.M.Jr:
Last I heard it was around a billion.
White:
But they have given about two hundred and
eighty-five million dollars worth of contracts
since January 1, new contracts.
H.M.Jr:
Two hundred and how much?
White:
About two hundred and eighty-five million.
Bell:
That made a billion six to liquidate.
White:
And then they have paid off some of the old.
How much they have paid off I don't know,
but I imagine it must be two hundred million
dollars or something of that order.
H.M.Jr:
Would I be safe to say that it is around
8 billion three or a billion four they still
owe us?
White:
I should think SO. You might be a hundred
million too high, but it is about a billion
three, I think.
Young:
That is about right.
Regraded Uclassified
214
- 16 -
H.M.Jr:
Now, let me just come back 8. minute to
this, which I would like to get. If I
could only get my hands on this. Never
mind what we are going to get in exchange
for the minute. If you want to have some-
thing in mind, let's say we are going - for
a billion three they are going to give us
a mortgage on Bermuda, let's say. I don't
want to run it, but just we have got first
mortgage on Bermuda. What I want to get,
if I can, desperately, Dan, for Bermuda
we are going to give them ten Coast Guard
Cutters, you see.
Now, what kind of piece of paper is that
contract written on? That is what I want
to know. That is what I have been groping
for first. Under this thing there are
going to be ten Coast Guard Cutters and in
exchange for that we are going to take 8.
mortgage on Bermuda. How would that be
written?
White:
I think it is impossible for a soverign
country to give away a mortgage.
Bell:
You would have to put it under --
H.M.Jr:
I don't care what it is, but I mean - the
British fleet. I mean, I am not saying
any particular thing. I am just trying to
say there has to be some kind of & contract,
some kind of 8. document, and I take it the
Treasury is going to prepare that document.
Cox:
Well, that has both legal and psychological
questions, depending upon the kind of property.
Now, if it were going to be the British fleet,
you could draw the legal document by which you
set up under what conditions you get possession
as well as title of the British fleet under
Regraded Uclassified
215
- 17
the mortgage and then you would have the
question of whether you want the President
and the Prime Minister of Britain to sign
it or whether you want the President to
delegate it to somebody and Churchill to
delegate it to somebody to be signed.
On the other hand, if you - going back for
illustration to these powder plants, the
British Purchasing Commission apparently
has the full authority to sign without
going back to the government.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let's take in the case of Bermuda,
it would be what, the State Department?
They did these other bases, didn't they?
Cox:
Yes, but you have got to be careful there
as to whom you get to sign the thing, because
the closer you get to something that is like
a treaty, then you have got to go back to
the Senate for confirmation or approval, and
you tend to open again the whole discussion.
H.M.Jr:
You see, I know what the President has in
mind, up until the last time he talked to me
about it, which was last week, because I
mentioned the fact to him that Canada wants
to get under the Lend-Lease and they wanted
only the engines, but they didn't want to
sign.
So he said, "Well, in case of engines," he
said, "we get something back." He has got
an idea that if we are going to give them
some planes, they will replace it with planes.
If we give them ships, they will replace it
with ships. That is the way he has talked
up to now.
Dearaded
216
- 18 -
White:
Well, it seemed to me that we had a state-
ment that might cover that, aside from the
legal papers.
H.M.Jr:
I am not through with that --
White:
Any legal document, it seems to me, would
have to be in terms of either the identical
planes or of an equivalent number of planes,
neither of which would be possible or feasible,
or, what would be feasible, have & plane of
equal value. It would have to be set in
terms of dollars.
If that were true, it seems to me you are
driving just the kind of hard bargain that
I gather the others feel --
H.M.Jr:
A plane of equal value wouldn't be dollars.
The President wants to get away from the
dollars, that is the whole point.
White:
You can't use an identical plane.
H.M.Jr:
Now mind you, just so nobody misunderstands
my position. My position, which I stated
before the Lend-Lease Bill ever was intro-
duced, 80 there can be no misunderstanding,
if I was left alone to write this thing, I
would give it to them, 80 don't anybody mis-
understand me.
White:
But I don't think the American public will
understand that.
H.M.Jr:
I just want you to know where I stand per-
sonally. If it was to me, I would give it to
them and I wouldn't go through all this monkey
business; but just 80 that nobody gets an
idea that I am trying to drive a hard bargain,
if left to me, I would give the stuff.
Regraded Uclassified
217
- 19 -
After all, by the time they fight it and
it is their lives which are at stake and
not ours, I think the important thing is
done when they put the boys in to fight the
things and I think when we begin to talk
about getting something back in addition
to having the men fight this thing while
we get time, I think we are driving too
hard a bargain; so if it was just left to
me, I would give them the stuff, 80 don't,
Harry, get any idea --
White:
I am thinking exclusively from the point of
view of being able to help them most, and
I think that our view was that you will be
able to help them most and be closer to
the very objective which you stated of wanting
to give them more if the initial transaction
were made to abide by two principles, one
to make the American public think they are
not giving it away; second, to make the
British public and their allies and their
potential allies not feel that they are
giving anything up in order to encourage
them, something to abide by both those
principles, and I thought we had something
that might work.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let me show you where I disagree with
you totally. Let's say that - if I understand
you gentlemen correctly, on the billion three
while the appropriation bill is going through,
we want to make 8. wonderful showing to show
what we have got for the billion three, is
that right?
White:
Without having the British sacrifice anything
so the British won't feel they are giving up
anything they want. In other words, we get
something and they are not giving anything.
218
- 20 -
That is possible, I think, in this way.
We thought we would break down the problem
into three parts.
H.M.Jr:
What are you going to give them, the pixies?
White:
You are going to give them such things as
Coast Guard Cutters and 80 on, which will be
in terms of a lease and in which you will
get back the same cutters, and certainly
no British will object to that. They will
say to themselves, "You can have it back."
It doesn't mean anything out of their skins.
At the same time the American public will
feel that goods of that character, they are
going to get it back and depreciation can
either be allowed or thrown in the kitty.
That is one thing which the American people
feel they are going to get back and which
the British people feel they are not giving
anything when they give it back to us.
A second character was the American plants
which are in the United States. Now, the
Americans would say, justly, "We would be
glad to get these plants back. They are
plants we otherwise would not have had, and
we really are getting something for them.
They are in the United States and they can
produce these commodities."
So far as the British or the Greeks or Chinese
are concerned, they would say to themselves,
"Well sure, we got the use of those plants.
We already wrote those off. It is only
reasonable that you should have ammunition
plants that are in your country," and I
don't think they would regard that as giving
up anything.
As regards the third character, I thought
Regraded Uclassified
219
- 21 -
we concluded on that one that we ought to
be vague and merely say, "The discussions
are going forward with respect to quid
pro quo's on other items," 30 that you
would have two real items which the American
public would be impressed with.
H.M.Jr:
Let's just for a minute say I took it just
as you gave it, and let's say that Ed Foley
had to go up to testify on this bill because
I am not going, you see, and Ed Foley goes
up and 3ay3 - now, he explains this. They
say, "That is wonderful, that is something.
Now, Mr. Foley, you are asking for another
five billion dollars. Would you mind telling
us what you are going to get for that?"
Foley:
Yes, and I think that simplifies the problem,
because until you get this stuff out of the
way --
H.M.Jr:
Yes, but --
Foley:
And you come to Congress and say we have gotten
the stuff --
H.M.Jr:
Then what --
Foley:
This is a tangible value that we can get.
We have gotten a certain portion of their
exports, we have gotten their plant invest-
ment in this country, we have gotten these
tangible assets of ours that we made available
to them, we have got them to agree to give
them back to us when they get through with
them.
H.M.Jr:
Now what are you going to get with the five
billion?
Foley:
Now we are asking for five billion dollars
for bullets and ammunition and guns, things
Regraded Uclassified
220
- 22 -
that can't be returned, things that are
used up.
H.M.Jr:
What are you going to get for that?
Foley:
And we are going to get an agreement that
we will work out with the British whereby
if Britain is overrun and conquered, what
is left of their war machine comes to us,
so that we can take up the burden there of
carrying on.
H.M.Jr:
May I interrupt you?
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
After Britain is conquered, we are going to
get their war machine? What do you mean,
Mr. Foley?
Foley:
Well, we have an agreement with Mr. Churchill
and the British Cabinet whereby orders will
be given to their captains to bring their
ships into American ports if the British are
conquered.
H.M.Jr:
Have you got anything else?
Foley:
That is the French Navy situation and it
wasn't done with France. The British had
to go in and shoot them up. We don't want
to have to send our ships in to shoot the
British.
H.M.Jr:
What else are you going to get besides the
British Navy?
Foley:
We are going to get whatever is left of
their fighting equipment, whatever we can get
out of there, the planes they can fly out,
the bombers they can get over to this country,
Regraded Uclassified
221
- 23 -
what they have in Canada that is being
manufactured and gotten ready to take
over to Great Britain, all of the remnant
of the war machine that is left should
come here and in addition to that, their
holdings in the western hemisphere, New-
foundland, British Guiana, the islands in
the West Indies, Canada is released. If
Canada wants to throw in with us, she
comes to us. All of their ownings and
their holdings in the western hemisphere
we fall heir to, and that is the kind of
an agreement that we will have to work out;
and we are going to make the very best
deal we can in consideration of this five
billion dollars.
H.M.Jr:
Are you --
Fell:
I wonder if the Appropriations Committee
is going to ask you what kind of a deal
you are going to make for this money that
you are going to spend for Great Britain?
I think you are anticipating something that
won't come up.
Foley:
Dan, there is a certain amount of Yankee
trading that you have got to be able to
demonstrate to this committee, that is going
to make the appropriation, that you have gone
through, and they have gotten rid of their
fixed investments in this country. They
have liquidated them. They have liquidated
their marketable securities and then in
addition to that, we have taken what we can
get of their plant investments for war
purposes, and their exports to this country.
We have gone through all that, and we have
taken what we can get out of that, and from
there in, it is & question of working out
the most statesmanlike arrangement that we
can work out.
Iclassified
222
- 24 -
But I think that Congress is going to be
much more disposed to grant appropriations
for things that we never expect to get back
in order to keep Britain going. Once
Congress realizes that we have made & sincere
effort to --
White:
That is right, to get what is available.
Foley:
To take over what is available in this
country, and I think until we do that, the
Woodrums and the rest of these fellows are
going to say, "Well, by golly, we have got
enough to do getting ourselves ready with-
out appropriating taxpayers' hard earned
money to carry on 8. war in Great Britain.
Bell:
I think all you have to do is carry out 8.
statement the Secretary made before the
committees in Congress, that they are going
to liquidate their investments in this
country.
Foley:
When, Dan?
Bell:
To meet their contracts.
Foley:
When?
Bell:
Well, they are in the process of doing it
now.
Foley:
We don't want to make any more appropriations
to carry out this bill until that has been
done.
Bell:
I don't believe Congress will take that
attitude.
Foley:
Well, they may.
White:
I think we are talking about the same thing,
223
- 25 -
Danny. Those investments which the
Secretary spoke of, Ed isn't referring
to. They are supposed to be sold and
paying for their past debt. That is out
of the picture. They no longer have them
in the discussion. What he had reference
to were these plants which they have
bought, only, as far as the United States
is concerned.
H.M.Jr:
One hundred and thirty-four million dollars.
Bell:
Yes, one per cent of the - even the property
limitation of the bill.
H.M.Jr:
One hundred and thirty-four million.
White:
It is a small amount, and that is why they
won't object; and yet it seems to me - well,
the opposition won't have anything good which
they can ask you to take. You put them on
the defensive instead of being on the de-
fensive. You have taken everything that is
reasonable, and even though it is small,
at least that is the best under the circum-
stances. Anything beyond that involves
grave difficulties which they themselves would
be reluctant to advise, and I don't see why
the British would object.
Bell:
It seems to me all we have got to do in this
picture is to see that you have kept faith
with the Congress in your statement before
the two committees. We have also got to
see that the British --
Foley:
More than that.
Bell:
That the British do not lay up any surplus
funds during the period that we operate
under the Lease-Lend Bill, and I take it
224
26
that there will be many articles - even
food items, that you can't get under the
Lease-Lend Bill that the British will have
to pay for from their cash resources. I
wouldn't want to see the British come at
the end of the year and the war end and
them have a half billion dollars in dollar
resources built up in this country and have
a lease-lend operation of four or five
billion. I don't think we want to see
that.
H.M.Jr:
I don't think you will.
Bell:
And I think that is all we have got to
prevent.
H.M.Jr:
Let's just stop here a minute. Can you
(Cochran) read your memorandum, please?
Cochran:
I am not sure this helps very much. It
summarizes what we have been doing.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let me hear it, will you please?
Let me decide.
Cochran:
And there is one last paragraph that is
coming yet.
H.M.Jr:
Let's just hear it, and see, because I have
certain objects in mind.
(Mr. Cochran read the document which is
Attachment A of this transcript.)
Cochran:
Now, there are 8. couple of more paragraphs
which are just the same as a memo I drew up
last fall when we were thinking of this
bill. They are on national defense and
statistics. Do you want me to read them?
225
- 27 -
H.M.Jr:
No, it will come in with the other.
Cochran:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
This is all right, I can use this for what
I want. This is all right. I can condense
it. The other one will be in?
Cochran:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Now let me just - let me just think a minute.
What I have got to do at one 'clock with
the President is simply say, "Now look,
Mr. President - see if we agree on this.
as I see it, these are the steps you can
immediately on the signing of the bill go
to work on, on the transfer, up to a billion
three."
Cox:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
"And if it is possible on the signing of
the bill to announce what you are going
to do up to a billion three, of course, I
think the psychological effect would be
wonderful. I mean, if it was ready. I
don't suppose it is physically possible.
And then after all, what do you want? How
is your mind running, what you want in
exchange for the billion three? And then
if you have made up your mind whether you
are going to have a lump sum or whatever
you are going to have, what do you want in
exchange for that?" And with this discussion
which I have had here, which is helpful,
I hope to be able to get what he has in
mind, if he has, and I would be very much
surprised if he didn't have it clearly in
mind.
Then I can come back and we will try to go
Regraded Uclassified
226
1
- 28 -
to work. The way I an thinking, if you
ask me, as far 68 listed securities and
the direct investments they have got in
this country, those are all earmarked to go
to the payment of outstanding commitments,
and any chicken feed that they can pick up
through the RFC sales of plants, they need
all of that for the payment for things which
they find they won't be able to get through
the lend-lease, and there will be plenty of
those. There isn't a day - they buy planes
and then they suddenly find they want de-
icers on those planes.
White:
Are you sure of that statement, Mr. Secretary,
that there are things which they can't buy
under the lend-lease? Because the lawyers
have a very different opinion. They claim
the way the bill is written you can buy
anything you want for them, food and 80
on. That is as a matter of law, and not
as a matter of policy.
H.M.Jr:
I am talking not as a matter of policy or
law, I am talking of the matter of the
human frailty of mind that they have got
to go up against. By the time they get the
thing through all the agencies and all the
criss-crosses and get the stuff out, they
are going to say to themselves, "Well, we
had better buy this ourselves. I am not
arguing with you as to the law.
