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OCR Page 1 of 2DIARY
Book 450
October 10 - 14, 1941
Regraded Unclassified
- A -
Book Page
Agriculture
"Farmers, Farm Prices, and Inflation" - bulletin
released by Department of Agriculture - - 10/10/41.. 450
90
Appointments and Resignations
Heas, Saul:
Reappointment discussed by HMJr and Watson -
10/13/41
192
a) Boettiger-HMJr conversation - 10/16/41:
See Book 451, page 231
b) Reappointed - 10/24/41: Book 454, page 57
- B -
Bankhead, John H. (Senator, Alabama)
Assures HMJr he has made no uncomplimentary remarks
about him - 10/10/41
54
a) HMJr--Milo Perkins conversation
212
b) HMJr-Wallace conversation
214
Barnard, Chester I.
For memorandum on compulsory savings plans, see
Social Security
Budget, Bureau of
For plans for draining off additional income, see
Social Security
Business Conditions
Haae memorandum on situation for week ending
October 11, 1941
219
- C -
China
See War Conditions
Commodity Credit Corporation
See Financing, Government
Communications Act of 1934
See Defense, National
Compulsory Savings
See Social Security
Correspondence
Mrs. Forbush's resume' - 10/10/41
105
Coward, Noel
See Financing, Government: Defense Savings Bonde
Customs, Bureau of
X-ray detection of concealed jewels - Johnson
memorandum - 10/13/41
190
- D - D
Defense, National
Communications Act of 1934: Amendment discussed in
Treasury letter to Chairman, Defense Communications
doard - 10/10/41
82
Regraded Unclassified
- D - (Continued)
Book Page
Defense Savings Bonds
See Financing, Government
Dies List
See Investigations (Character)
Dismissal Wage Certificates
See Social Security
- P -
Federal Bureau of Investigation
See Investigations (Character)
Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation
See Financing, Government
Financing, Government
"Amount by which direct debt would be increased
if all guaranteed obligations outstanding
October 1, 1941, should be retired and refunded
by direct obligations" - Haas memorandum -
10/13/41
450
216
a) Discussion at luncheon by HMJr, Stewart,
Currie, Sproul, Goldenweiser, Bell, Haas,
and Morris - 10/16/41: Book 451, page 162
1) HMJr-Sproul telephone conversation:
Book 451, page 227
b) Calls "on the Hill" by Sullivan and Morris -
10/21/41: Book 453, pages 23 and 28
c) Conference; present: HMJr, Hadley, Sullivan,
Piser, Morris, Haas, Murphy, Bell, and
Eccles - 10/21/41: Book 453, page 29
d) Jones-HMJr conversation - 10/21/41:
Book 453, page 72
(See also Book 451: Financing, Government -
Reconstruction Finance Corporation)
e) Sproul-HMJr conversation - 10/21/41:
Book 453, page 82
f) Memorandum prepared for FDR - not used -
10/21/41: Book 453, page 85
g) Calendar of direct and guaranteed bonds and
notes - 10/21/41: Book 453, page 87
h) Reconstruction Finance Corporation 7/8%
notes maturing on November 1, 1941 - amount
owned by largest holders reporting to Treasury
as of August 31 and September 30, 1941:
Book 453, page 93
1) Conference: present: HMJr, Hadley, Bell,
Murphy, Haas, Morris, Eccles, and Piser -
10/22/41: Book 453, page 201
Regraded Unclassified
- P - (Continued)
Book Page
Financing, Government
Defense Savings Bonds:
Stamp sales show no advance in September over
August in spite of retail stores plan -
10/10/41
450
5,69
Callahan to be left on radio work with other
work re-assigned - 10/10/41
6
Minute Man instead of Treasury seal on checks
opposed by Bell - 10/10/41
7
a) Discussion continued - 10/16/41:
See Book 451, page 175
Progress report - 10/10/41
70
Josten (Werner) to appear on Treasury program -
10/11/41
78
Field Organization News Letter, No. 21 -
10/11/41
123
Post Office--Treasury cooperation: Program
sent to FDR - 10/13/41
235
Coward (Noel) asked by HMJr to broadcast his
songs - 10/13/41
237,351
Forced Savings
See Social Security
France
See War Conditions
0
- G -
Gold
See War Conditions: U.S.S.R.
Green, Joseph (State Department)
See War Conditions: Refugees
- H -
Haas, Saul
See Appointments and Resignations
Home Owners Loan Corporation
See Financing, Government
- I -
Inflation
See War Conditions
See also Social Security for Barnard plans for
draining off additional income
Regraded Unclassified
- I - (Continued)
Book Page
Investigations (Character)
Subversive activities of clerks a investigations by
Federal Bureau of Investigation or Treasury
discussed by H/Jr and Biddle - 10/13/41
450
198
a) HMJr--Norman Thompson conversation 10/13/41
207
b) Thompson memorandum of conference with Irey
and Attorney General - 10/13/41
209
c) Justice-Treasury plan - 10/14/41
333
d) HMJr having difficulty with Biddle getting
list of Treasury employees mentioned -
discussion at 9:30 meeting - 10/21/41:
See Book 453, page 12
1) Dies list: Book 453, page 159
e) Irey attends conference in McReynolds' office:
Book 453, page 103
1) McReynolds-HMJr conversation:
Book 453, page 104
f) Authority of Attorney General to investigate
... - 10/23/41: Book 453, page 311
g) Thompson's report on Federal Bureau of
Investigation's slowness: Book 453, page 312
h) Hoover (J. Edgar) tells HMJr he doesn't want
to do investigating of Office for Emergency
Management - 10/27/41: Book 454, page 213
1) Gaston memorandum on extent of work
involved: Book 454, page 216
1) Final procedure as agreed upon - - 10/28/41:
Book 455, page 8
j) HMJr signs letter transferring investigations to
Federal Bureau of Investigation 11/24/41:
Book 463, page 102; Book 464, page 157
k) Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared to
take over; HMJr: "No investigations outside
Treasury without his written order" -
11/24/41: Book 464, page 113
1) Irey officially relieved of future investigations -
11/26/41: Book 465, page 266
m) Customs Investigators Fox and Russell, as well as
Special Agent D. A. Sloan, found inefficient by
Morris - - 11/26/41: Book 465, page 267
- L -
LaGuardia, Fiorello (Mayor, New York City)
Internal Revenue agents checking petitions for
nomination discussed by HMJr and Biddle - 10/13/41
198
a) LaGuardia-HMr conversation
311
(See also Book 451, page 1)
b) Conference; present: HMJr, Norman Cann,
Sullivan, Thompson, and Bell - 10/14/41
316
- M -
Morgenthau, Henry, Jr.
Crash of Coast Guard plane V-188 Waesche memorandum -
10/13/41
149
a) Pictures
151
b) Maps of Dutchess County
162,163
c) Personnel cited - 10/14/41
292
Regraded Unclassified
- R -
Book Page
Reconstruction Finance Corporation
See Financing, Government
Refugees
See War Conditions
Revenue Revision
Tax Savings Notes: Explanatory leaflet - copies
sent to FDR and Cabinet members - 10/12/41..
450
147
See also Social Security for Barnard plans for
draining off additional income
- 8 -
Self, Sir Henry
See War Conditions: Airplanes
Social Security
FDR's message to Congress an drafted by Altmeyer
discussed by HMJr, Bell, Barnard, Blough, and
Sullivan - 10/10/41
36,296,323
a) Actual message
40
b) Barnard memorandum on "family and economic
stabilization reserves (compulsory savings)
and Treasury certificates for dismissal
and part-time compensation": Book 451,
pages 12 and 19
1) Discussion by Treasury group - 10/16/41:
Book 451, pages 196 and 236
(See also Book 452, page 216 - 10/20/41)
2) Foley opinion of Barnard proposal:
Book 452, page 243
3) Conference; present: Magill, Barnard, Blough,
Shoup, Shere, Groves, Odegard, Bell, Kades,
Kuhn, Foley, and White - 10/23/41:
Book 453, page 274
4) Paul memorandum - 10/23/41: Book 453, page 280
5) Dismissal wage certificates: Shorb (of
Covington, Burling, Rublee, Acheson and
Shorb) discusses with Office of General
Counsel - 10/27/41: Book 454, page 249
6) Magill reaction to Barnard plan -
10/26/41: Book 455, page 73
7) Barnard resume' of conferences to date -
10/28/41: Book 455, page 76
B) Conference of Treasury group - 10/29/41:
Book 455, page 159
a) Preliminary report of anti-inflationary
tax-savings plans - 10/29/41:
Book 455, pages 216 and 226
b) Treasury tax and anti-inflation plan:
Book 455, page 224
9) Budget Bureau memorandum: "Urgency of
anti-inflationary measures at this time" -
10/29/41: Book 455, page 239
10) Conference of Treasury group - 10/31/41:
Book 456, oree 102
Regraded Unclassified
- S - (Continued)
Book Page
Social Security (Continued)
Conference of Treasury group and Currie -
11/4/41: Book 457, page 118
a) Memorandum for HMJr's use in outlining
proposed revenue program: Book 457, page 155
b) Minimum tax needs in 1942: Book 457, page 170
c) Currie memorandum on proposed revisions of
Social Security program with D. W, Bell's
comments: Book 457, page 174
(See conference with Senator George and
Congressman Doughton - 11/5/41: Book 457,
page 206; conference with House Ways
and Means Committee: Book 457, page 274)
For succeeding action. 860 Book 458: Revenue Revision
Soong, T. V.
See War Conditions: China
Steel
See War Conditions: Lend-Lease
- T -
Tax Savings Notes
See Revenue Revision
Tyler, Royall
Communism within Nazi party itself reported -
10/13/41
450
244
- U -
United States Housing Administration
See Financing, Government
U.S.S.R.
See War Conditions
United Kingdom
See War Conditions: Military Planning
- W -
War Conditions
Airplanes:
Locations of oceanic flight delivery aircraft -
Sir Henry Self report - 10/10/41
61,245
Deliveries to British - Kamarck report -
10/10/41
65
Axis and Allied production of airplanes compared -
Kamarck and White memoranda - 10/14/41
340,341
China:
Hong Kong's entry into sterling bloc and recent
American and British orders freezing Chinese
assets commented on by American Consul General,
Hong Kone - 10/13/41
253
Regraded Unclassified
war Conditions (Ombission)
Chine (Continued):
Frice policy and financial problem in
China - copy of memorandum propered by
Arthur N. Young for Calore -
10/13/41
Stabilization Agreement:
Soone (T. V.) criticised - 10/14/41
a) Alleged unpopularity in Washington
Chiang Kai-shek and Kung - reported
reluctance to seek ratification
Exchange market resume' - 10/10/41, etc
112,141,20
Export Control:
Exports of petroleum products, screp iron, and
scrap steel from United States to Japer,
Russia, Spain, and Great Britain, week ending
October 11, 1941
743
Foreign Funds Control:
Conference; present: HMJr. Foley, Penle, Kuhn,
Buffington, Odegard, Edwards, Bernetein, Bell,
and Merillat - 10/10/41
20
a) Public relations through radio addresses,
newspaper and magazine articles, letters
to hanks, etc., discussed
1) Letter signed by HMJr to various
bankers discussed
a) Letter as sent to President
Martin of Merrill Trust Company,
Bangor, Maine: Book 451,
pages 57 and 278
Progress report as of October 13, 1941
242
France:
Couve de Nurville reports to Matthews desire 50
unfreeze sufficient New York funds for servicing
of foreign loans during whole of 1942 - 10/13/41.,
272
Henri-Haye's displeasure reported to Treasury
by Treasurer of French Embassy - 10/14/41:
Book 451, pages 59 and 60
Inflation:
Merillat resume' of press comment - 10/10/41
46
Tarmers, Farm Prices, and Inflation" - bulletin
released by Department of Agriculture -
10/10/41
90
Lend-Lease:
Steel purchases: Simplification of procedure
discussed in Mack memorandum - 10/14/41
348
Military Planning:
Report from London transmitted by Halifax -
10/10/41
113
Purchasing Mission:
Vesting order sales - 10/13/41
247,248
Refugees:
Green (State Department) appointed assistant to
Hull in charge of refugees - 10/16/41
166
Regraded Unclassified
71
- 11/2
e) brittly Item
See Donic -61, my 520
ti) -6,000,000 arriver 10 San Francisco -
11/20/11 DOOR 452, nares Me Any MIC
c) Third shipment Deposited - total NOV
$16 million - 11/8/41: Book 487, name 147
d) Anticionted sales discussed by Bewley,
Waite, and Coe - 11/10/41: Bonk 450,
pare 234
Windsor, Duice and Duchess
Dry cleaning in Miami discussed by State and
Treasury Departments - 10/10/41
79
- Y -
Young, Arthur N.