Bell:
I should think the committee might say that to
them. "You have got money enough, why don't
you buy this directly?"
H.M.Jr:
I am sure the President hasn't thought this
all through, but I don't see that I can go
much further today than we have now until
I find out what he has got in mind. When
I talked to him originally about the lend-
Regraded Uclassified
227
- 29 -
lease and came back from lunch, he had it
very clearly in mind and gave me enough
that we could go ahead and draw & bill and
the bill which we originally drew didn't
differ very much from the way it finally
came out.
Cox:
There is only one incidental psychological
point on this RFC thing. Suppose when the
appropriation is pending that it gets out
that the RFC or the Government through the
RFC has given dollars in exchange for these
plants in addition to what they are going
to get under the Lend-Lease Bill?
H.M.Jr:
And so what?
Cox:
Well, that is just 8. question of public
reaction and what effect it will have on
your appropriations.
H.M.Jr:
I think you fellows are making a mountain
out of a mole hill. I don't - hasn't Jones
announced publicly that he was doing this?
Cox:
No.
H.M.Jr:
He hasn't?
White:
And I am not sure that if he did the public
would understand it, but sooner or later
some of the committeemen would understand
it, and it seems to me they can put you on
the defensive when I don't see any reason
in the world why you should be, because if they
need any money later, you can make it up in
other ways. The Lend-Lease Bill is broad
enough 80 that you can take care of any of
their subsequent requirements without being
vulnerable to the slightest criticism --
H.M.Jr:
I am not vulnerable. I am not going to
Regraded Uclassified
228
- 30 -
going to fight over 8. hundred and thirty-
four million dollars. I say it is peanuts.
White:
That is why it shouldn't --
H.M.Jr:
Harry, let's drop it. I mean, I am not
going to - this is Jones' contribution, and
he has announced again in the Cabinet, what
he is doing, and this is his baby.
Now, let's call a spade a spade. If we take
it away from him, he is going to be sore,
and he is going to put up a big fight. He
is going to say we are doing this to dis-
credit him and all that, and he immediately
has something and begins to go to work
against the whole thing, and that is what
I have got in my mind.
White:
I thought the way you outlined it he was
going to do it anyway, only he doesn't
give them dollars, he just gives them - he
just gives them credit as part of the quid
pro quo, but everything he has done up to
date and everything he contemplates doing
will take place anyway.
Foley:
That is right, the only thing he doesn't
do is give them dollars.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I will go over and see what he has
and 8.8 soon as I come back, I will let you
know. I hope he has got it clearer in
mind than I have.
Regraded Uclassified
229
March 10. 1941
secretary Margesthen
Mr. Coderan
the following peragraphs not forth the functions performed by the treasury
Department in the field of lisison between the incrious and Brittsh Governments:
FINANCES
Union all arrangment suggested W the Treasury Department shortly after the ver
becke est is 1939 the Chanceller of the Ruchequer had the Beah of Regiant open a
special assount with the Federal Reserve Deak of Dev Tert to be utilised esalusively
for wr yorchases in the United states. 20 was agreed that the Secretary of the
frequenty should have personal and confidential AGREES to those coverate. fince the
cetting w of this arrangement the Federal Receive Tesk has provided the decretary
weddly with full transcripts of the operations curried « under this special account.
The Secretary the knowe the excet total and sevenent of funds is the assount, includ-
tag the identity of payees. the Federal Reserve Bank of New York charges BE countration
for carrying this account. As Fiscal Agent of the Treasury, the Federal Receive Test
of New York also provides the Treasury vesitly with a statement showing all disburse-
both through the Britter Purchasing Commission and otherwise, sale from the
accounts of the withsh deverment ml Bank of Regiond with the Federal Receive Beals
of See Term. This gives is detail the secress of each funds. whether contre free
sales of gaid or compities er from other credits. this analysis above total debite
and credits and Government expenditures. the Treasury Department has
for reselving reports from Foreign Service Officers throughout the world chearer
sold skipments to the United States are made. From the british Treasury efficials
it obtaine is senfilmes such information as the Brittich have with respect to their
- end foreign sold holdings, and particularly date as to the ment and location of
one belonging to the Brittch Government.
In the Summer of 1940 Mr Frederick Phillips. Under ferretary of the Britten
Treasury, with when the Treasury has had also relations for the part several years.
- to the United States for an exchange of views with this Treatury. Be returned
again to Revember 1940, and 10 00111 in Washington. Be has with de two Treasury
experis, ⑉ of then a specialist on statistics. Through senstent Maises with
Nr Proderisk Phillips and has assistants. including Mr. Pincest, the Financial
of the Brittish Fabruary. the Treasury Le is a position to be mays currently
informet is regard to the British finescial position. the Brittsh Treasury efficials
here other dable or telephone Leadon whenever 99 require any special information.
Broup this themael the treasury vas able so compile the extensive date cubmitted to
Congress is semestion with the beare-head Bill.
State 1934 the Treasury has availed stools of the cervices of all American Foreign
Service officer is bondsa to submit special reports upon financial and neastary nb-
lease. Seah officer has also been used for linicen functions with the
truesay is leadon. Since the contug of str Proterisk Phillips and his accistants
Regraded Uclassified
230
- 2
Regraded Uclassified
* w - mater. yes all of - Maters = be = performed in
SHOULD
M 6 result of enggrations w the treasury, working to conjemption with the
securities and Inchange Complexion, the Chanseller of the Vachogner seet to the
thisted States in the interest of 1939 s Brittich security expert be - the calo is
this country of dollar compities be which the Brittsh Covernment we taking title.
This representative continues to dispose of efficially comed compltties. carefully
wrothing any operations which night adversely affect - market, solletting mach
professional africe as may be desired, and keeping the Treasury currently inferset of
Me transactions. Sevard mah ond, the security agent in Nov Term provides the
Treasury. through the British lister is Washington, daily with ⑉ statement showing
total sales of securities, inflesting the under of shares and the dollar procesis.
and security - itented list w - end - of all committes mid each day.
the Nev York branch of a details talk corree as the depositary to the committee
handled unless this grates. At the beginning of this arrangment, the Zrittsh threesary
provided the American Treasury with & detailed list of all American securities regis-
topod with the Brittsh Government. the agent is New York Leases w the proce 6 etate-
east of those securities which are rested from time to time, and has - a month since
the beginning of the present year given ont statements as to those compities which
are completely liquidated.
DIRBOT Investments
M the regrestion of the freesury the Brittsh dovernment seet to this country at
the esd of Junuary. Six Must Peasonk, a director of the Dan't of Bagland and host of
the tesiding fire of During Brothers to eversee the liquidation of British direct
invortments is the United Rates. Assisted w the shaff of Mr. differe. the agree
who to disposing of listed compities. Sir Must Passeck has now begin Me efferts
sevent ovaluating and selling british direct investments. Be has conferred clossly
with the freesury and the s. 8. 8. and his various propositions are having the utuly
of the Treasury's General Counsel before being consumerated.
PURCHASE
Upon the Pressury's recommendation. the Prosident est up is November 1939 an
Informal comittee w be the exclusive lisison body w this Deversment dealing with
the representatives of foreign Governments intervated is the yarchase of w materials
in the Walted Mates. Representative of the Treasury. Ver and Revy Departmento -
vistute this comittee, visit reports be the President through ⑉ of his Mataleire-
sive accistants. the three primary purposes of this committee vero be study end
afvice es the availability of the destred articles: to orrengo priorities; and be
coordinate purchases is such a namer as to roinse price sports that night result from
and competitive purchasing. st has been the Treasury's policy $6 n.
- the British devernment to ecmá to this sountry a qualified purchasing -
siscien be represent that Government is buying ver autorials. the Secretary Masclf
has close personal contact with the head of this consission.
231
- 3 -
Regraded Uclassified
REFEREE
M the national defense program of the United Mates developed, together with
var, is because orident that increasing attention wast be given to Integrating within
the increasing desends of the within Repire for area, committen, end motorials of
purchases with three of the United States. 90 this of the Treasury, through the
representative on the President's Statem Condition, bee vericed continuencly with the
with Purchasing wish the following general objectives: the actablishment
of 4 wroten of prolimingly discress as orders to be placed 00 that they could be
considered and noted upon in conjunction with Army and Have purchases of the -
items or from the - suppliers: the institution of a system, through the Advisory
Commission to the Commetl of National Defense, of investigating alternative /
of earply at as to avoid evacentrating Brittsh orders is have suppliers who vere
already overlbaded: the development with representatives of the British Furchasing
Commission of long-range programs for various products to assist the Advisory
Comission to the Council of National Defense and the Any and May is determining
production bettlemecks which would have to be remodied through additional plant
expensions the institution of standardisation conferences intended to consentrate
United States and British orders en products of identional design # that additional
especity created to the with for their ordere would be useful to the Faited States
is --- of morgeney.
Continuous contact is solutained Y the freesury Department with the statistical
stuff of the British Purchasing Commission. Information is obtained periodically
from the Commission regarding purchases in the United States w the Brittich Repire
informate. Weekly statements are received convering is dollar volume the Atenised
purchases w the British Empire deveraments through the Commission the Stenined
purchases nado w these Governments with the knowledge of the Commission bet not
through 190 facilities, and inquiries made w the Commission or with its invividge
for fature purchases. Similar statements are received showing. w Stenized contracts.
the dellar volume of deliveries made with respect to orders placed by Great Britain
through the Commission. the date with respect to contracts for anidelivaries of
sirplance and sirplane parts are specially detailed and neeful is connection with
the incrican defense program. Book week there 10 a report showing commitments to
British Empire Governments for capital expenditures is the United States and for
extressionary charges designed to empodite deliveries from American companies. A
seathly statement shows the amount w Brittsh payments nade to date, the value of
orders to date, and the residual amount of balances ins, together with the actimated
schedule of future payments.
Jul
Rough Secretary Draft - not presented & the 232 B
March 10, 1961
901
the Secretary
From:
Mr. Young
Re: Foreign Purchasing Operations
The work of the Likison Consittee can he divided into
three najer catagories (1) Readling all rentine requeste:
(a) Reporting activities: and (8) Participation in defense
committee activities.
(1) Mandling All Routine July 1, 1940,
the Limison Committee has headled approximately 2000 requests
from about twenty-one countries in eddition to the British and
Daten Empires. of these, over 1000 were British, 700 Datch, and
the balance miscellansous. Practically all of these sountries
file requests on a reutine form known as Preliminary Negotialism
Report, which is circulated through the Veg Department, the Newy
Department, and the Office of Production Management. & constant
check is also maintained on these requests with the State Depart-
ment and with Export Centrol. the elearance of a PER basically
means as allocation of United States production capacity for a
foreign order.
In addition to these requests a BAY system has been to
operation for six vesks for the handling of foreign prierities.
Approximately eighty-five priorities cases have already been
handled.
(a) Reporting Activities.-The Research and Statistics
Division of the Treasury compiles in cooperation with the Linisen
Committee detailed reports on all phases of British Purchasing
operations as well as on the operations of the Notherlands her
chasing Commission, and Limisteves, Ima., a Datch Bast Indice
export firm. In addition to reutine periodic reports, special
studies are usde from time to time. they affort is being mate
to compile in case spot a survey of foreign orders for ver materials
placed in the United States in order that the impact of such
orders on our economy my be adoquately studied and coordinated
with national production planning.
Regraded Uclassified
233
- 2 -
(3) Participation in Defense Committee Activities.-In
addition to the foregoing the Maison Committee holds membership
ea the Advisory Committee of the Administrator of Report Gentral,
on the Export Control Sub-Ocumittee on legislation, Preclemations,
all Regulations, the Joint Aircraft Commit-
too, the Joint Aircraft Sub-Ocumittee on Standardisation and
Allecation of Deliveries. and the Joint York Pleaning Condition.
Participation in these activities vas más measury in order that
foreign orders night be coordinated with the defense program.
It should be noted that the office of the Treasury momber
of the Linison Committee, which nov has a staff of twelve, is the
administrative office and the fecusing point for foreign purchas-
ing operations. no Wer, Navy, and Export Centrol members of the
Committee serve M contacts in the regrestive agencien for carrying
on the work of the Committee. Further, as the PER elearance yrs-
cedure noted under (1) above was originally instituted at the request
of Mr. Kandsan, a very close relationship has been vorked ont and
maintained between the activities of OPN and the Linison Committee.
Regraded Uclassified
HMD.
Because of The general
financial picture Our your
harry up
(a) RFC. taking uses of
British payments made
for plants
(b) Was Dept. taking me,
of material payments
mail? by the British
1 bl
at Runch march 10th 1941.
-
235
March 10, 1941
2:16 p.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Chairman Ecoles.
H.M.Jr:
Hello, Marriner.
Marriner
Eccles:
Oh, Henry
.....
H.M.Jr:
I apologize but I was just all tied up in a
knot this morning.
E:
Well, it isn't anything very special. I
suppose you saw it in the paper, but we got
that Chicago thing fixed up.
H.M.Jr:
No, I did not see it in the paper.
E:
Well, I called you Saturday
.....
H.M.Jr:
I know you did.
E:
.....
and I just thought you'd like to know
what the result was. After I last talked to
you we had another session over here with
Cummings - somewhat of a knock-down and drag-
out - and the result of it was, however, we
told him where to head in in no uncertain terms
and he went back and they finally elected Young,
who has been in the bank for nearly twenty years.
H.M.Jr:
I missed that.
E:
Hello.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
E:
I say they went back and elected Young, who
has been in the bank for about twenty years, as
President and Preston, they retained him as
first vice president.
H.M.Jr:
I see.
E:
They didn't go outside at all, and they have
two men who are experienced and competent and
I feel that can carry on.
236
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
5:
And they wouldn't go outside to any other
District; they stayed within the bank.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I congratulate you.
E:
Now, I think it really was the thing to do
rather than to go outside and bring somebody
in who is entirely unexperienced at this time.
H.M.Jr:
It sounds like a very happy solution.
E:
There is one other thing that I want to mention.
I notice by the paper that you're in favor of,
if they report you correctly, of getting more
revenue from taxation and less from borrowing;
that as much as two-thirds of our expenditures,
if possible, from taxation looking to '42 and
more like a third from borrowing.
H.M.Jr:
Well, two-thirds from revenue. Yes, that's
correct.
E:
Well, I was just going to say that I'm so
thoroughly in accord with it that I was delighted
to read that and I'd like to be able to do any-
thing I can to - in connection with revenue -
to support that kind of a policy with all of
the economic reasons that I can help to devise.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I can't tell you how pleased I am and
I'll get in touch with you Thursday or Friday.
E:
Well, that's fine, because if I can help in
connection with the Hill and legislation or
anything, I'll be glad to go right to the bat,
because I think it's terribly important from
an inflationary standpoint. Taxation I have
always felt is the one way, if there is a way,
to deal with it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, nothing would please me more than to have
you - to work with you.
E:
Well, I just wanted to let you know the way I
felt about it.
H.M.Jr:
I'll be getting in touch with you.
E:
Fine.
237
March 10, 1941
2:45 p.m.
RE AID TO BRITAIN
Present:
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Bell
Mr. Cox
Mr. Gaston
Mr. Cochran
Mr. White
Mr. Foley
Mrs. Klotz
H.M.Jr:
Well, this is all extra confidential. I had a
very satisfactory talk to the President of the
United States and I wanted to introduce my
remarks by saying that the criticism that I
had of either Bell or Foley for not being
prepared after talking with the President,
I would say, was unjustified, because neither
is he. (Laughter)
Foley:
Well, that is not 80 simple.
H.M.Jr:
I told you if I was not justified, I would tell
you so. Again, I can't overemphasize the
necessity for secrecy. Harold Smith came out
as I went in, and when I saw the look on his
face, I just burst out laughing. I said, "You
had better go and get yourself 8 drink of
whiskey." He looked as though he had been
through three keyholes. He says, "You go on
in and get yours."
When I came in I was still laughing, and the
President says, "What is so funny?" And I
Regraded Uclassified
238
- 2 -
said, "The face on the Director of your
Budget." So he says, "I will let you enjoy
your lunch and give you the figure afterward."
What they have got in mind is seven billion
dollars for the Lend-Lease, most likely all
contractual money. Is that what you call it?
Foley:
Yes, not dividing it up.
H.M.Jr:
Divided up into about seven items. He is having
me over tomorrow when he sees the Finance people
from the Hill.
Bell:
Appropriations people?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, and I will try and take you with me, if I
can.
Gaston:
Is that supposed to be a year?
H.M.Jr:
July 1, '42.
Bell:
Available until that time?
H.M.Jr:
Well, he was very much surprised that the
leaders he saw this morning took it so well, 80
I told him maybe we plowed the ground when we
went up with the debt limit and showed fifty-
eight and seven made sixty-five and everybody
guessed it was for the Lend-Lease.
Bell:
They will know now that we knew what it was.
H.M.Jr:
Sure, just the way I said the day after election
we needed sixty-five for the debt limit. (Laughter)
We have been lucky. So we always had this in
mind.
Bell:
Yes, you dreamed it.
239
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
On the billion three hundred million, he
evidently has made out his list, when he said
he would show me Wednesday. He is thinking -
for instance, he talked in terms of four cutters.
We will say they are worth two million new and
worth a million now. And within five years
after the war is over, England should return
us a million dollars worth - well, four cutters,
four million dollars worth of ships to be speci-
fied at the time in United States value. If
they can build them for less, all right, but
in United States value. He isn't interested
in the Islands, he is not interested in their
fleet. All of this is terribly confidential.
He is not going to make any deal on the seven
billion at this time. He hasn't thought it
through. Amongst ourselves, he just hasn't
thought it through.
So the only thing I am going to do is, I am
going to order the stuff, see, and then we have
got to get it and talk about what we are going
to do with it afterward, but he has nothing in
mind. I am giving you the only example he gave
me on the cutters, you see.
He said, "Henry, you and I know 88 much as
anybody what a cutter is worth. Maybe a two
million dollar cutter is worth & million. Well,
we say within five years after the war is over
we want a million dollars of some kind of ship
back."
As to the paper work and contract work and all
that, he expects it to be done in the Treasury.
I mean, as to the forms. I didn't get it
because I - I pressed him pretty hard. I don't
think he really had thought through who was going
to place the value and who was going to do the
swapping, you see. I am sure he hasn't, be-
cause I really pressed him awfully hard. I
Regraded Uclassified
240
4 -
know he is not thinking of these other things.
I had an ample chance to tell him what we are
doing on the finances. I told him about the
"Harry White Plan" for the hundred and thirty-
four million - no, I just mentioned a hundred
and thirty-four million over there, that as
far as I knew we hadn't gotten anything yet
and the Army and Navy five. And without my.
asking he said, "I will give you something,"
which is priceless. He wrote down, "H.M.Jr:
Because of the general financial picture, can
you hurry up, A, RFC taking over British pay-
ments made for plants, plants on the line;
B, War Department taking over material on the
line, payments made by the British. FDR."
That is for me to show Jones and Stimson. I
got over to him that my understanding with
the British was that their direct investments
and the sales from their securities was to be
used for existing contracts, that any money
they got from the RFC and the War Department
could be used for British standard. He said,
"That is right, that is good."
I got over the story about the Belgian gold and
the mental earmarking and got all that over.
He listened very closely, and I had plenty of
time. He didn't hurry me. I said, Now, my
position is, I am going to keep pressing the
English to sell their securities and invest-
ments to pay for their contracts." I told him
I thought they had enough money to last until
April 1. He said he had always thought May 1,
that was the figure he carried in his mind.
He is going to give me 8. cruiser to go down
to South Africa. So I don't - right now, I
don't see that there is much that we can do.
The appropriation bill, the drafting of it,
is being handled by Harold Smith. You lawyers
241
5 -
ought to be concentrating on some kind
of forms 80 that, for instance, if we
lend-lease them four cutters, what kind
of papers you are going to have. I think
you ought to concentrate on contracts.
Foley:
Oscar has got an outline here that Harry
Hopkins asked for that might be helpful
for you to read. You could read it aloud,
maybe, to the rest of the people.
H.M.Jr:
How long is it?
Cox:
It is very short. It shows the minimum
legal requirements.
H.M.Jr:
Is it more than & page?
Cox:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I have got O'Neal outside. How long
will it take you to read it?
Cox:
Oh, I can tell you very briefly.
H.M.Jr:
Tell it to me, and we will need & copy for
the files.
Cox:
On the minimum legal requirements, one is the
President has to authorize either the Secretary
of War, Navy or Treasury or whatever department
is concerned to dispose of it. Secondly, he
has to have evaluation. Thirdly, you have to
have an agreement from the British Government
that they won't transfer this stuff to any
other country without the consent of the
President, and fourthly, you need a record
for a reporting element to Congress. Fifthly,
242
- 6 -
an agreement to show what the financial
terms are if it is anything other than a
disposition or 8 memorandum to agree later.
What we have tried to do is to put in one
document most of the steps so that the thing
will initiate from the Secretary of War and
Navy saying that so and so equipment, giving
it in detail, is available. The Chief of
Staff --
H.M.Jr:
Talk a little louder. O'Neal is outside,
of the Farm Bureau Federation. (Laughter)
Cox:
The Chief of Staff and the Chief of Naval
Operations have been consulted, and they
recommend the transfer. Then the Secretary
of War, Navy or Treasury signs. The Chief
of Staff indicates that he has been consulted.
Then the President approves. So that that one
document will take all that part except the
financial agreement. Then you ought to have
a note from the British Ambassador, including
these two other things, that property won't
be transferred without the consent of the
President and if it is necessary to protect
American patent holders, the British Government
will do so if requested by the President or his
designee to do 80.
H.M.Jr:
When did you get the request for this?
Cox:
Yesterday.
H.M.Jr:
Can I have a copy of that?
Cox:
You can have the original. A formal document
is being typed now.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Bell, what do you see now after what I
have told you people what we can do?
Regraded Uclassified
243
7
Bell:
That is all.
H.M.Jr:
You are giving 8 copy to Bell?
Cox:
Yes.
Bell:
I did & little work this morning on a form,
Bartelt and I did. I think you have got to
work out first whether you are going to have
master agreements first and what is going to
be the evidence attached to that master agree-
ment. I was trying to work up something to be
signed by an Army officer and, say, a British
officer when this material comes off the line
and it goes over to the British. There ought
to be some document signed right then, it
seems to me, as an invoice or something. Then
that ought to come some place as a formal part
of this agreement.
H.M.Jr:
I got the President's approval, and I am telling
Halifax tonight that by the end of the week if
Sir Edward Peacock doesn't show results, I will
ask for his recall. The President approved
heartily. I have arranged to see Halifax either
going or coming.
Bell:
On this seven billion dollars, you said it was
all contractual authorization. Isn't there
going to be a large sum of it in the form of
an appropriation and the balance contractual?
H.M.Jr:
I meant all appropriation.
Bell:
Oh, you meant all appropriation?
H.M.Jr:
All appropriation.
Bell:
No contractual authorization?
H.M.Jr:
All appropriations, and then he is going to
see Sullivan and me Thursday on the tax bill.
Regraded Uclassified
244
- 8 -
Did you (Young) take care of Meigs?
Young:
Yes. He is going to send over his report,
his new aircraft report tonight or tomorrow.
He wanted to bring it himself. I suggested
he send it over and let us look at it first
and then you could talk to him about it,
either ask him questions about it or whatever
you decide to do with it, after we have a
chance to go over it.
H.M.Jr:
That is all right.
Gaston:
That will be the four cutters of the Modoc type?
H.M.Jr:
I imagine so. He evidently had read the thing
and had those in mind, Herbert.
Gaston:
Yes.
White:
Do you think it would be helpful to have 8.
memorandum for yourself in which all the possible
reasonable quid pro quos that you have been
talking about are listed with the various dis-
cussions of pros and cons of each one, because
some of them that you have been talking about
have disadvantages which are not patent on the
surface. If he is going to make up his mind
within the next couple of days what to ask for
for this billion three, it would be helpful.
If he is not, it doesn't matter.
H.M.Jr:
Can't do any harm by listening. From the way
he talked this morning, he is, but it doesn't
do any harm to listen. All right, gents.
White:
Did you want anyone from the Treasury to go
to the SEC? They have got & meeting right
now. I didn't know whether you wanted anybody
to participate in it or not. They are asking
for somebody right away. They have got the
245
- 9 -
leaders of the two associations there and they
have called up twice.
H.M.Jr:
What do you people think?
Cochran:
I would let them go ahead, I think, on it.
White:
I think he feels a little sore.
Cochran:
He telephoned at noon. Jerry and Purcell tell
me that he had talked with the other Commissioners
and they preferred that nothing be given out at
the press conference.
H.M.Jr:
I got that, but what about having somebody at
10:00?
White:
He called me up this morning. I referred him
to Cochran. Then he called up again saying
they wanted somebody. I said I wasn't certain -
at least I felt that I thought they ought to
carry the ball on that. He said, "Well, the
least you can do is send somebody."
H.M.Jr:
I think we should have somebody over there.
You had better go, Harry.
White:
I thought of Cairns.
H.M.Jr:
All right, Caims.
246
3/12'41
9:55 a.m.
Miss Chauncey:
Mr. Cox says that there
is an enclosure for "(3)", but he
will have to get it (he doesn't now
have and hasn't yet had) and when
he receives it he, Cox, will send
to you.
As I told you yesterday,
this was written again in the after-
noon of the 10th. They are making
another run of the second draft and
will send the original copy of the
rewrite to you. The first original
of the Second Draft was given to
Harry Hopkins by Mr. Cox.
HM
1
247
3-10-41
first drest
Minimum Legal Steps Required To Be Taken
In Disposing of Defense Articles
Under H.R. 1776
The following minimum legal steps are required to be
taken under H.R. 1776:
1) An authorization by the President to the
Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy,
etc., to dispose of the defense articles;
2) A valuation of the defense articles trans-
ferred to Britain, etc.
3) A short overall representation by the British
Ambassador, etc., that he agrees on behalf of
his government that every contract or agree-
ment made for the disposition of defense arti-
cles or defense information shall be deemed to
include a clause that His Majesty's Government
undertakes that it will not, without the con-
sent of the President or someone designated by
248
- 2 -
him for that purpose, transfer title to or
possession of such defense articles or in-
formation or permit its use by anyone not
an officer, employee or agent of the British
Government. The note from His Majesty's
Ambassador should also contain a representa-
tion that, where, as a result of the transfer
to his Government of defense articles or de-
fense information, it is necessary to protect
fully the patent rights of American citizens,
it will do so when so requested by the Presi-
dent or his designee.
4) For record purposes, it should be indicated
that the Chief of Staff or the Chief of Naval
Operations, or both, have been consulted in
connection with the disposition of defense
articles obtained out of appropriations made
before H.R. 1776 is passed.
Regraded Uclassified
249
- 3 -
5) For record purposes, and in order to make
the necessary reports to the Congress and
the Administrator of Export Control, a rec-
ord should be kept of the defense articles
and defense information disposed of under
the Bill, showing the quantities, character,
value, terms of disposition, and destination
of the articles and information exported.
6) If the defense articles or defense information
are to be disposed of by gift, no separate
agreement is required to embody the financial
terms. If it is desired to cover the finan-
cial terms, an agreement deing so will be neces-
sary.
(1), (2), (4), and (5).
As a practical matter, it may be desired to have the
proposal to dispose of the defense articles come originally
from the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the
Regraded Uclassified
250
- 4 -
head of the department or agency concerned.
Thus, for example, if it is desired to provide Britain
with ten mosquito boats, the Secretary of the Navy might
prepare & memorandum listing such boats, giving their value,
and stating that, in his opinion and in the opinion of the
Chief of Naval Operations, their disposition to Britain would
be in the interests of our defense.
The President could then indicate his approval on such
a memorandum.
A memorandum of this type would, therefore, cover in one
motion the steps (1), (2), (4), and (5).
In the interests of reducing the number of steps re-
quired, there is annexed hereto & form of such a memorandum
which may be used.
(3)
Annexed is a form of note which the British Ambassador
can send to the Secretary of State.
Regraded Uclassified
251
- 5 -
(6)
Any such agreement will, of course, be dependent on
what kind of consideration, if any, the United States Govern-
ment wishes to obtain. Once this major policy decision is
made, the agreement can be drafted fairly quickly. Its
negotiation with and signature by the British may, of course,
require some time, depending on the kind of property that is
intended to be conveyed.
If speed is desired, it is possible to enter into a
memorándum to agree, leaving the detailed terms to further
negotiation.
Regraded Uclassified
252
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Disposition Under the Act of March 12, 1941,
of Defense Articles and Defense Information
Procured from Appropriations Made Prior to
That Act.
(1) The defense of Great Britain is vital to the defense
of the United States.
(2) The effect of the recommended transfer, annexed hereto,
upon the resources of the United States Navy has been investi-
gated in the light of our national defense.
(3) The Chief of Naval Operations has been consulted in
connection with the recommended transfer.
(4) The defense articles and defense information set
forth in the annexed schedule have been valued in accordance
with the provisions of the Act of March 12, 1941.
(5) It will be in the interests of our national defense
to transfer such defense articles and defense information, and
it is 80 recommended.
Secretary of the Navy.
Chief of Naval Operations.
Approved:
The President of the United States.
253
Defense Articles and Defense Information
Type of
Terms of
Defense Articles
Quantity
Value
Disposition
Destination
Type of
Terms of
Defense Information
Quantity
Value
Disposition
Destination
Regraded Uclassified
254
first at to and zids 51.0
MAR 10
personal
Minimum Legal Steps Required To Be Taken
In Disposing of Defense Articles
Under H.R. 1776
The following minimum legal steps are required to be
taken under H.R. 1776:
1) An authorization by the President to the
Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy
etc., to dispose of the defense articles;
2) A valuation of the defense articles transferred
to Britain, etc.
3) A short overall representation by the British
Ambassador, etc., that he agrees on behalf of
his government that every contract or agree-
ment made for the disposition of defense arti-
cles or defense information shall be deemed to
include a clause that His Majesty's Government
undertakes that it will not, without the con-
sent of the President or someone designated by
Regraded Uclassified
255
- 2 -
him for that purpose, transfer title to or
possession of such defense articles or in-
formation or permit its use by anyone not
an officer, employee or agent of the British
Government. The note from His Majesty's
Ambassador should also contain a representa-
tion that, where, as a result of the transfer
to his Government of defense articles or de-
fense information, it is necessary to protect
fully the patent rights of American citizens,
it will do so when so requested by the Presi-
dent or his designee.