See War Conditions: China
Regraded Unclassified
TABE InL
Date 17-24
= Registing mit
that the Books for the receipt 02 e-sh
to the everent offering of 01,200,000, OwD
of 2-1/2 memount Treasury conds of 1967-72 closed at the
close of musiness Thursday, October 9.
The subscription books will close at the close of
Lusiness honight, October 10, for the receipt of sub-
scriptions in payment of which Treasury Notes of Series
L-1941, entering Decumber Ib, 1941, are tendered.
Subscriptions of either class addressed to a Federal
Reserve Bank or Branch or to the Treasury Department and
placed in the mill before 12 o'olock midnight of the
respective closing days will be considereu as having
been entered before the close of the subscription books.
Announcement of the amount of subscriptions and the
basis of allotment will probably be made on Wednesday,
October 15.
-o0o-
Regraded Unclassified
October 10, 1941
0:15 a.m.
TROUP NEETING
Present:
Mr. Blough
Mr. Barnard
Mr. Buffington
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Johnson
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Schwarz
Mr. Sullivan
Mr. Graves
Mr. Foley
Mr. Waesche
Mr. Bell
Mrs. Klotz
Mr. Odegard
H.M.Jr:
Ferdie, see whether you can or cannot give
Mrs. Roosevelt an answer on a broadcast for
Sunday. I would rather tell her it will
have to go over until another Sunday be-
cause it has to be done very well.
Thompson:
On that matter that Mr. Klaus was in to see
you about, you had phoned me about it yes-
terday.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Thompson:
I have arranged with Admiral Waesche for the
Coast Guard to buy the machines and we will
get reimbursement from the Defense Funds.
Regraded Unclassified
3
- 2 -
S.M.Jr:
Right. Anything else?
Thompson:
I was wondering if you were going to be at
Cabinet this afternoon so I could get the
telephone company to see about making one
box out of those two on your desk.
S.H.Jr:
Yes. But whatever you do, let Mrs. Klotz
pass on it first.
Thompson:
Oh, yes. They are not sure it can be done,
and that is the reason they wanted to come in.
H.M.Jr:
Mr. Barnard thought they could do it on one.
He said they could do it up in New Jersey.
Barnard:
Imay be wrong about that.
Thompson:
They said they could do it, but they are &
little afraid that with the recording attach-
ment there might be too much on one. But at
any rate they want the engineer to come in,
and he is going to work it out if he can.
H.M.Jr:
Before he does it, I would like to see a draw-
ing of what he is going to do.
Dan?
Bell:
Any indication as to whether they are going
to sign this Mexican agreement Sunday?
1.M.Jr:
I asked Mr. Welles that question and he said
he thought the chances were not good. I
gather--
Bell:
Then there is no necessity, I take it, for you
to sign before you leave.
S.M.Dr:
I told them I wouldn't be here Sunday.
Bell:
But you ought to sim n the documents before you
Regraded Unclassified
3
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Right. Anything else?
Thompson:
I was wondering if you were going to be at
Cabinet this afternoon so I could get the
telephone company to see about making one
box out of those two on your desk.
H.M.Jr:
Yes. But whatever you do, let Mrs. Klotz
pass on it first.
Thompson:
Oh, yes. They are not sure it can be done,
and that is the reason they wanted to come in.
H.M.Jr:
Mr. Barnard thought they could do it on one.
He said they could do it up in New Jersey.
Barnard:
Imay be wrong about that.
Thompson:
They said they could do it, but they are 8.
little afraid that with the recording attach-
ment there might be too much on one. But at
any rate they want the engineer to come in,
and he is going to work it out if he can.
H.M.Jr:
Before he does it, I would like to see a draw-
ing of what he is going to do.
Dan?
Bell:
Any indication as to whether they are going
to sign this Mexican agreement Sunday?
H.M.Jr:
I asked Mr. Welles that question and he said
he thought the chances were not good. I
gather--
Bell:
Then there is no necessity, I take it, for you
to sign before you leave.
B.K.Jr:
I told them I wouldn't be here Sunday.
Bell:
But you ought to si "ll the documents before you
Regraded Unclassified
4
- 3 -
leave if they are going to sign them Sunday.
H.M.Jr:
Oh! Why can't I sign today?
Bell:
You can, if you want to, and then we will
hold them until--
H.M.Jr:
When do you want to do it?
Bell:
It will only take you a minute.
H.M.Jr:
Got them all now?
Bell:
Yes, I have them right here unless you would
like to have them explained.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, that would only embarrass me. (Laughter)
Bell:
I would like for you to know about them. That
is a letter to the Secretary of the Mexican
Treasury sending a copy of the letter which
the Federal Reserve Banks sent. It is on the
purchase of silver. Here is a copy of the
agreement. Here is the duplicate.
H.M.Jr:
The Brazilian thing and the Argentine thing
never went through, did they?
Bell:
The Argentine went through, but the legislature
turned it down. That is the silver letter.
They adjourned for several months so we won't
lose any money on that.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else?
Bell:
That is all.
Buffington:
At your suggestion yesterday, Mr. Secretary,
I talked to Mr. Odegard and Mr. Kuhn about
the tax savings plan. I wondered if it might
not be. helpful - - I know it would be helpful
to me if I could have a meeting sometime with
Regraded Unclassified
5
- 4 -
Mr. Graves and Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Odegard
and Mr. Kuhn to correlate some of these ideas.