4) For record purposes, it should be indicated
that the Chief of Staff or the Chief of Naval
Operations, or both, have been consulted in
connection with the disposition of defense
articles obtained out of appropriations made
before H.R. 1776 is passed.
Regraded Uclassified
256
3 -
Γ
5) For record purposes, and in order to make
the necessary reports to the Congress and
the Administrator of Export Control, a reo-
ord should be kept of the defense articles
and defense information disposed of under
the Bill, showing the quantities, character,
value, terms of disposition, and destination
of the articles and information exported.
6) If the defense articles or defense information
are to be disposed of by gift, no separate
agreement is required to embody the financial
terms. If it is desired to cover the finan-
cial terms, an agreement doing so will be neces-
sary.
(1), (2), (4), and (5).
As a practical matter, it may be desired to have the
proposal to dispose of the defense articles come originally
from the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, or the
Regraded Uclassified
257
4
head of the department or agency concerned.
Thus, for example, if it is desired to provide Britain
with ten mosquito boats, the Secretary of the Navy might
prepare & memorandum listing such boats, giving their value,
and stating that, in his opinion and in the opinion of the
Chief of Naval Operations, their disposition to Britain would
be in the interests of our defense.
The President could then indicate his approval on such
a memorandum.
A memorandum of this type would, therefore, cover in one
motion the steps (1), (2), (4), and (5).
In the interests of reducing the number of steps re-
quired, there is annexed hereto a form of such a memorandum
which may be used.
(3)
The note which the British Ambassador sends to the
Secretary of State should conform to the two sections 4 and
7 of the Act of March 12, 1941.
Regraded Uclassified
238
- 5 -
(6)
The Financial Terms
Any agreement on the financial terms will, of course,
be dependent on what kind of consideration, if any, the
United States Government wishes to obtain. Once this major
policy decision is made, the agreement can be drafted fairly
quickly. Its negotiation with and signature by the British
may, of course, require some time, depending on the kind of
property that is intended to be conveyed.
If speed is desired, it is possible to enter into B.
memorandum to agree, leaving the detailed terms to further
negotiation.
OSC:aja:djb
3/10/41
Regraded Uclassified
259
MAR 10 1941
.....
(1) The defense of Great Britain is vital to the defense
of the United States.
(2) The effect of the recomended transfer, annexed hereto,
upon the resources of the United States Mary has been investi-
gated in the light of our national defense.
(3) The Chief of Haval Operations has been consulted in
connection with the recommended transfer.
(4) The defense articles and defense information set
forth in the annexed schedule have been valued in accordance
with the provisions of the Act of March 12, 1941.
(5) It will be in the interests of our national defense
to transfer such defense articles and defense information, and
it is BO recommended.
Secretary of the Havy.
Chief of Havel Operations.
Approved:
The President of the United States.
Regraded Uclassified
260
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Defense Articles and Defense Information
Recommended for Transfer Under the Act of
March 12, 1941.
Type of
Terms of
Defense Articles
Quantity
Value
Disposition
Destination
Type of
Terms of
Defense Information
Quantity
Value
Disposition
Destination
Regraded Uclassified
261
March 10, 1941
3:35 p.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Claude
Wickard:
Are you going to come over and eat lunch with
me Thursday?
H.M.Jr:
Oh, Thursday 18 a lifetime off.
W:
Is what?
H.M.Jr:
That's too far off.
W:
It is. Well, you said something about we
were going to lunch this week and I'm just
.....
H.M.Jr:
Are you busy Wednesday?
W:
Yes, I am.
H.M.Jr:
All right, Thursday.
W:
Thursday.
H.M.Jr:
Now, here's the only trouble, Claude, what am
I going to tell your friend Bankhead between
now and Thursday.
W:
Do you have to tell him between now and then?
H.M.Jr:
Well, not unless he calls me up.
W:
Here's what - I talked to the Bose about his
proposition; that is, you know, very generally
and the Boss has agreed to see Bankhead and
Fulmer.- Fulmer is chairman of the House Committee
on Agriculture - the last of this week. Now, I
don't know what the Boss is going to say but
in some ways, what the Boss said the other day
to me, looks like that he might go along in
general with Bankhead, but he's not going to,
I know, approve the high loans - loans as high,
at least, as Bankhead is talking about.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I can sit tight here until something
happens. Your friend, Ed O'Neal, just left
here.
W:
He did?
262
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
W:
Did he sell you a bill of goods?
H.M.Jr:
Well, he was on the director - farm director
for the Federal Reserve.
W:
Oh.
H.M.Jr:
That's what he came for.
W:
He has a candidate?
H.M.Jr:
Three.
W:
He has three.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah. Want to know who they are?
W:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
Well, one is Bill Myers, Earl Smith, and
R.E. Short.
W:
Oh, none of them are our kind of people, are
they, unless it would be Short.
H.M.Jr:
I don't know.
W:
What about Myers?
H.M.Jr:
Well, he used to be all right; I don't know
where he was in the last election.
W:
Well, he wasn't on our side.
H.M.Jr:
I see. Well, I'm only for fellows who voted
for Roosevelt three times.
W:
Yeah, that's good. Now you and I are getting
some place.
H.M.Jr:
What do you mean you and I? Good God! where do
you think I've been the last 24 years?
W:
Well, (laughs), there are a lot of other people
who don't remember that far back.
263
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, don't forget I rode with him on the day
before election five times - twice for governor
and three times for President.
W:
Well, all right.
H.M.Jr:
In an open car where everybody could see me.
W:
Well, listen, I belong to the B.C. Club too
before Chicago.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, five times I've campaigned for him.
W:
Well, now listen, let's sew that thing up
like you said now. We're not going to let
any of these fellows - and I doubt whether
any of these fellows mentioned or not, unless
it would be Short - could qualify.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you get busy. My candidate is Campbell,
of Montana.
W:
The hell you did.
H.M.Jr:
(Laughs). That's my fellow, Campbell of
Montana.
W:
Well, I'll shoot you.
H.M.Jr:
Say, you've got to get up early. I think he's
a swell guy.
W:
You do?
H.M.Jr:
Sure, American agriculture representative at
the Court of St. James.
W:
(Laughs).
H.M.Jr:
Heh, heh, heh.
W:
All right. Well, I'll talk to you about that
Thursday. When is that thing going to be decided?
H.M.Jr:
Oh, I don't know.
W:
Who else - who have you got in mind - anybody?
264
- 4 -
H.M.Jr:
Nobody. We stick strictly to Treasury matters.
W:
Yeah. (Laughs). Oh, yes, I notice you've been
doing that.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
W:
(Laughe).
H.M.Jr:
All right, Claude.
W:
Last week you did an awful good Job.
H.M.Jr:
All right, Claude.
W:
Thanks, and I'll see you Thursday. You come
over here Thursday.
H.M.Jr:
I will.
W:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
Good-bye.
W:
Say, one other thing. You notice the President
made a point or two about getting appropriation
language fixed up along the lines that he talked
about in Cabinet.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
W:
I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea for one
or two of our men to come over and see your
man Cox to see about that appropriation language.
H.M.Jr:
You'd better go see the Director of the Budget.
He's got it.
W:
Better go 800 him?
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
W:
Well, I didn't know. Is he working on the
language now?
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, he's got it.
W:
Well, all right. I'll call up Harold.
265
- 5
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, you call up Harold.
W:
Who's doing the work on it. Do you know?
H.M.Jr:
It's all in his shop.
W:
I didn't know who he had assigned to it is
the only thing. I'll call him up. Thanks.
H.M.Jr:
Right. Thank you.
266
March 10, 1941
Mr. D. W. Bell
Secretary Morgenthau
Please keep after me to give Senator Bankhead
an answer. I think you and I ought to talk with the
Secretary of Agriculture and find out where he stands.
3/11/11
Tunch tommonw.with
Secy. Nuckard-
Regraded Uclassified
267
March 10, 1941
This evening on my way to the Australian Legation, I
stopped in to see Lord Halifax. He asked me to come up for
& minute, and I told him that after discussing the matter
with the President at lunch I felt that if Sir Edward Peacook
did not produce some results on the sale of English-owned
securities in this country by the end of the week, I wished
they would put somebody else in charge.
Halifax's eyebrows went up, indicating amazement. I
then explained to him that the President would be sending up
an appropriation message within a day or so, and we then would
have to testify. I said, "I don't know whether you have read
my testimony, but one of the questions they are going to ask
me is, 'What about the direct investments?' and I will have to
say that you haven't done a thing."
I told Halifax that this isn't like B. bolt coming out
of a clear sky because Cochran had told Pinsent and Phillips
how upset I was about a week ago, and I was sure they repeated
the conversation to Halifax. He gave me no indication 8.8 to
whether they did or didn't tell him, so I repeated to him,
"They must have told you how I felt." Then I said, "As &
matter of fact, Purvis and Phillips are 80 upset about this
thing that they went up to New York the other day to see whether
they could not push Peacock to do something."
Lord Halifax was quite upset and I said, "After all, I
think you know by now that I am a friend of England's, and
this request that I am making is to save me the embarrassment
of having to disclose that you have done nothing." I said,
"You appear before Parliament every day and we only go up to
testify occasionally, but then they concentrate all their
fire on us at that time."
Then Halifax made 8. remark which always shocks me when I
hear it. He said, "Well, you know Sir Edward Peacock has
very powerful friends in England and he is very close to the
Governor of the Bank of England and has strong underlying
political backing." In other words, they are afraid of him.
He said, "Oh, if we withdraw him, the reaction back home would
be very bad.
Regraded Uclassified
268
- 2 -
Well, all I can say is, "How about the reaction in this
country?" But the point that gets me is that they always
think in terms of political affiliations and not in terms
of winning the war. Halifax tried his best to get me to
back down, but I gritted my teeth and I did not give an inch.
Then he told me that he was going to have Purvis, and I think
he said either Phillips or Pinsent, at the Embassy at 10:30
tonight, and he asked me whether I wanted him to discuss this
with them. I said, "I most certainly do." He said, "Well,
I understand that Peacock has tried every way possible to
sell these things," and I said, "Now look. He could consummate
a sale and leave the ultimate price to some kind of arbitration,
and by doing this, it would show that England intends to go
through with this thing."
Driving over to the Legation in the car, Halifax said
that he appreciated my frankness. I told him that I hoped
I hadn't been too frank but I didn't know any other way of
presenting the matter. After dinner when we got up to leave
he asked me what time I left in the morning as he would like
to see me. I told him I was afraid that I left too early
because I usually leave the house around 8:30. Then he wanted
to know what time I got home in the evening, and I told him
around 5:30 or 6:00. Well, he said that he would phone me
during the day if he had anything and would try to arrange to
see me. I said, "Fine."
269
H MORGENTHAU JR PERSO NAL
MARCH 10, 1941
(RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA)
V AVERILL HARRIMAN PASSENGER
PANAIRCO
LISBON PORTUGAL
WISH YOU GOOD LUCK AND SUCCESS YOUR MISSION REGARDS
HENRY MORGENTHAU JR
Regraded Uclassified
3/10/+1 10mg
270
Regraded classified
March 10, 1941.
Secretary Morgesthen
Mr. Cochran
(abridged by 7. 1.)
These are the charmels through which the Treasury obtains detailed inform-
tion about the British financial position:
PINANCES
(1) Ever since the Fall of 1939 the Secretary has had confidential access to
the accounts of the Bank of England's special fund in the Federal Recerve Bank of
New York for the purchase of war materials here. The Federal Reserve Bank reports
to his weekly as to the exact total and novement of funds in this account, includ-
ing the identity of payees.
(2) The Federal Reserve Bank supplies the Treasury weekly with & statement
showing all disbursements, through the British Purchasing Commission and otherwise,
mde from the accounts of the British Government and the Bank of England with the
Pederal Reserve Bank of New York, This gives in detail the sources of sush funda,
whether coming from sales of gold or securities or from other credite.
(3) Foreign Service Officers report to the Treasury whenever gold shipmente
to the United States are made.
(4) Constant lisison with Sir Frederick Phillips and his assistants in Wash-
ington has enabled the Treasury to obtain such information as the British have No
garding (a) their om and foreign gold holdings, (b) the amount and location of gold
belonging to the British Government, and (c) any special information we my require.
The Treasury is kept informed daily of the activities of the security expert
sent here by the British Government to manage the sale of efficially owned securities.
At the start of this arrangement, the British provided the American Treasury with &
detailed list of all American securities registered with the British Government. The
daily report shows, (1) total sales of securities, indicating the maber of shares
and the dollar proceeds, and (2) an itemized list by name and amount of all secur-
ities sold each day.
DIRECT EVENTS
The Treasury and the 8. L c. are in close touch with Sir Edward Pascook, who
was sent to this country at the end of January to eversoe the liquidation of British
direct investments in the United States. His various proponitions are studied w the
Treasury's General Counsel before being consumented.
COMMITMENTS
For the past two months the British Purchasing Commission has sent the Treasury
& daily list of the contracts it would like to place. Bach such list is counter-
Flood by Sir Frederick Phillips to indicate that funds are available. The British
are not free to proceed with these contracts witil they have the approval of the
Secretary of the Treasury in each case.
271
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE Karch 10, 19k1
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
FROM
Mr. Coohran
The following paragraphs set forth the functions performed by the Treasury
Department in the field of liaison between the American and British Governments:
PINANCES
Under an arrangement suggested by the Treasury Department shortly after the war
broke out in 1939 the Chancellor of the Exchequer had the Bank of England open a
special account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be utilized anclusively
for var purchases in the United States. It was agreed that the Secretary of the
Treasury should have personal and confidential access to these accounts. Since the
setting up of this arrangement the Federal Reserve Bank has provided the Secretary
weekly with full transcripts of the operations carried on under this special account.
The Secretary thus knows the exact total and movement of funds in the account, includ-
ing the identity of payees, The Federal Reserve Bank of New York charges no commission
for carrying this account. As Fiscal Agent of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve Bank
f New York also provides the Treasury weekly with a statement showing all disburse-
ments, both through the British Purchasing Commission and otherwise, made from the
accounts of the British Government and Bank of England with the Federal Reserve Bank
of Sev York. This gives in detail the sources of such funds, whether coming from
sales of gold or securities or from other credits. This analysis shows total debits
and credits and Government expenditures. The Treasury Department has arrangements
for receiving reports from Foreign Service Officers throughout the world whenever
gold shipments to the United States are made. From the British Treasury officials
it obtains in confidence such information as the British have with respect to their
own and foreign gold holdings. and particularly data as to the amount and location of
gold belonging to the British Government.
In the Summer of 1940 Sir Frederick Phillips. Under Secretary of the British
Treasury, with whom the Treasury has had close relations for the past several years,
came to the United States for an exchange of views with this Treasury. He returned
again in November 1940, and is still in Washington. He has with his two Treasury
experts, one of them a specialist on statistics. Through constant lisison with
Counselor of the British Embasay, the Treasury is in R position to be kept currently
Sir Prederick Phillips and his assistants. including Mr. Pinsent, the Financial
informed in regard to the British financial position. The British Treasury officials
here either cable or telephone London whenever we require any special information.
Through this channel the Treasury vas able to compile the estensive date submitted to
Congress in connection with the Lease-Lend Bill.
ervice Officer in London to submit special reports upon financial and monetary mb-
Since 1934 the Treasury has availed itself of the services of an American Foreign
Jects. Such officer has also been used for liaison functions with the British
Treasury in London. Since the coming of Sir Frederick Phillips and his assistants
Regraded Uclassified
272
to the United States, practically all of the linison work has been performed in
Washington.
SECURITIES
is a result of suggestions made by the Treasury, working in conjunction with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Chancellor of the Exchequer sent to the
United States in the Autumn of 1939 a British security expert to manage the sale in
this country of dollar securities to which the British Government was taking title.
This representative continues to dispose of officially owned securities, carefully
avoiding any operations which might adversely affect our market, soliciting such
professional advice as may be desired, and keeping the Treasury currently informed of
his transactions. Toward such end, the security agent in New York provides the
Treasury. through the British Embasy in Washington, daily with one statement showing
total sales of securities, indicating the number of shares and the dollar proceeds,
end secondly an itemized list by name and amount of all securities mold each day.
The New York branch of a Canadian bank serves as the depositary for the securities
handled under this system. At the beginning of this arrangement, the British Treasury
provided the American Treasury with a. detailed list of all American securities regis-
tered with the British Government. The agent in New York issues to the press a state-
ment of those securities which are vested from time to time, and has once & month since
the beginning of the present year given out statements as to those securities which
are completely liquidated.
DIRECT INVESTMENTS
At the suggestion of the Treasury the British Government sent to this country at
the end of January, Sir Edward Peacook, a director of the Bank of England and head of
the banking firm of Baring Brothere to oversee the liquidation of British direct
investments in the United States. Assisted by the staff of Mr. Gifford, the agent
who is disposing of listed securities, Sir Edward Peacock has now begun his efforts
toward ovaluating and selling British direct investments. He has conferred closely
with the Treasury and the S. B. C. and his various propositions are having the study
of the Treasury's General Counsel before being consummated,
PURCHASES
Upon the Treasury's recommendation, the President set up in November 1939 an
informal committee to be the exclusive lisison body of this Government dealing with
the representatives of foreign Governments interested in the purchase of war materials
in the United States. Representatives of the Treasury. War and Kavy Departments con-
stitute this committee, which reports to the President through one of his Administra-
tive assistants. The three primary purposes of this committee were to study and
advise on the availability of the desired articles; to arrange priorities; and to
coordinate purchases in such a manner as to reduce price upsets that might result from
disorganised and competitive purchasing. It has been the Treasury's policy to en-
courage the British Government to send to this country a qualified purchasing com-
mission to represent that Government in buying var materials. The Secretary himself
has close personal contact with the head of this commission.
Regraded Uclassified
273
NATIONAL DEFENSE
As the national defense program of the United States developed, together with
the increasing demands of the British Empire for arms, ammunition, and materials of
war, it became evident that increasing attention must be given to integrating British
purchases with those of the United States. To this end the Treasury, through its
representative on the President's Liaison Committee, has worked continuously with the
British Purchasing Commission with the following general objectives: The establishment
of 8 eystem of preliminary clearance on orders to be placed 80 that they could be
considered and acted upon in conjunction with Army and Navy purchases of the same
items or from the same suppliers; the institution of a system, through the Advisory
Commission to the Council of National Defense, of investigating alternative sources
of supply 60 as to avoid concentrating British orders in large suppliers who were
already overloaded; the development with representatives of the British Purchasing
Commission of long-range programs for various products to assist the Advisory
Commission to the Council of National Defense and the Army and Havy in determining
production bottlenecks which would have to be remedied through additional plant
expansion: the institution of standardization conferences intended to concentrate
United States and British orders on products of identical design 80 that additional
capacity created by the British for their orders would be useful to the United States
in case of emergency.
STATISTICS
Continuous contact is maintained by the Treasury Department with the statistical
staff of the British Purchasing Commission. Information is obtained periodically
from the Commission regarding purchases in the United States by the British Empire
Governments. Weekly statements are received convering in dollar volume the itemised
purchases by the British Empire Governments through the Commission the itemised
purchases made by these Governments with the knowledge of the Commission but not
through its facilities, and inquiries made by the Commission or with its knowledge
for future purchases. Similar statements are received showing, by itemised contracts,
the dollar volume of deliveries made with respect to orders placed by Great Britain
through the Commission. The date with respect to contracts for amideliveries of
airplanes and airplane parts are specially detailed and useful in connection with
the American defense program. Each week there is a report showing commitments by
British Empire Governments for capital expenditures in the United States and for
extraordinary charges designed to expedite deliveries from American companies. A
monthly statement shows the amount of British payments made to date, the value of
orders to date, and the residual amount of balances due, together with the estimated
schedule of future payments.
Regraded Uclassified
Treasury Department
274
Division of Monetary Research
Date April 3, 1941
19
Secretary Morgenthau
Applying a new formula for estimating silver
production in the United States (devised by
Mr. Gunter of this Division) our estimate is that
the production of silver in the United States in
1941 will be 74 million ounces (U.S. produced
about 72 million ounces in 1940) provided no
drastic changes occur in the international situa-
tion.
Under circumstances of an expanding busi-
ness activity, such economic justification as
may have existed for the purchase of domestic
silver has disappeared. Even the political con-
sideration, which in the past has been decisive,
has, I believe, greatly diminished in importance.
I am wondering whether the time is not ap-
propriate to initiate a move to alter existing
legislation to return to the discretionary price
for domestic silver (by Presidential Proclamation)
so that the price paid for domestic silver can be
reduced. The financial and business community
would be pleased and the public would interpret
it as additional protection against inflation.
MR. WHITE
Branch 2058 - 210
275
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 10, 1941
Mr. White
TO
FROM
John 11. Gunter
Subject: A new equation for ostimating silver production in
the United States.
In order to facilitate the prediction of silver production
in the United States, an estimating equation was developed on
the basis of the data for the period from 1924 through 1940.
The fundamental problem in formulating a reliable equation for
estimating silver production is to determine what factors are
most closely associated with silver production. It is also
necessary that the magnitude of these factors be predictable
with considerable accuracy 50 that a reliable forecast can be
made.
There is no great difficulty in selecting the factors
closely associated with the production of silver. Quite ob-
viously, the output of silver is likely to vary with the price
of silver, the production of copper, lead, and sinc, and indus-
trial production. Calculation of the coefficients of correlation
for each of these variables supports the expectation of their
close association with silver production. Over the whole period
from 1924 to 1940, the coefficient of correlation of the price
of silver and silver production is .81, of copper production
and silver production, .85, and of lead production and silver
production, .60. A comprehensive variable, industrial production,
was considered because such a variable is easier to predict than
a simple variable, such as copper production. Here a coefficient
of .86 was obtained. Apparently the price of silver, copper pro-
duction and industrial production are worthy of further considera-
tion for our purposes.
For convenience, the following symbols were assigned the
various variables:
X₁
= silver production in million ounces
X₂
= price of silver (Mint price)
=
Ig
copper production (Federal Reserve
index)
= lead production (Federal Reserve
I₄
industrial index) production (Federal
I5
Reserve index)
276
Division of Monetary
- 2-
Research
Simple correlations of these factors with silver production are as
follows:
=
*12
.81
=
r13
.85
=
I4
.60
=
r15
.86
The next step in the formulation of an estimating equation is
to determine how these variables act jointly, as shown by multiple
correlations. Multiple correlations involving X₁, X2, X3, and X₁,
X₂, X5 were calculated. The results are as follows:
R1.23
=
.97
R1.25
=
.91
The estimating equations are:
I.
X₁
=
-2.043
+
.5273X₂
+ .2425%3
II.
X₁
= -21.985
t
.4185X2
t
.5639X5
The probable range of error as shown by the standard errors of estimate
are:
SI
=
± 3.65
SII
11
+ 6.52
Superior results with copper production and the price of silver indicate
that Equation I is preferable for our purposes, in spite of the fact
that greater difficulty must be experienced in forecasting copper pro-
duction than in forecasting industrial production.
Another aspect of the problem was considered without satisfactory
results. An examination of the data reveals that there is apparently
some tendency for silver production to become more inelastic at higher
Regraded Uclassified
277
Division of Monetary
- 3 -
Research
prices. Attempts to allow for this tendency were made by substi-
tuting roots, logarithms, and exponents for the arithmetic price
of silver in these equations. The question will require additional
consideration in a future study of the effect of changes in the
price of silver on production.
A significant improvement in our results was obtained by lagging
the effect of silver prices on silver production. On theoretical
grounds a distributed lag seemed reasonable. It is normal to expect
that a period of gestation will elapse before a rise in the price of
silver exerts its full effect on production. And similarly, a fall
in the price of silver will not have its full effect immediately as
considerable disinvestment could take place only slowly. An exam-
ination of previous results suggested a three-year distributed lag.
A change in price was allowed to have 50 percent of its effect the
first year, 75 percent by the second year and 100 percent by the
third. The results were quite satisfactory as the new multiple
coefficient was .99/. Calling the new variable I6, the estimating
equation is
III. X₁ = -7.623 + .1781X3 + .7308X6
The estimates based on this equation, compared with actual silver
production, are given in Table I. It will be noted that the mard-
MUST error is only 3.6 million ounces, an error of 5 percent. The
standard error, "III, is 2.07 million ounces. Two standard errors
are a. sufficient range to include all the errors.
A comparison of these results shows that the estimates based
on Equation III are best in 9 cases, intermediate in 6 cases, and
worst in 2 cases. Moreover, the total amount by which it was
superior in the 9 cases is more than twice the total amount by
which the other equations were superior in the other 8 cases.
Regraded Uclassified
278
Division of Monetary
- 4 -
Research
Table I
Actual Silver Production Compared with Estimates
1924 - 1940
(Millions of ounces)
: Silver
: Estimating :
$ Estimating:
2 Estimating :
:
Year
,Production
1
Equation
1 Error
$
Equation
:
Error
=
Equation
: Error :
:
$
I
1/
:
:
II
2/ 1
:
III
=
#
1924
65.4
64.1
1.3
52.3
13.1
64.0
1.4
1925
66.2
67.1
-0.9
58.2
8.0
66.1
0.1
1926
62.7
64.6
-1.9
58.1
4.6
64.8
-2.1
1927
60.4
59.7
0.7
55.0
5.4
61.4
-1.0
1928
58.5
63.9
-5.4
58.1
0.4
61.5
-3.0
1929
61.3
64.9
-3.6
62.2
-0.9
61.2
0.1
1930
50.7
44.9
5.8
45.2
5.5
47.2
3.5
1931
30.9
33.4
-2.5
32.4
-1.5
34.2
-3.3
1932
24.0
22.0
2.0
22.4
1.6
21.8
2.2
1933
23.0
24.7
-1.7
31.6
-8.6
21.8
1.2
1934
32.7
35.4
-2.7
42.5
-9.8
34.4
-1.7
1935
45.9
51.8
-5.9
58.0
-12.1
48.6
-2.7
1936
63.8
62.9
0.9
68.7
-4.9
63.9
-0.1
1937
71.9
71.8
0.1
74.4
-2.5
72.7
-0.8
1938
62.7
54.1
8.6
54.8
7.9
61.0
1.7
1939
65.1
62.0
3.1
67.4
-2.3
64.2
0.9
1940
71.7
69.8
1.9
75.4
-3.7
68.1
3.6
SI = 3.65
SII
= 6.52
SIII
= 2.07
Independent variables are silver price and copper production
Independent variables are silver price and industrial production
3/ Independent variables are silver price with distributed lag and copper
production.
Source: Minerals Yearbook and Computations.
Regraded Uclassified
279
Division of Monetary
- 5 -
Research
Estimated silver production for 1941
The experience of 1924 to 1940 indicates that Equation III
can be used with considerable assurance in forecasting the produc-
tion of silver. Our estimate of the production of silver in the
United States in 1941 is based on the assumption that the present
price of silver will continue and that copper production will reach
a new high level. Table II shows the effect that various increases
in copper production are likely to have in accordance with Equation
III.
Table II
Percent Increase
$ Expected silver = Increase over expected
#
in copper production
+
production
1 in 1940 (68.1)
1
5
70.1
±
4.1
2.0
10
71.3
±
4.1
3.2
15
72.6
#
4.1
4.5
20
73.8
±
4.1
5.7
# Margin of error is 2 standard errors or approximately the 95
percent fiducial limits. Unit is million ounces.
In 1940 silver production was 71.7 million ounces. This is 3.6
million ounces above the output expected in 1940. It would seem from
this situation that factors not considered in Equation III were opera-
ting in 1940 to cause production to be above what normally would be
expected in accordance with Equation III. This statement assumes that
this margin of error is not random (due to errors of measurement, etc.)
If this assumption is true, it would be possible to make a forecast by
adding the movement indicated by Equation III to the actual production
in 1940, rather than the expected. The results are shown in the follow-
ing table:
Table III
Percent increase in
--
Expected silver
:
copper production
:
production
-
5
73.7
10
74.9
15
76.2
20
77.4
Regraded Uclassified
280
Division of Monetary
- 6 -
Research
The first method of forecasting is preferable since the
standard error provides a range to take care of either random
fluctuation or variation due to real factors not accounted for
in Equation III. In view of conditions in 1940, it is likely
that production will be above normal in 1941. A reasonable
estimate at this time will be 74 million ounces.
281
-March 10, 1941
Mr. George Hass
Secretary Morgenthan
When may I expect from you on analysis of the
Gano Dunn report on steel capacity of this country?
Thursh
Fri.-
Report submitted
3/14/41-
Regraded Uclassified
282
March 10, 1941
Mr. George Hass
Secretary Morgenthau
I would like to write a letter to the President
about the my imported commodities have steadily increased,
and as far as I know we are not doing anything about it.
It seems to m that we certainly ought to do something
about those particular imported commodities, such as sugar
and 00002, or any other commodities which come from either
Central or South America. I do not see why they should go
up if there isn't speculation going on. I can understand
that there night be a good reason why commodities coming
from India should be going up in price, but certainly not
from either Central or South America if there is not specula-
tion in futures. (See letter to Pres. dated 3/11/41)
Regraded Uclassified
283
March 10, 1941
by dear General:
I would like to see the President
Thursday morning (March 13th) with John
Sullivan to talk about the Tax Bill. I
will need about half an hour.
#
please.
Sincerely,
(agd) Henry
General Edwin и. Watson,
Secretary to The President,
The White House.
500
Regraded Uclassified
284
March 10, 1941
My dear General:
I would like to 660 the President
Thursday morning (March 13th) with John
Sullivan to talk about the Tax Bill. I
will need about half an hour.
,
please.
Sincerely,
(agd) Henry
General Edwin M. Eatson,
Secretary to The President,
The White House.
m
I
Regraded Uclassified
285
March 10, 1941
w doar General:
I would like to ... the President
Thursday morning (March 13th) with John
Sullivan to talk about the Tax Bill. I
will need about half an hour.