H.M.Jr:
Sure. Ask Graves when he wants it. Sure.
A good time to get him is when I am at Cabinet
because I won't be fussing at him then.
Buffington:
What time is that?
H.M.Jr:
Two o'clock.
Graves:
Today, if you like, at two o'clock.
Buffington:
It is all right with me.
H.M.Jr:
Harold?
Graves:
George Haas is ill today.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, I am sorry.
Graves:
His people have asked me to give you his
statements, including the savings stamp sale.
H.M.Jr:
How are we? Eleven percent ahead?
Graves:
The stamp thing is very bad.
H.M.Jr:
No, I haven't had a chance to look at that.
Graves:
Well, that one looks favorable. It is eleven
percent by comparison with September.
H.M.Jr:
If it got up to about twenty percent, it would
be my nose ahead.
Graves:
Well, we might be there because as I remember--
H.M.Jr:
What is the matter with the stamps?
Graves:
Well, the stamps, as you see, show no particular
gain in September over August and since we put
Regraded Unclassified
6
- 5 -
in this retail thing in September I had
supposed that we would show a very much
greater gain and there is pretty strong
evidence that these retail stores have not,
except in certain areas, done us a job on
this thing after all.
For instance, in Baltimore, where we have
yet no organization except the bare bones,
the Sun has made an investigation and tried
to go around and find stamps, and it simply
finds that there are no stamps on sale at
the stores anywhere in Baltimore.
Of course, that just shows that we have
been very indifferently treated, as I see
it, by these associations of retailers that
promised their cooperation, and we have got
to do something about it.
H.M.Jr:
I wish that you and Kuhn and Odegard would
give serious consideration - I would like to
divide up the work that Callahan does and
leave him on the radio, but the other stuff
that he is doing, I would like to have another
man. Leave him on the radio.
Graves:
I will talk with him.
H.M.Jr:
But I would like to have another man,
a man that you three people would select
to do the other work that he is attempting
to do.
Regraded Unclassified
7
- 6 -
Graves:
All right, I will talk that over with him.
Of course, he has 8. staff of several men.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I want to divide it up. I am willing
to leave him on radio, but I am not willing
to leave him doing the other work that he
is doing. I am not satisfied. Talk about
it, and I am available.
Graves:
Very good. I will be glad to.
H.M.Jr:
I am just not satisfied. You all say he
is so wonderful on radion All right, leave
him there, but let's get somebody else
to do the newspapers and magazines and labor
papers, and all that kind of stuff.
Graves:
I have nothing more.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
Bell:
On your memorandum --
H.M.Jr:
Don't be so low down on stamps, after all.
Walk over to the Civilian Defense and then
come back and see how good you are. (Laughter).
Cheer up, Harold.
Bell:
On your memorandum to me suggesting that the
Treasury Seal be eliminated from Treasury
checks, and the Minute Man put on, I haven't
had a chance to do much work on it, but
would you be satisfied with a stamp on the
Treasury check, "Buy Defense Savings Bonds
and Stamps"?
H.M.Jr:
And the Seal?
Bell:
I won't recommend that you ever remove the
Treasury Seal from any document for anything.
I think it is the most important thing on
it.
Regraded Unclassified
8
- 7 -
H.M.Jr:
I want our Defense Bond trademark on the check.
Bell:
In place of the Seal?
H.M.Jr:
No.
Bell:
There isn't much room. We will try to
put it on, but let's don't remove the Seal.
H.M.Jr:
We will make the Seal smaller.
Bell:
the Seal is all right. It is an important
thing.
H.M.Jr:
You could put the Seal in the middle and
write over it, you know.
Bell:
You might even do that with the statue of
the Minute Man.
H.M.Jr:
I would like the statue out on the end, and
the Seal in the middle, and printed a little
lighter.
Bell:
You want them to see the Seal?
H.M.Jr:
Yes. You know, Harold, some day you fellows
will listen to me, and will give me a
Treasury man in every county in the United
States to do this work 80 we don't rely on
volunteers, and when you give me a man in
each county to do these things, a paid man,
we will get somewhere. Until we do, we
never will. You Civil Service fellows will
have to get together on it.
Graves:
Well, that is --
Bell:
We are economy minded people.
H.M.Jr:
The one outstanding success in Europe on
Government administration was the French
9
- 8 -
Treasury, and the French Treasury collected
taxes and had the thing down, completely
decentralized.
Bell:
It is no longer in existence.
H.M.Jr:
But it is a good job. Anybody that came
out of the French Treasury, 8 Civil Service
man, was a good man, wasn't he?
Bell:
Most of them. Some of them.
H.M.Jr:
Well, they were, the men that came over here.
Bell:
Lacour-Gayet was the best.
Graves:
Of course that would completely alter the
fiscal specifications of our project. There
are three thousand three hundred counties,
as I remember, in the United States.
H.M.Jr:
I know. Well, every time you tell me - you
are going to tell me about how you are not
going to get down and get it over, I will
remind you of this. I don't think it was
my idea in the first place. It was yours
(Graves), wasn't it?
Graves:
I have had 80 many ideas that maybe I have
forgotten. (Laughter).
H.M.Jr:
All right. Chick?
Schwarz:
Milton Mayer who is the roving reporter of
the University of Chicago Round Table is here
this weekend to see various Cabinet officers
to give him some background material for &
series of broadcasts on Sundays. He would
like to come in after the President's
press conference.
H.M.Jr:
Not today. He can see Kuhn.
Regraded Unclassified
10
9
Schwarz:
If he stays over Monday, do you think
becould?
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes, if he stays Monday I will see him.
Schwarz:
I will check with him.
H.M.Jr:
Did any paper except the Washington Herald
run that thing about Agriculture?
Schwarz:
That is the only one we saw. That is all.
H.M.Jr:
Admiral?
Waesche:
Here are the papers, Mr. Secretary, that Mr.
Foley brought up yesterday.
H.M.Jr:
Was it all right?