Sincerely, , please.
(agd) Henry
General Edwin 11. Watson,
Secretary to The President,
The White House.
Regraded Uclassified
286
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
enveMarch 10, 1941
TO Mrs. Klotz
FROM Mr. Morgenthau
I want to send a copy of my letter to the
President telling him of the cash-on-the-barrelhead
era coming to an end to Secretaries Knox and Stimson.
I believe that one went to Secretary Hull via Dean
Acheson, but you can check up on that. I would also
like to send one to Hopkins. Please prepare letters
of transmittal in each case for my signature.
(Copies sent to Secretaries
Knox and Stimson and Harry
Hopkins on 3/10/41)
287
s
March 10, 1941
Dear Harry:
For your confidential information,
I an enclosing herewith copy of a letter
which I sent to the President on March 5th.
Yours sincerely,
(Rugree) Henry
Honorable Harry Hopkins,
The White House.
n
Regraded Uclassified
288
March 10, 2941
Dear Harrys
For your confidential information,
I - enclosing herewith copy of s letter
which I sent to the President on March 8th.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) Henry
Honorable Harry Hopkins,
The White House-
Regraded Uclassified
289
cory
March 5, 1941
My dear Mr. President:
with the signing of the Lend-Lease Bill the period of
cash-on-the-barrelheed will come to an end for the great bulk
of foreign government orders in this country. Your appointment
of an advisory committee, to assist you in administering the
provisions of the bill, means that a vital new phase of our ef-
fort has begun. I shall be delighted to serve as a member of
this comittee.
Complete coordination of all foreign buying will, in my
opinion, be even more necessary under the new system then under
the old cash sales plan. You may remember that at the first
meeting of the newly constituted advisory committee, on March 1,
I brought to your attention the problem of Russian purchasing,
and you said that you felt this came within the scope of the new
committee's work. I think that the same considerations should
apply just as much to the Dutch and the Canadians, who will con-
tinue to pay cash, as to the British end others who will come
under the Lend-Lease procedure. It seems to be that all foreign
government purchasing, commercial as well as military, can be
handled more efficiently and fitted more smoothly into United
States production if this purchasing is coordinated in one place.
Therefore, I should like to suggest that all the complex
liaison work on foreign purchases, which has been dons in the
Treasury for the past two and & quarter years, should be consoli-
dated immediately and completely with the work to be dons by
Harry Hopkins as Secretary of the new advisory committee. This
will relieve me of all direct responsibility with respect to
foreign purchases, except for the great and continuing responsi-
bility that now faces all the committee members alike. I have
already begun to turn over to Harry Hopkins & part of the
foreign purchase work we have been doing, and; complying with
the request stated in your letter of February 25, I have offered
him the assistance of anyone he needs in the Treasury.
Faithfully,
(signed) H. Morgenthau, Jr.
The President,
The White House.
Regraded Uclassified
290
March 10, 1941
Dear Frank:
For your confidential information,
I am enclosing herewith copy of a letter
which I sent to the President on March 5th.
Yours sincerely,
(Ray ) Henry
Honorable Frank Knox,
Secretary of the Navy.
By Memorager 1255
Regraded Uclassified
291
March 10, 1041
Bear Franks
for your confidential information,
I - enclosing herewith copy of a letter
which I sent to the President on March 5th.
Yours sincerely,
(agd) Henry
Honorable Frank Inc.
Secretary of the Harry.
Regraded Uclassified
March 10, 1941
Dear Henry:
For your confidential information,
I an enclosing herewith copy of & letter
which I sent to the President on March 5th.
Yours sincerely,
(pyred) Henry
Honorable Henry L. Stimson,
Secretary of War.
Regraded Uclassified
293
March 10, 1941
Dear Henry:
For your confidential information,
I an enclosing herewith copy of a letter
which I sent to the President on March 5th.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) Henry
Honorable Henry L. Stimson,
Secretary of War.
a
294
WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON
March 10, 1941.
Dear Henry:
I have received the copy of your
confidential letter to the President of March 5th.
I think you have every reason for feeling gratified
that you have been able to carry so well this
critically important and heavy burden during the
two years that it has been lying on your shoulders.
I congratulate you.
Faithfully yours,
Henry h Stenson
Secretary of War.
Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Draft 5th Mash, 1541
(Received from Mr. Pinsent in the British Labasey by Under Secretary Bell 295
at 10 a.m., March 26, 1941.)
R
AGREEMENT MODIFYING "INTER-BANK" AGREEMENT
OF 10TH OF MARCH, 1939
THIS AGREEMENT 1s made the
day
of
1941 BETWEEN THE HONGKONG AND
SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION a Company incorporated under
and by virtue of Ordinances of the Colony of Hong Kong whose
London Office 1s situate at 9 Gracechurch Street in the City
of London (hereinafter called "the Hongkong Bank") of the
first part THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA AND CHINA
whose registered office is situate at 38 Bishopsgate in the
City of London (hereinafter called "the Chartered Bank") of
the second part THE BANK OF CHINA a Company incorporated
under the laws of China whose registered office is situate at
Kunming in the Republic of China and whose London Office is
situate at 85 Gracechurch Street aforessid of the third part
and THE BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS a Company incorporated under
the laws of China whose registered office is situate at
Chungking in the Republic of China of the fourth part and is
supplemental to an Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "the
Principal Agreement") dated the 10th day of March 1939 and
made between the same parties
WHEREAS by an Agreement (hereinafter called "the
New Agreement") dated the
day of
1941 and made between the National Government of the Republic
of China of the first part, the Central Bank of China of the
second part and the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
(hereinafter referred to as "the Treasury") of the third part
further provision has been made and a New Fund set up for checking
undue fluctuations in the exchange value of the Chinese yuan in
relation to sterling
AND WHEREAS by an Agreement dated the
day of
1941 and made between the National
Government of the Republic of China of the first part, the
Central Bank of China of the second part and the Secretary of
Regraded Uclassified
296
the Treasury of the United States of the third part, provision
has been made and a New Fund set up for the stabilization of
the Chinese yuan in relation to United States dollars.
AND WHEREAS the British Banks and the Chinese Banks
are entering into this Agreement with 8 view to co-ordinating
the operation of the said New Funds and of the Fund set up
under the Principal Agreement (which last mentioned Fund is
hereinafter referred to as "the 1939 Fund").
NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows :-
1.
AS from the date on which this Agreement comes into force
until the determination of the New Agreement the 1939 Fund
shall be managed and controlled and its assets applied by the
Stabilization Board (hereinafter called "the Board") established
for the purposes of the New Agreement in accordance with the
provisions of the New Agreement and accordingly during that
period the Sterling Account, the Chinese Dollar Accounts and
the Sterling Income Account opened under the Principal
Agreement shall be under the control of the Board and shall
be operated in accordance with the directions of the Board.
2,
THE Principal Agreement is hereby renewed for a period
of six months from the 31st day of March 1941 and thereafter
for such further periods of six months as are necessary to
ensure that it does not expire until not less than seven days
after the determination of the New Agreement but as from the
date on which this Agreement comes into force until the
determination of the New Agreement all the provisions of
the Principal Agreement and the powers and duties of the
Management Committee thereunder are suspended,
3.
ON the date of the determination of the New Agreement
the provisions of the Principal Agreement shall revive in
full force subject only to the modifications set out in the
following clause of this Agreement and shall apply, in the
2,
Regraded Uclassified
297
absence of any other appointments and so far 0.9 practicable,
to the Management Committee as it was constituted immediately
before such suspension and to the 1939 Fund, the Sterling
Account, the Chinese Dollar Accounts and the Sterling Income
Account as they stand after all operations thereon and
applications thereof have been made under the provisions of
the New Agreement.
4.
THE modifications of the Principal Agreement which are
to take effect on the revival of the Principal Agreement
under Clause 3 are as follows :-
(a) Clause 3 shall be amended by adding after the word
"Shanghai" the words "and on such other markets as the
Management Committee, with the consent of His Majesty's Treasury
may direct".
(b) Clause 4 (a) shall be amended by substituting for the
words "Shanghai or Hong Kong for account of the Fund in the
Hongkong Bank or the Chartered Bank or in both such Banks"
the words "such place or places and in such Bank or Banks
as the Management Committee may with the consent of His
Majesty's Treasury direct".
(c) Clause 18 shall be amended :
(a) by substituting in paragraph (a) thereof for the
word "standing" the words "remaining after applica-
tion under the provisions of an Agreement dated the
day of
and made between the
National Government of the Republic of China of the
first part, the Central Bank of China of the second
part and the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
of the third part"
(b) by adding in paragraph (b) thereof after the word
"assets" the words "remaining as aforesaid" and
(o) by substituting in paragraph (b) thereof for the
word "standing" the words "remaining as aforesaid".
5.
THIS agreement shall come into force on such date--, not
earlier than the date on which the Board is established, as
the Treasury may determine by notice in writing given to the
British Banks and the Chinese Banks.
Regraded Uclassified
298
- OFFICIAL COMMISSIONERS TO
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
a di 1
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON
In reply refer to
EA 811.24 Raw
March 10, 1941
Materials/1541
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to
the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and encloses
a copy of telegram no. 34 dated March 10, 1941 from the
American Consul at Hanoi, French Indochina, reporting
that the steamship Ensley sailed March 8 with balance
of rubber purchased under the contract of December 2,
1940 but without the 350 tons of trade rubber covered by
the Department's telegram no. 8 of March 7.
Enclosure:
No. 34 from Hanoi,
March 10.
22
299
PAW
GRAY
HANOI VIA N.R.
Dated March 10,1941
Rec'd 5:20 a.m.
Secretary of State
Washington
34, March 10, 8 a.m.
Department's telegram No. 8, March 7, 4 p.m.
Saigon informs me ENSLEY sailed March 8th and prior
to receipt of Department's telegram with balance of contract
rubber.
REED
KLP
300
(CONFIDENTIAL)
PARAPHRASE
A confidential telegram dated March 10, 1941 from
Consul Reed at Hanoi reads substantially as follows:
Indochina and the Netherlands East Indies are con-
cluding an arrangement according to which the exports
of rubber to Japan will be limited to Japan's established
needs for domestic consumption. In 1941 Indochina will
export to Japan approximately 25,000 tons of rubber and
the Netherlands Indies and Malaya will so reduce their
rubber exports to Japan that Japan's established needs
of rubber will not be exceeded.
ch:copy
301
THIRTY THREE LIBERTY STREET
NEW YORK
March 10, 1941.
Dear Secretary Morgenthau:
Last Friday I was a guest at the luncheon of the
Eastern Regional Conference of the American Bankers Association.
There were about one thousand people present, W. Randolph
Burgess was the speaker, but I was asked to respond to my
introduction to the group. I spoke only for a few minutes, but
as the meat of what I said referred to Treasury financing, and
as it has been commented upon a little in the press, I thought
you might like to know just what your "fiscal agent" was talking
about. This 1s the way it went, I think:
"There are one or two things I would
like to say to you however. You are having
as part of your conference program a discussion
of the banks and the financing of national
defense. I assume that the financing of
plant facilities and of defense contracts
has been a subject of your consideration.
There 18 another aspect of the financing
of national defense in which the banks
have an important part to play. I am
speaking of the financing of the government
itself. You have also discussed this
subject, but generally there has not been
much time given to the place of the banks
in this area of the defense effort.
"Perhaps it is because the financing
of the government 1s so clearly secondary
to the primary job of increasing our
military establishment. The expansion
has to be financed and that 18 that. If
we do not do it one way, we will do it
another.
"The ways of doing 1t, except in their
details, are few. The tremendous sume
which the government 1s spending and 1s
Regraded Uclassified
2.
Honorable Henry Morgenthau,
March 10, 1941.
302
going to spend can be financed by taxation,
by borrowing the savings of the country, and
by the use of bank credit - that 18 leaving
out the printing press. Now, rightly I think,
the emphasis has been on increasing the
government's revenue through taxation and on
borrowing the accumulated and current savings
of the country. But, of course, there will
still be financing to be done through the
credit system. The credit system will have
to be used because of its convenience and
flexibility as a source of short-term funds,
and it may have to be used to obtain some
part of the funds of longer term.
"Here it seems to me 18 an opportunity
for the banks to look beyond their own
immediate interests and to determine what
18 their proper part in the national financial
program. The floating of successive issues
of government securities in this emergency
cannot be a continuous game of poker between
the Treasury and the banks or other purchasers.
It has got to be a part of the defense program
in which government and business work together,
Just as they are now doing in the field of
production. That requires fair dealing on
both sides and bankers must be clear as to
their part and their role. I commend this
subject to you for your consideration. You
would not want, you cannot afford, even to seem
to try to extract an unwarranted profit out of
the pressing needs of your government in the
greatest crisis our world has ever known."
I thought that would be a useful note to strike with the
bankers at this time.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Allan Sproul.
Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Secretary of the Treasury,
Washington, D. C.
Regraded Uclassified
303
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
DATE March 10, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Wiley
FBI reports that for the period between January 2 and 31, 1941, the Banco
di Napoli Trust Company withdrew from the Corn Exchange Bank $3,305,000, mainly
in denominations of $20, $50, and $100, insisting upon old bills. Furthermore,
for the two weeks ending January 29 and February 5, 1941, the Banco di Napoli
sold $3,151,000 of domestic bonds for foreign account and delivered $2,500,000,
apparently of the proceeds, mostly in bills of small denomination to Luigi
Podesta, Director of the Italian Exchange Institute in the United States. Mr.
McKeon of Federal Reserve says that the cash withdrawals by the Banco di Napoli
were very much more than would be required by the usual operations of the Bank
and says this may be a violation of the Emergency Banking Regulation No. 23 and
the anti-hoarding statute.
Tow
Regraded Uclassified
304
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
meacher
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 10, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Cochran
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported the following transaction in the
account of the Central Corporation of Banking Companies, Budapest, maintained with
the First National Bank of Boston, Boston, Kassachusetts.
Date
Amount Debited
Paid To
March 10
$800,000
Riggs National Bank, Wash-
ington, D. C., for account
of the Hungarian Legation,
Washington, D. C.
NMH
305
or Nics Chauncey
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 10, 1941.
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Cochran
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported the following transaction in the
account of the Bank for International Settlements, Basle, by order of the National
Bank of Hungary, Budapest.
Date
Amount Debited
Paid To
March 10
$600,000
Riggs National Bank, Wash-
ington, D. 0., for account
of the Royal Hungarian Lega-
tion, Washington, D. C., by
order of the National Bank of
Hungary, Budapest.
M.M.S.
306
TREASURY department
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
Chaunce
DATE March 10, 1941.
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Cochran FOR
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported the following transaction in the
account of the Central Corporation of Banking Companies, Budapest, maintained with
the Guaranty Trust Company of New York.
Date
Amount Debited
Paid To
March 10
$100,000
Riggs National Bank, Wash-
ington, D. C., for account
of the Hungarian Legation,
Washington, D. 0.
B.M.P.
307
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Commony
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 10, 1941
OF
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Cochran
CONFIDENTIAL
Registered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
£73,000
Purchased from commercial concerns
£ 8,000
Open market sterling was again quoted at 4.03-1/2. The only reported transaction
consisted of at sale of £1,000 to & commercial concern.
The Argentine free peso rate in New York remained at .2300. It was reported
that the first suction of foreign exchange for "non-essential" imports into Argentina
took place last Friday in Buenos Aires, and that the Argentine branch of an American
bank made substantial purchases of dollars for account of its clients at an average
rate of 4.44 pesos to the dollar ( equivalent to $.2252). The dollar exchange used
in the auction, it will be recalled, represents the proceeds of certain Argentine
exports, which had to be surrendered under the new regulations to the Argentine Control
It 4.2182 pesos to the dollar ($.2370).
In New York, the closing rates for the foreign currencies listed below were as
follows:
Canadian dollar
15% discount
Swiss franc (commercial)
.2323
Swedish krons
.2384-1/2
Reichsmark
.4005
Lira
.0505
Brasilian milreis (free)
.0505
Mexican peso
.2066
Cuban peso
6-5/8% discount
In Shanghai, the yuan in terms of our currency was unchanged at 5-1/24, and
sterling moved off to $.89, & decline of 24-
There were no gold transactions consummated by us today.
No new gold engagements were reported.
The prices fixed in London for spot and forward silver were again unchanged
at 23-3/8d and 23-5/16d respectively. The U.S. equivalents were 42.44₫ and 42.33$.
Handy and Harman's settlement price for foreign silver was unchanged at 34-3/4#.
The Treasury's purchase price for foreign silver was also unchanged at 35¢+
To made one purchase of silver amounting to 75,000 ounces under the Silver Purchase
Act. This consisted of new production nm from foreign countries, for forward delivery.
308
8rd
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE March 10, 1941
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
FROM
Mr. Haae M
The attached tables and chart indicate that a decline
of 16,000 from the preceding week brought Work Projects Ad-
ministration employment to 1,869,000 persons during the
week ended February 26, 1941. This represents a decrease
of 26,000 from the number employed at the end of January.
Attachments
309
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
Number of Workers Employed - Monthly
United States
Number of Workers
1938
(In thousands)
July
3,053
August
3,171
September
3,228
October
3,346
November
3,287
December
3,094
1939
January
2,986
February
3,043
March
2,980
April
2,751
May
2,600
June
2,551
July
2,200
August
1,842
September
1,790
October
1,902
November
2,024
December
2,152
1940
January
2,266
February
2,324
March
2,288
April
2,092
May
1,926
June
1,665
July
1,701
August
1,691
September
1,704
October
1,779
November
1,820
December
1,878
1941
January
1,895
February
1,869
Source: Work Projects Administration
Monthly figures are weekly figures for the latest week of
the month.
They include certified and noncertified workers.
310
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
Number of Workers Employed - Weekly
United States
Week ending
Number of Workers
1940-41
(In thousands)
July 3
1,608
July 10
1,620
July 17
1,659
July 24
1,690
July 31
1,701
August 7
1,709
August 14
1,708
August 21
1,698
August 28
1,691
September 4
1,690
September 11
1,687
September 18
1,689
September 25
1,704
October 2
1,747
October 9
1,762
October 16
1,768
October 23
1,776
October 30
1,779
November 6
1,783
November 13
1,785
November 20
1,806
November 27
1,820
December 4
1,832
December 11
1,855
December 18
1,872
December 25
1,878
January 1
1,880
January OR
1,887
January 15
1,893
January 22
1,896
January 29
1,895
February 5
1,892
February 12
1,893
February 19
1,885
February 26
1,869
Source: Work Projects Administration
311
BORK PROJBOTO ADMINISTRATION
Number of Vorkare Exployed
United States
Monthly W.P.A. Exployment
Weekly W.P.A. Exployment
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
41
1939
1940
1941
MAA
MAY
JULY
MEL
NOX
ARE
NAME
MI
5
MILLIORE
MILLIONS
WILLIONS
MILLIONS
or
of
or
or
WORKERS
WORKERS
MORRERS
3.4
3.4
3.3
3,3
3-2
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.1
2.8
2.8
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.4
2.4
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.0
2.0
2.6
1.6
2.5
2.5
1.6
1.6
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.3
12
2.2
2.2
1.2
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
-
.8
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.8
A
A
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.6
0
J
.
o
1,5
KILL
ELL
L
#
1.5
.
-
al
W
-
.
7
M
JAN.
NOV.
JAB.
1935
MAR.
MAY
JULY
SEPT.
NOV.
JAM.
MAR.
MAY
JULY
SEPT.
MAS.
1936
1937
1936
1939
1940
41
1939
1940
1941
source: - PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
Office of the Secretary of the Travy
- el - and -
2-221-12
Regraded Holassified
TRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
312
ALLISON SHIPMENTS
:
British
:
:
:
:
Army
:
Grand
:
C
:
E
Total
C
E
F
total
:
:
Total
Dec. 29 - - Jan. 4
OR
-
OR
1
3
-
4
12
Jan. 5 - - 11
83
-
83
-
2
-
2
85
Jan. 12 - - 18
41
-
41
-
2
-
2
43
Jan. 19 - - 25
33
-
33
-
-
-
-
33
Jan. 26 - - Feb. 1
31
-
31
-
1
-
1
32
Feb. 2- - 8
60
-
60
25
1
-
26
86
Feb. 9 - - 15
30
1
31
32
2
1
35
66
Feb. 16 - - 22
-
-
-
77
2
1
80
80
Feb. 23 - - Mar. 1
-
-
-
88
3
-
91
91
ar. 2 - - 8
6
-
6
69
2
-
71
77
TOTAL Dec. 29 - - Mar. OR
292
1
293
292
18
2 312
605
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Division of Research and Statistics.
March 10, 1941.
Regraded Uclassified
RICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
313
ALLISON ENGINEERING COMPANY
Shipments of Airplane Engines
:
Actual
:
Estimated shipments
: shipments
:
on existing orders
1940
January
10
May 24 - June 22
28
June 23 - July 20
43
July 21 - Aug. 17
47
Aug. 18 - Sept. 14
140
Sept. 15 - Oct. 12
263
Oct. 13 - Nov. 9
233
Nov. 10 - Dec. 7
154
Dec. OR - Jan. 4
228
1941
January 5 - 11.
85
January 12 - 18
43
January 19 - 25
33
January 26 - February 1
32
February 2 - OR
86
February 9 - 15
66
February 16 - 22
80
February 23 - March 1
91
March 2 - 8
77
March 9 - 31
332
April
408
May
456
June
500
July
475
August
550
September.
625
October
750
November
800
December.
800
942
January
529
February
304
March
225
April
225
May
225
June
124
ffice of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Division of Research and Statistics.
March 10, 1941.
Regraded Uclassified
314
EXPORTS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, SCRAP IRON AND SCRAP STEEL
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO JAPAN, RUSSIA, SPAIN, AND GREAT BRITAIN
AS SHOWN BY DEPARTURE PERMITS GRANTED
Week ended March 8, 1941
:
JAPAN
:
RUSSIA
:
SPAIN
:
:
:
GREAT BRITAIN
:
:
TROLEUM PRODUCTS
Fuel and Gas Oil (including
Diesel 011)
100,594 Bbls.
--
---
Crude -
Blended or California
High Octane Crude*
72,250 Bbls.
--
--
--
All Other Crude
23,000 Bbls.
:
--
--
Gasoline -
Gasoline A**
--
--
--
15 Gals.
Gasoline B*
12,759 Bbls.
--
--
113,100 Bbls.
All Other Gasoline
--
--
--
--
bricating 011 -
Aviation Lubricating 011***
784 Bbls.
--
--
7,500 Bols.
All Other Lubricating 011
26,181 Bbls.
--
--
30,054 Bbls.
Tetraethyl Lead***
--
--
--
--
"Boosters", such as Iso-
Octane, Iso-Hexane, or
Iso-Pentane
--
:
--
--
RAP IRON AND SCRAP STEEL
Number 1 Heavy Melting Scrap
--
--
--
8,150 Tons
All Other Scrap
--
--
--
1,750 Tons
fice of the Secretary of the Treasury, Division of Research and Statistics.
March 10, 1941.
purce: Office of Merchant Ship Control, Treasury Department.
Any material from which by commercial distillation there can be separated
more than 3 percent of aviation motor fuel, hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon
mixture - President's regulations of July 26, 1940.
Aviation Gasoline.
As defined in the President's regulations of July 26, 1940.
Regraded Uclassified
315
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
DATE March 10, 1941
TO
FROM
Mr. Haas and
Secretary Morgenthau
Subject: The Business Situation,
Week ending March 8, 1941
Summary
(1) Adjusted indexes of business activity rose sharply
in the last week of February and moved slightly above previous
record high levels.
(2) Prices of imported commodities continued to increase
steeply last week carrying the BLS price index of 11 imported
materials up about 10 per cent since early February. Ocean
freight shortage was a primary influence. Prices of domestic
commodities were also somewhat higher.
(3) Steel orders increased in volume during February and
delivery dates have been extended further into the future.
The steel scrap situation 18 assuming increasing importance
in view of the growing tightness in market supplies of pig
iron. Difficulties are being encountered in obtaining adequate
supplies of scrap at the price levels set by the Defense
Commission.
(4) Industry and trade have shown an expansion in inven-
tories, but due to the heavy volume of business, the ratio of
stocks to shipments and sales has actually declined. However,
at the end of January, according to the Conference Board com-
pilations, manufacturers' inventories on a seasonally adjusted
basis were in excess of 1937 peak levels.
(5) Exports of United States merchandise in January rose
slightly above the previous month, due largely to a rise in
aircraft exports to a new record figure. Agricultural ex-
ports dropped slightly under the previous low of last September.
Regraded Uclassified
316
2 -
The general situation
After showing a tendency to level out in the middle of
February, weekly business indexes took a spurt at the end of
the month and moved into new high ground by a narrow margin,
During the past week, scheduled steel production reached a
new record high, and automobile output was maintained at very
high levele despite slight impediments to production caused
by minor parte shortages. In addition to the high rate of
operations prevailing in heavy industry AB & result of the
defense program, textile mille are reported to be unusually
busy and such basic indicators of business activity 8.8 elec-
trio power production and freight carloadings are making B.
strong showing.
Following the priorities recently imposed on aluminum
and machine tools, industry-wide priorities were imposed
during the past week on magnesium, nickel and neoprene (a
synthetic rubber), while it was indicated that maximum
prices soon would be set for steel scrap somewhat below
present market prices and lower than the prices requested
some time ago by the Defense Commission.
The stock market has continued to move in 8 narrow
range on a emall volume of trading, but commodity price in-
dexes have moved higher, largely under the influence of fur-
ther strength in imported commodities arising in large part
from the tight situation in ocean shipping.
Inventories rise but ratio to business volume declines
With sales volume rising, and concern being felt over
priorities and other factors affecting availability of ma-
terials, a tendency toward inventory accumulation 18 to be
expected. Thus the seasonally-adjusted index of manufac-
turers' inventories compiled by the National Industrial
Conference Board showed 8. further rise of 2.2 per cent in
January to a level slightly above the 1937 peak, and 13.8 per
cent above the January 1940 figure. However, due to the un-
usually high rate of manufacturers' shipments (33 per cent
above January 1940), the ratio of inventories to shipments is
stated to have been the lowest since 1929.
A decline in the ratio of stocks to sales despite an in-
crease in inventories also 18 shown in data relating to whole-
sale trade compiled by the Department of Commerce. Figures
covering the operations of 2,732 wholesalers showed that al-
though inventories in January were 6 per cent higher than a
year earlier, sales were up no less than 18 per cent. As a
result, the stocke-to-sales ratio dropped to 165 from 184 in
January 1940.
Regraded Uclassified
317
Department store stocks have risen at a slower rate
than either manufacturers' or wholesalers' inventories.
Thus the seasonally-adjusted index of department store
stocks by January of this year had risen to only 71 per
cent of the 1923-25 average from 68 per cent a year earlier,
while sales on the same basis had risen to 101 from 92.
During the depression years, department stores substantially
cut down on stocks, and thus far have shown little inclina-
tion to build stocks up to pre-depression levels despite the
rising volume of sales.
New orders remain high
Our new orders index declined somewhat for the week
ended March 1 although it remained at a high level. All
components were somewhat lower. (See Chart 1.)
Sales of cotton textiles increased markedly last week,
according to market reports, print cloth sales being esti-
mated at 70,000,000 yards, more than three times the current
weekly output of mills.
The steel situation
Recent developments in the steel situation provide no
evidence to support an optimistic picture of steel capacity.
The volume of orders for steel increased further in February,
according to trade reports, the Iron Age reporting an in-
crease of 10 to 25 per cent over the January volume.
Monthly sales figures of the U. S. Steel Corporation have not
yet been received. The average rate of steel operations,
however, increased only fractionally further to 96.3 per cent
of rated capacity in February from 96.1 per cent in the pre-
vious month.
The result has been a further congestion of unfilled or-
ders, which the Iron Age characterizes as bordering on
indigestibility. Delivery dates have been extended further
into the future, and an increasing number of mills are booked
into the fourth quarter. In plates and sheets, in which
order backlogs are heaviest in relation to capacity, new busi-
ness now 1s quite commonly listed for October and November
delivery.
Nickel alloy steels, which are specified in much of the
Army and Navy orders, are most severely restricted for c1-
vilian consumers, and in these steels a modified form of
priority 1s in effect, without official announcement. It 18
felt in the trade that some change in specifications may
have to be made soon in defense orders for steels of this
Regraded Uclassified
318
- 4 -
type to alleviate the ourrent situation. In some quarters
it 18 feared that automobile production this spring may be
seriously hampered by a shortage of certain types of steels.
Market supplies of pig iron, upon which steel mills not
fully integrated must depend for part of their material, are
getting tighter but are not yet critical. Blast furnaces are
apparently operating near the practical limit of capacity,
and repair shutdowns are taking a greater toll, Thus only
202 furnaces were in operation on March 1, as compared with
205 on February 1, and the daily average output was reduced
to 149,924 tons in February from 150, 441 tons in the previous
month. During the two-day strike at the Lackawanna plant of
Bethlehem Steel, all 5 blast furnaces were banked, and only
6 of the 30 open-hearth steel furnaces were in operation.
In view of the growing tightness in pig iron supplies,
the supply of steel scrap, which may be substituted for pig
iron in making steel, is assuming a position of increasing
importance. A critical conflict has arisen between the
necessity of increasing the collection of steel scrap and
the desire of the Administration to forestall price inflation.
The action of the Defense Commission some time ago to reduce
scrap prices by suggesting lower quotations has been effect-
1ve in holding prices down, but it apparently has slowed up
the collection of scrap. In view of this situation, the
announcement of the Defense Commission last week that max-
1mum prices on steel scran would soon be set at prices be-
low current quotations, although it may encourage some selling
of scrap currently held by dealers, may further slow up the
movement of scrap to market.
Railroad traffic and earnings improving
The high rate of operations at steel mills and in other
heavy industries has contributed greatly to a continuing 1m-
provement in railroad freight traffic and earnings. Thus,
freight carloadings in the week ended March 1 rose more than
seasonslly to the highest level since the beginning of last
November, while net railway operating income figures reported
for January showed the best results for that month since 1929.