Waesche:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
Waesche:
Our people were over in Mr. Donovan's
office in connection with this crypto-
analysis. They are putting everything
in our hands, and We are buying machines
for them and training their people, and help-
ing them to select their people. Thompson
says that he will give us the money back
after we have spent our money for all these
machines.
H.M.Jr:
Make sure you get your money back.
Waesche:
I would like to have a few minutes with you
afterward.
H.M.Jr:
Sure.
Waesche:
I have some pictures here.
11
- 10 -
Foley:
That had been checked with Coast Guard
before it came in here and before Gaston
initialed it.
H.M.Jr:
noy?
Blough:
Nothing this morning.
H.M.Jr:
Did you and Mr. Barnard get together
on that Social Security message?
Blough:
He has seen the message, and I have. We
have not had an opportunity to talk
yet.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we are doing it at ten thirty.
Blough:
That is right.
Bell:
Ten was the Foley matter, wasn't it?
H.M.Jr:
I have got you (Foley) down for ten.
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
What are you doing at ten?
Foley:
Coming in here to talk with you and Odegard
and Bell and Kuhn and John Pehle and Bernie
and Edward about Foreign Funds.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Sullivan:
I would like to raise a question on that
Regraded Unclassified
12
- 11 -
message. To what extent does our
rephrasing it bind us to the program?
H.M.Jr:
Listen, are you trying a case or
hearing it?
Sullivan:
I am asking a question.
H.M.Jr:
Well, the question is ruled out of order.
Sullivan:
Well, I think it is something that we
should consider.
Bell:
The President sends it up --
H.M.Jr:
Well, you come over on this side and ad-
vise me how to answer your question.
Sullivan:
I don't know.
H.M.Jr:
What I told them was this, that if the
message - the President's message was
written so that it was satisfactory to
the Treasury, I would abide by it.
That is what I told Paul McNutt, but if it
wasn't, if it didn't go up to the Hill 80
we felt it took care of the Treasury's
interests, we would have to go up and tes-
tify and explain the Treasury position.
Does that answer you?
Sullivan:
Well, I can see that we should perhaps pass
on the fiscal aspects of the situation, but
I don't know whether we want to be bound on the
rest of it.
Regraded Unclassified
13
- 12 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, come in and talk about it.
Sullivan:
All right.
Barnard:
Nothing.
Johnson:
The German restrictions on exports from Switzer-
land have developed a new type of smuggling in
this country. We are getting watch jewels.
H.M.Jr:
What?
Johnson:
We are getting watch jewels which are badly needed
by the aviation industry in plain letter mail,
concealed in order to avoid the German restrictions
on movements from Switzerland. That has necessar-
ily resulted in a new type of smuggling here,
with which we are cooperating for once.
H.M.Jr:
Which way is the traffic?
Johnson:
This way, moving from Switzerland to this country.
H.M.Jr:
Watch jewels?
Johnson:
Yes, sir, needed for the precision instruments
in airplanes.
H.M.Jr:
You say you are helping the amugglers?
Johnson:
Yes, sir. (Laughter) But we are getting the duty.
H.M.Jr:
I see. You don't expect me to comment on that,
do you?
Johnson:
No, sir.
H.M.Jr:
What else?
Johnson:
That is all, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Ferdinand?
14
- 13 -
Kuhn:
I am getting from Mr. Gair in 8. little while a
summary of your Farm Credit record. He says
he has all the material, enough for 8. little
summary.
H.M.Jr:
Well, after this meeting I want to see the
Admiral for a minute, if he has something, and
then I would like to see Kuhn and Foley and
Odegard for a minute and Mrs. Klotz before we
go into the next meeting.
Kuhn:
I also tried to get I. F. Stone interested in
the payroll allotments.
H.M.Jr:
Ida --?
Kuhn:
I. F. Stone of the Nation. He wasn't terribly
interested, but he said he would try to see
Mr. Iseby next week.
H.M.Jr:
What else?
Kuhn:
That is all I have.
H.M.Jr:
Are you going to give me 8. play to take up with
me?
Kuhn:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Will you put it in Mrs. Klotz' hands?
Kuhn:
Right, I will.
H.M.Jr:
John?
Sullivan:
Associated Industries of Massachusetts have asked
me to come up and speak at their convention on
the twenty-third of October, and I sort of
passed it by. John MacCormack has been putting
the heat on. He says it is the best crowd in
New England to talk to. They want me to talk on
taxes.
Regraded Unclassified
15
- 14 -
H.M.Jr:
It is up to you.
Sullivan:
Well, I think --
H.M.Jr:
Is it 8. Saturday?
Sullivan:
No, it isn't, it is on a Thursday. There are
some things that we ought to clear if I am
going to make the talk.
H.M.Jr:
Well, it is up to you.
Sullivan:
You are going to be here next week?
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Sullivan:
I am ready to report on the Dickstein matter,
whenever you are ready for it.
H.M.Jr:
Is somebody on that?
Sullivan:
I will be ready to talk it over with you when
you are ready.
H.M.Jr:
Ed?
Foley:
I am running on that matter we talked about
yesterday. I assume that is what you want to
see us about afterward.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Foley:
Dean Acheson called up yesterday and said they
were quite exercised about a statement that
appeared in some of the press yesterday to the
effect that Great Britain and the United States
and the Netherlands had gotten together and
agreed to send no further oil to Japan. He
wanted to know whether it had come out of here.
Apparently Mr. Hull was very much exercised.
The President has carried on these conferences
Regraded Unclassified
16
- 15 -
with the Japanese himself and it had bounded
over there. So I spoke to Chick and the story
is a Perlmeter story. It originated out of
London and they checked here with Chick's
office and Chick's people told Perlmeter no
comment either way. So Acheson was told that
when he was over here yesterday afternoon.
I don't know whether we will hear any more
about it or not, but I thought you should know
the facts.
H.M.Jr:
Did anybody in the Treasury know about it?
Could they have talked?
Schwarz:
This question was whether we --
Foley:
Sure. In Foreign Funds we know that no
applications for licenses for oil exports to
Japan have been granted.
H.M.Jr:
Well, none have been asked.
Foley:
Well, we have been pretty tough and what we
have been doing - Dean has been anxious for us
to do it - is not to - not to make any public
statements about it but just shuffle the
papers around.
H.M.Jr:
Well, as I told you last night, now that Kintner
and Alsop are not around writing that column, I
don't have to go around and say, "Who had lunch
with them last?"
Foley:
Well, in case Mr. Hull should mention at Cabinet --
H.M.Jr:
I don't have to look around any more. (Laughter)
Foley:
That is the story. We aren't directly guilty
but we may be a little bit involved.
Schwarz:
They simply asked us if any licenses had been
issued and we told them that we were treating
Regraded Unclassified
17
- 16 -
this thing like the income tax set up and we
are not commenting on individual licenses.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I am not worried about it. Yesterday a
friend of mine said he was going to try and
see whether Bob Nathan wouldn't give me this
eight page memorandum to read that he had
written on & comparison of the English and
our production. He said he doubted it, though.
It was terribly confidential. He didn't think
I could see it. Today Pearson and Allen have
got the whole memorandum in their column.
Foley:
That is all.
Odegard:
We spent a good deal of time yesterday with
Mr. Clark of New York on this education matter.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes.
Odegard:
There is something moving there.
H.M.Jr:
All right, everybody. I am leaving about four
or five o'clock this afternoon and by train,
maybe. (Laughter) I will be back here Monday
morning.
Regraded Unclassified
18
October 10, 1941
9:45 a.m.
HMJr:
Hello.
Operator:
Go ahead.
Lord
Halifax:
Hello, Mr. Secretary.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
This is Halifax.
HMJr:
Oh, good morning. Morgenthau speaking.
H:
I wanted to call you up Just to tell you one
thing, that I was back and I hope to see you
one of these days.
HMJr:
Well, I'd like to 800 you.
H:
Well, you name anything at any time you like,
and I'd like very much to have a talk.
HMJr:
Well, here's the point, Mr. Ambassador. I
don't know how much of a hurry you're in, but I mean
I could either do it this morning or not until
Monday.
H:
Well, I - what sort of time?
HMJr:
Well, I mean - eleven-thirty?
H:
I've got to see the Polish Ambassador at twelve.
HMJr:
Do you want to do it a little earlier?
H:
Well, would it have been possible for me to
have looked down to see you at - either at -
almost at once, quarter past ten, or at
eleven-thirty? I can shift the Polish Am-
bassador back, I've no doubt. Or eleven-
fifteen?
HMJr:
I can arrange it for eleven-fifteen.
Regraded Unclassified
19
- 2 -
H:
Eleven-fifteen.
HMJr:
I'll change mine a little bit.
H:
Well, if you can do that.....
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
and if I might have come down and had
a word with you.
HMJr:
Fine.
H:
There's one particular matter I want to mention
to you, and we might Just have 8 - just a
quarter of an hour's talk if you can spare
the time.
HMJr:
Well, I have plenty - I'll arrange to have
plenty of time.
H:
Well, eleven fifteen then I'll be with you.
HMJr:
Thank you.
H:
Will that be all right?
HMJr:
Entirely.
H:
Good. Thank you so much. Good-bye.
Regraded Unclassified
20
October 10, 1941
10:35 a.m.
RE FOREIGN FUNDS CONTROL
Present:
Mr. Foley
Mr. Pehle
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Buffington
Mr. Odegard
Mr. Edward
Mr. Bernstein
Mr. Bell
Mr. Merillat
H.M.Jr:
All right.
Foley:
Mr. Secretary, &8 a result of the meetings
that were held in New York State between
representatives from Foreign Funds and the
Federal Reserve Bank in New York and the
local bankers all over the State, we would
like to suggest & continuation of that program
involving certain things which I should like
to read:
"1. An initial address by you over a nation-
wide radio hookup."
H.M.Jr:
That is out.
Foley:
"2. Additional radio addresses from time
to time by officers of State, Treasury, and
Justice on various aspects of freezing in
which the public would be interested.
Round table radio discussions between Govern-
ment officials and representatives of various
groups such as banks, insurance, shipping,
importing, and other industries."
Regraded Unclassified
21
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Let me interrupt. You (Kuhn) didn't give
me the memo of the talk with Frank Knox.
Kuhn:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
Give it to me, and I will get a chance to
do it sometime this morning.
Kuhn:
And thank you.
Foley:
Development of radio programs of interest to
these different groups to be conducted by
representatives of the Treasury, State, and
Justice, the three departments which are
are interested.
"3. Newspaper and magazine articles" --
(Mr. Merillat entered the conference).
Kuhn:
Excuse me, Mr. Secretary, this is Mr. Merillat.
H.M.Jr:
Sit down.
Foley:
"Newspaper and magazine articles having
general circulation, as well as appropriate
trade papers having well-known writers,
after discussion with Treasury officers on
various phases of the controls.
"A conference to be held as soon as possible
in Washington, to be attended by representa-
tives of each Federal Reserve Bank, at which
the public relations program of Foreign
Funds control will be worked out in
detail."
And that will be modelled after what they
had up in New York, calling for meetings
in the different Federal Reserve Districts
between the local bankers and the representa-
tives of the Feds with our people present.
Regraded Unclassified
22
- 3 -
"A series of public meetings to be held in
each of the cities where Federal Reserve
Banks and their branches are located,
to be addressed by representatives of
Foreign Funds Control. These meetings
will be followed by smaller round table
discussions with particular groups affected
by the controls.
"A letter bearing your signature to be sent
to the President of each bank in the country,
urging the full cooperation of that bank
ir the program of controls. Thereafter,
8. semi-monthly letter from Foreign Funds
Control to the officer designated by each
bank to handle freezing matters, discussing
matters of mutual interest and presenting
questions and answers. A suggested draft
of 8. letter is attached. If this is satis-
factory, steps can be taken at once to have
it multilithed and sent out."
The last one is:
"The assignment to Foreign Funds Control of
a full-time competent public relations man
with adequate staff to coordinate and develop
the program."
H.M.Jr:
Bell? Any suggestions or objections?