(See Chart 2.) Due to seasonal factors, reilroad earnings
normally show B. decline in Januery from the previous month.
However, in comparison with the same month of the previous
year, January net railway operating income showed B. gain
of 36 per cent.
Regraded Uclassified
319
- 5 -
Recently the Transportation Commissioner of the National
Defense Commission estimated that freight carloadings for the
year 1941 would show an increase of 9.4 per cent over 1940.
Thus far in 1941, freight carloadings have run 11.2 per cent
above 1940. This gain over year-earlier levels appears
likely to widen in the near future, as freight traffic made 8.
relatively poor showing last March and April. Later on in
the year, wide gains over year-earlier levels will be more
difficult to maintain because of the improvement that occurred
in freight traffic after April 1940. On the other hand, a
further tightening of the ocean shipping situation could
possibly divert considerable additional freight to the railroads.
In keeping with the improvement in traffic and earnings,
railroad equipment purchases have been stepped up in recent
months. However, the spurt in freight car orders in January
was followed by a decline in February, although orders were
still more than twice as large as in February 1940. New
freight cars on order at the beginning of February totaled
41,600 or about 7,000 more than on February 1, 1940, and the
largest number for that date for any time in the past 15 years.
Locomotive orders rose to 127 in February from 78 in the
previous month. This volume of locomotive orders has been ex-
ceeded in only three months since January 1930.
Record aircraft shipments feature January exports
Due chiefly to a rise in aircraft exports to the highest
monthly figure on record, total exports of United States
merchandise in January ran counter to the usual seasonal
trend and exceeded the previous month by 1 per cent. As a
result, exports in January totaled $318,000,000 as compared
with $315,000,000 in the previous month and $361,000,000 in
January 1940 -- the peak month since the outbreak of the war.
Although moderate declines occurred in exports of such
important items as machinery and iron and steel, war mate-
rials industries continued to play the leading role in our
export trade, while movement of agricultural products to
foreign markets fell to a new low. (See Chart 3.)
The gain in aircraft exports carried the January figure
for this item to $41,000,000, or 9 per cent above the pre-
vious record high reached last August. (Refer to Chart 3.)
On the other hand, machinery exports declined moderately due
to a drop of $4,000,000 in metal working machinery, while
iron and steel exports receded to the lowest level since last
Regraded Uclassified
320
- 6 -
July. Exports of steel sorap continued the deoline which
began with institution of embargo measures last October and
amounted to less than $1,000,000 for the first time since
January 1937.
Chiefly as & result of a further decline in cotton ex-
ports, agricultural products shipped to foreign markets in
January declined 14 per cent below December's figure and
dipped a trifle under the previous low touched last September.
The war has cut into our export trade in agricultural prod-
ucts to such an extent that they comprised only 7 per cent
of total exports in January, as compared with an average of
22 per cent in the 12 months prior to the outbreak of hostil-
ities in September 1939.
Further increase in freight awaiting export in New York Harbor
Lighterage freight in storage and on hand for unloading
in New York Harbor climbed to a new high of 11,511 carloads
last week (see Chart 4), in spite of the fact that carloads of
freight exported from New York rose very sharply to the high-
est in our records. (See Chart 5.) Although 5,569 carloads
were exported, receipts of freight for export at New York
(see Chart 5)were even higher, 5,703 cars for the week, another
new high. Receipts of freight for export at 9 other North
Atlantic ports increased moderately.
Nonagricultural employment B new January record
Nonagricultural employment in January was at the highest
level on record for that month, being 3 per cent over January
1929 and 5 per cent over January 1940. The following individ-
ual industries employed more workers in January 1941 than in
any month on record (back to 1923):
Percent
January 1940
January 1941
Increase
Steel
473,300
533,600
13
Foundries
386,400
465,500
20
Aircraft
63,700
138,500
117
Shipbuilding
74,800
129,600
73
Brass, bronze and copper
88,300
112,000
27
Machine tools
55,700
80,700
45
Engines
40,000
71,100
78
Regraded Uclassified
321
- 7 -
Prices of imported commodities 10 per cent over early February
Prices of imported commodities continued the steep climb
which has been apparent since early February, the daily price
index for this group showing a gain of 10 per cent in that pe-
riod. In the week ended March 7 the following individual
price changes were reported (see Chart 6, lower section) :
Cocoa: Spot prices increased 12 per cent. Futures higher.
New York importers believe the shipping situation 18 serious
and likely to become more 80, Further ocean freight rate
increases expected. Proposed quota arrangement still an
influence. Russia said to have bought 2,000 tons, and to
have purchased not only most spot and afloat cocoa but also
a considerable quantity out of warehouse.
Burlap: Sharp price increase. London announced that a ship
bound for North Atlantic ports was unlikely to arrive. The
ship carried 1,500 bales of burlap and 7,200 bales of jute.
Shellac: No change in spot price. Included in export license
list last week. Still quoted at nominal levels with few
offerings.
Prices of domestic commodities somewhat higher
Prices of domestic commodities were also higher for the
week ended March 7. (See Chart 6, lower section.) The fol-
lowing individual price changes were reported:
Print cloth: Spot prices increased 6 per cent. Sales in one
day last week 30,000,000 yards. Sales in January the larg-
est since September 1939. Unfilled orders will require the
current rate of production through June. Buying of print
cloth mainly reflects civilian demand,
Cottonseed oil: Spot price increased. Futures higher. Ex-
pectation of reduced imports of vegetable oils from Far East,
especially palm and coconut 011, the main influence. Accord-
1ng to Presidential proclamation last week, coconut, palm
kernel 011, copra and palm kernels were placed under export
licensing control.
Lard: Spot price increased. Futures higher. The trade be-
lieves that Britain will make large purchases in the United
States of foodstuffs including lard after the passage of
the lend-lease bill.
Regraded Uclassified
322
8 -
Lead: Price raised $2.00 per ton last week, following recent
$3.00 increase, initiated by American Smelting. Lead has
been placed on export licensing list. Imports of foreign
lead averaged 17,068 tons per month in the last 6 months
of 1940 compared with 4,326 tons per month in the first
6 months.
Zino: No change in spot price, which 18 nominal. Futures
prices sharply higher. Trading in zinc futures 1e now
banned except for liquidation of open positions. Galvanized
sheet production for the week ended March 1 dropped to 71
per cent of capacity, a new low for 1941, as compared with
77 per cent in the preceding week, due to shortage of zinc.
Weekly business indexes
All but two components of the New York Times index of
business activity showed gains after allowance for seasonal
factors in the week ended March 1. As 8. result the index
rose 1.0 to 122.6, thereby very slightly exceeding the pre-
vious record high for the index.
The principal factors in the rise were contra-seasonal
gains in paperboard and electric power production. The only
components to decline were the adjusted indexes of automobile
and lumber production. The former declined only elightly,
while the latter dropped 5 points due to a contra-seasonal
decline in actual lumber production.
Barron's index of business activity confirmed the rise
in the Times index and advanced to a new high at 131.0 from
130.0 in the previous week.
Preliminary data for the week ended March 8 reveal a
decline in the adjusted index of automobile production due
to a slight decrease in output to 126,000 units, attributed
to some shortage of parts and materials, and a rise of ap-
proximately seasonal proportions in steel ingot production.
During the current week steel operations are scheduled at a
new high of 98.8 per cent of capacity, as compared with 97.5
per cent in the previous week.
Regraded Uclassified
323
INDEXES OF wgw ORDERO
Combined Index of How Orders end Selected Components
1940
Chart 1
CONFIDENTIAL
1939
.
D
F
M
A
-
A
5
-
PERCENTAGE
CODENTABLE
POINTS
POINTS
220
220
210
210
Total [combined index)
1956 - 100
200
200
190
190
160
180
170
170
160
160
150
150
140
140
130
130
120
120
110
110
100
100
90
90
60
Total excluding Steel and Textiles
80
70
70
60
8
50
50
40
8
Steel Orders
30
30
20
20
10
Textile Orders
10
o
A
-
o
.
e
.
A
M
A
-
0
.
D
d
F
M
&
0
.
di
.
A
.
o
.
a
1939
1940
1941
- # the Secretary of - Treasury
- of - will -
1-M-D
RAILROAD SITUATION
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
CARS
CARS
THOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
Freight Carloadings
WEEKLY AVERAGES
900
900
800
600
'40'
'4li
700
700
600
600
1'39
500
500
400
400
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
MILL IONS
MILLIONS
Net Railway Operating Income
CLASS I RAILROADS
100
100
80
80
'41
'40
60
60
40
40
V39
20
20
o
o
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
ocT.
NOV.
DEC.
CARS
CARS
THOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
New Freight Car Orders
20
20
'39
'40
'41
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
o
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
JAN.
FEB.
324
no Chart
Office of the Secretary of the Transury
Divides of - and
Regraded'Uclassi
U.S. TOTAL TRADE AND EXPORTS. BY COMMODITIES
Date
HIS
(FII
1932
op
1935
11th
-
HIS
-
-
DOLLARS
DOL(+98
skillipme
-
400
TOTAL TRADE
Ano
480
410
400
are
350
110
Exports
Imports
-
300
100
250
ass
200
:00
130
156
190
100
150
HE
Trade Balance
HOO
-
so
-
6
-
-so
-
-400
F
-
1938
HM
THE
-
1984
FREE
1936
-
-
1939
1942
1541
EXPORTS OF U.S. MERCHANDISE
Total Nonagricultural
Solected Nonagricultural Commodities
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
!
Milliane
Milliams
Milliams
Millians
Mechinary
- and
tren and Stael loss
AN
49
(Ind lines)
18
à
325
44
:
10
-
M
"
11.
.
9
Yes
300
NO
10
.
-
è
%
MI
.
4
-
45
29
14
275
Nine ARE
40
20
se
-
281
11
is
45
250
2F
an
in
42
F
-
29
5
es
125
-
20
a
IN
2
.
.
-
-
e
-
P
77
18
40
"
200
Automabiles
18
is
10
175
.
"
HI
M
30
e
"
10
-
F
-
A
M
of
+
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$
o
-
B
in
150
"
10
.
Aircraft
"
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-
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125
45
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.
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100
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#
a
A
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.
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it
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W
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=
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Cappar
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10
20
50
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18
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10
10
25
20
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4
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4
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.
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-
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-
e
-
Total Agricultural
Selected Agricultural Commodities
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
DOLLARS
T
Millians
-
Millions
Cotton
Tobacco
Wheet and Time
se
is
10
-
150
15
ja
"
38
"
.
125
11
a
45
,
M
4d
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20
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100
-
=
19
240
10
18
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F
75
29
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.
20
as
.
5
,
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,
.
a
.
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18
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39
MISSLE and LAFE
fruits Snall -
5
18
16
16
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25
29-
7%
2.
.
il
%
o
6
0
-
NOV.
,
#
-
-
+
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9
-
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A
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JAM
MAIL
MAY
JULY
MAT
€
C-MP
- - - -
-
I
Regraded Uclassifi
LIGHTERAGE FRE
IN
STORAGE
AND ON HAND FOR UNLOADING IN NEW YORK HARBOR®
1939
1940
1941
NOV.
DEC.
JAN.
FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC
JAN.
FEB
MAR,
APR.
CARLOADS
GARLGABS
THOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
12
12
11
11
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
6
5
5
4.
4
3
,
28
II
25
9
23
6
20
3
17
2
16
30
13
27
11
25
822
6
20
3
17
31
14
28
12
26
9
23
7
21
4
18
I
15
-
15
29
12
26
mov.
DEC.
JM.
ro.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG.
SEPT.
ocT.
NOV.
DCC.
JAB.
É
MAS.
APC.
1939
1940
1941
LABILY EXPORT FACTORY, BUT ABOUT 10E REPRESENTS PREIENT FOR LOCAL
AND COASTAL SHIPMONT. FIGURES EXCLUDE GRAIN.
326
Chart 4
Olline of the Security of the Treasury
- of - of -
C-303-A
Regraded Ucla
EXPORT FREIGHT MOVEMENT
1939
1940
1941
M
D
J.
F
M
A
M
A
o
N
D
J
F
A
#
CARLOADS
CARLOADS
THOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
Exports
6
6
From Now York
5
5
4.
4
3
3
2
2
.
a
J
,
H
A
M
J
J
A
$
o
N
D
J
F
M
A
.
+
1939
1940
1941
PAPLOADS
GARLOADS
HOUSANDS
THOUSANDS
Receipts for Export
7
7
6
6
5
5
4
Amr AT Now York®
4
3
3
2
2
AT 9 OTHER NORTH
ATLANTIC PORTS**
I
I
o
o
.
D
J
/
M
A
M
J
J
A
$
o
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
a
1939
1940
1941
AS ESTIMATED FROM DATA or GENERAL MARAGERS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.
PRASSOCIATION or AMERICAN BAILBOADS.
327
Office of the Secretary of 4a Trumy
C-382
- of and
Regraded Uclassifi
Chart 5
NOVEMENT OF BASIC COMMODITY PRICES
Domestic and Imported
328
Chart 6
AUGUST 1939 - 100
1940
1941
1941
J
F
.
A
M
J
A
a
o
.
B
J
,
JANUARY
M
A
M
FEBRUARY
J
MARCH
PER
4
PER
POR
16
25
8
15
22
APRIL
a
15
22
29
5
12
CENT
19
26
Weekly Average
CENT
CENT
PER
Daily
CENT
135
135
132
132
130
130
128
128
11 IMPORTED
125
125
COMMODITIES
11
IMPORTED
COMMODITIES
124
124
120
120
120
115
120
115
17 DOMESTIC
COMMODITIES
116
17 DOMESTIC
110
110
COMMODITIES
116
105
105
112
112
100
J
,
M
A
M
J
J
A
$
o
N
D
100
J
F
M
A
108
M
J
4
11
1940
16
25
1
1941
6
15
22
I
108
8
15
22
29
5
12
19
26
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
1941
Percentage Change for Individual Commodities, August 1940 Low to February 26, 1941, and to March 7, 1941
PER
CENT
PER
CENT
0000A 67.95
17 DONESTIC COMMODITIES
11 IMPORTED COMMODITIES
50
TALLOW 50.0%
50
400L 52.3%
VEHICLLAS 48.3%
BIRLAP 45.9%
40
40
APRINT OLOTH 11.0
33.25
30
ALARD 26.4%
30
COTTONICES OIL
26.4
SOFFEE 27.9%
"MINICAT
25.0%
I
21.4%
TRUSAR 22.4%
20
21.1%
PLASSEE 21.3
MARLEY
15,2%
20
ANGLIN
15,2%
AZIN
15.1%
SCRAP, DOM.
14.5%
-BUTTER
13.2%
- 12.45
10
*STEERS
DE
COFFEE
11.4
10
100TTOR
B-25
MILK 5.9%
TETEL SOMP, DF. 5.5%
4718 2.2%
o
o
100M -2.7%
-10
-10
Aug. Low
Fce.26 Man.7
Aug. Low
Fca.28 Man.7
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury
Division of Reserved and Statentics
P - 199 - 6
Regraded Uclassified
Relations
belongs_to
belongs_to