Bell:
It sounds like a full program. I raise
the question about writing the banks, whe-
ther you want to continually write the
banks about Treasury matters. Your finan-
cing is going to require 8 good deal of
that, I should think. I don't know whether
you are going to feed them so much material
over your signature that it is so routine
they won't read it.
Foley:
Well, we thought that there would only be
one letter to each bank from the Secretary,
Regraded Unclassified
23
- 4 -
and because that is so unusual and 80 out
of the ordinary, we thought that that would
get the attention of the top man in the
bank, and then in reply, and he will reply
to EL letter from the Secretary of the
Treasury, he can designate somebody in his
bank with whom Foreign Funds then can carry
it on and keep that fellow informed and
in that way we could perhaps stimulate interest
and promote education in that bank. This is
the form of letter that we wanted to suggest.
Bell:
I think it would be all right if we didn't
have all this letter --
Foley:
May I read the form of letter?
"Dear Sir:
Here in Washington we are anxious to learn
more about the difficulties you are encountering
with respect to freezing control. It is no
easy task to administer freezing control.
I know that it has raised a number of ser-
ious problems with you. I should like to
hear from you about these problems and at
the same time receive your views on how we
can do & better job.
"What can we do to make your job easier?
Do you have enough information? If not,
what else can we send you? What kind of
problems are causing you difficulty?
Are the Federal Reserve Banks and the
Treasury Department giving you the kind
of assistance you need? Do you see loop-
holes we are missing? If so, how can we plug
them? Are we unnecessarily strict in some
areas? If so, where?
"You are on the firing line. You know what
help you need better than we do. Please
Regraded Unclassified
24
- 5 -
give us your suggestions. I hope that in
this way we can better understand your
problems and improve our efforts.
"Many of the general problems and questions
raised we hope to discuss and distribute
in pamphlet form. Please let me hear
from you very soon.
Sincerely yours,
Secretary of the Treasury"
H.M.Jr:
It is all right, Dan.
Bell:
It is a good letter.
H.M.Jr:
I am not asking them to do it. I am
coming to them. Do you see anything the
matter with that, B.M?
Edward:
Not a thing. I think it is a fine letter.
I think a banker would be happy to have that
letter.
Bell:
Well, I think probably they would too.
I just raised the question because you are
going on several other matters. On the Tax
Notes and Savings Bonds.
H.M.Jrs
Then we are asking them to do us a favor.
Bell:
This is a little different type of letter
than the other would be.
H.M.Jr:
Do you think it is a good letter?
Bell:
Yes, I think it is a good letter.
Foley:
This shows the Secretary of the Treasury is
vitally interested in this problem, and he
wants them to understand he is, and he wants
Regraded Unclassified
25
- 6 -
them to tell him how we can do a better
job, what we are missing and what they
need to get over to the public, what we are
trying to accomplish.
Bell:
What was the last thing that went out to the
banks and some of them wrote in?
Pehle:
We asked them to designate the name of the
senior officer. That was done through
the Federal Reserve Bank.
Bell:
In reply to that, you got a number of letters
saying, "Well, I am the senior officer, and
I am the only officer."
H.M.Jr:
I didn't sign that letter.
Foley:
Oh, no, that was signed by Sproul.
H.M.Jr:
I haven't sent a letter to the banks signed
by me, I don't think, in two years.
Bell:
Yes, the one on the Tax Notes.
H.M.Jr:
Did I sign that?
Bell:
Yes, and you got a nice response. You went
into the financing and told them your problem
and you really got a nice response.
Kuhn:
I think this letter is the best, most effec-
tive thing possible, and it is number one
on the whole program. It ought to go out
first, before anything else is done.
Bell:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Well, this is & chore we are asking the
banks to do, and simply saying, "Is there
any way we can help you on this thing?"
Regraded Unclassified
26
b I .
Belli
Banks that have any foreign problems,
foreign transactions - the Foreign
Funda thing is the most burdensome thing
they do for the Treasury.
H.M.Jrs
This would be a good letter. This man
(Edward) said he didn't think he had any
foreigners in his bank, and he found he had
how many?
Edward:
About a hundred and thirty-one altogether.
H.M.Jr:
He said he didn't think he had them.
Edward:
Ninety-seven per cent of our population is
native born, and I said, "This won't be
anything but a blank report," but when they
went through they found they had a hundred
and thirty-one. I think - talking to Bern-
stein this morning, I think quite a number
of those are probably - they probably won't
come under the requirements, however, on
account of that - I believe it was you
(Pehle), told me about the dates, that
probably the majority of those will be
thrown out. To be on the safe side, we
reported everybody.
Foley:
There are places, Mr. Secretary, where
you have got a large foreign population
engaged in shoe mills and other industries.
We found when we went in there that only
twelve accounts had been blocked in that
whole area since these controls were in-
posed, and the reason that that is so is
because those fellows up there don't
understand this, and they haven't applied
it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, one thing I don't understand that B.M.
mentioned, did you say you would have to
go to the Post Office to get a list of
aliens? Where do you go?
Regraded Unclassified
27
- 8 -
Edward:
I think that is where we got it, although
they say they are not supposed to give it
out. I don't know where my folks went to
get it, but I think that is where they got
it. They got it somewhere.
H.M.Jr:
Where do they go?
Pehle:
Mr. Secretary, they have alien registration
lists.
H.M.Jr:
Who has?
Pehle:
The post offices.
Edward:
They are required to go there and register.
Pehle:
They are under control of the Department
of Justice, and when we first started this
census the question was raised generally
whether those lists would be available to
the banks, and it was discussed at the
Inter-Departmental Committee, and the
Committee felt they should not be available
to the banks, because they are very mis-
leading. Mo st of the aliens in this country
have been here since prior to the Freezing
Control, and they are here on permanent visas
and they are not required to report with
respect to those people at all, and the
Committee felt that giving out those lists
and marking out those people that are aliens
for special treatment would just cause those
people to be more harassed than they are now.
Foley:
Well, there are also 8. number of people
on there who aren't touched by the controls
anyway because the controls haven't been
applied to their countries.
Pehle:
That is right.
Regraded Unclassified
28
- 9 -
Edward:
Don't they also have to go to the Court
House and do something? We may have gotten
that record from our local Court House.
Pehle:
They have to file with the Department of
Justice through the post offices information
with regard to --
H.M.Jr:
Well, you know how to handle it. The thing
is to get it over to the banks 80 they
know how to handle it.
Pehle:
The problem, not the list.
H.M.Jr:
No, but I mean how is the bank - how does
it check its lists and get lists? Who is
an alien and who isn't? Is that all worked
out?
Pehle:
We have ways of telling them how to go
over their accounts. They usually know who
their depositors are.
H.M.Jr:
How does the fellow know?
Edward:
No, they don't.
H.M.Jr:
If you haven't worked that out, you have
got a loophole there.
Bell:
I am wondering if we shouldn't go to the
Post Office and ask that they be made
available to the banks.
H.M.Jr:
If you haven't done that, you have left it
up in the air for the banks to decide how
to do it.
Edward:
Mr. Secretary, I have a friend in Columbia
who is a German. He has been there since
before the World War, and they made him
register.
29
- 10 -
H.M.Jr:
You see, John, let me just take this a min-
ute. This is a good example, as good as
any.
Foley:
You wouldn't freeze his account, though, B.M.
H.M.Jr:
I want you to hear this, Ed. I got in
this thing just on account of the fact that the
bank ought to know how. I am going on he
theory that they don't, and it is up to us
to tell them. Now, if you will approach
it from that standpoint, not that the bank
ought to know how or that they ought to
have a foreign control man, but that they
don't know, and the whole purpose underlying
this is, on the assumption that they don't
and don't believe it, well, they ought to
know how and maybe there is a list and maybe
there is not. Maybe the Department of
Justice will and maybe the Post Office will.
That is the whole purpose. If you approach
it from my angle, then you get the spirit
which accomplishes what I want to accomplish.
Pehle:
I agree entirely with what you said. I
don't believe I made myself clear about the
lists. We canvassed the lists and we decided
they should not be given out, because they
were misleading.
H.M.Jr:
I don't want the details. I am only
interested in the spirit. The spirit we
a re approaching this thing in is good
extension teaching. We should take it for
granted these people don't know, there is
no reason why they should know, and we
know all the answers. I hope we do.
Is that good teaching?
Odegard:
Yes, I think it is very good.
H.M.Jr:
You can't assume that these people know.
Regraded Unclassified
30
- 11 -
Odegard:
You start out assuming that they don't know.
If you don't you won't do a good job of
education.
Edward:
Mr. Secretary, maybe Mr. Odegard can correct
me on this if I am wrong, but they tell me
for instance in the City of Cleveland, that
eighty per cent of the population of Cleve-
land are either foreign born or are born
of one or more foreign parents.
Foley:
Well, that is a large industrial area, and
I am sure in areas like Cleveland and Pitts-
burgh you have got a percentage almost
that large.
Odegard:
The highest percentage of foreign born in
the census is New England, Connecticut and
Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
H.M.Jr:
Well, gentlemen, on paper it is all right.
I am willing to sign the letter to the bank
and I am not willing to go on the radio.
Foley:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
I would keep in touch with the people here
in the room and get started.
Foley:
Right.
H.M.Jr:
Is that all right, Dan?
Foley:
We will get the letter prepared immediately.
H.M.Jr:
Is that all right?
Bell:
Yes.
Kuhn:
I would make one reservation about the use-
fulness of radio programs. in this Foreign
Regraded Unclassified
31
- 12 -
Funds business. I think our audience is
& very restricted one, and I don't think
radio is going to be too helpful, but it
can be worked out.
Bell:
It is a very technical subject.
Kuhn:
I think the letter is swell and is going to
produce the materials out of which we can
work.
Foley:
Well, we are going to get a lot of blasts
from some of these fellows, but we will
take the good with the bad.
H.M.Jr:
O.K.
32
October 10, 1941.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY'S FILES
A meeting relative to the administration of Executive
Order 8389 was held in Mr. Foley's office at 4 P. n. on October 9,
1941, attended from time to time by the following:
Messrs. Foley (Chairman), Pehle, B. Bernstein, Lawler,
Districh, B. M. Bernstein and Timmons for the Treasury; Messrs.
Acheson, Luthringer, Fisher and Miller for State; Messrs. Shea,
Swidler, Jurenev and Kreeger for Justice; and Mr. Knapp for the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Mr. Acheson referred to the matter of the payment of
Japanese diplomatic expenses in the United States. Pursuant to
the Aide-Memoire submitted by this Government to the Japanese
Government with respect to the payment of such expenses, the
Japanese Embassy in Washington has prepared & statement of the
anticipated expenditures of the Embassy and the various consulates.
The total amount involved is approximately $200,000 per month.
Mr. Acheson stated that the Department of State was anxious that
the necessary licenses be issued immediately, for the Japanese
Government may think that our failure to do so is indirect pressure
upon them to withdraw their diplomatic representation. It is
anticipated that such payments will be made by the Yokohama Specie
Bank, New York. Mr. Bernstein gave 8 brief picture of the condition
of the Yokohama Specie Bank on the basis of information furnished
by Mr. Ashwood, the National Bank Examiner who is assigned to duty
in such bank. The total amount of creditors' claims in which the
New York Superintendent of Banks is interested is somewhat in
excess of $9,000,000. Assets are estimated at approximately
$8,300,000. Mr. Ashwood stated that in a week or 80 the bank will
have approximately $10,000,000 in cash. On the basis of his
investigations, Mr. Ashwood concluded that the Bank was in a safe
condition for at least sixty days. Future applications for
payments from the Yokohama Specie Bank may include $1,400,000
per month in payment of interest on Japanese bonds and withdrawals
by the West Coast branches of the Yokohama Specie Bank, which
may require additional cash. Mr. White, the New York State
Superintendent of Banks, is being advised of all licenses granted
Regraded Unclassified
33
- 2 -
by Foreign Funds Control allowing payments from the Yokohama
Specie Bank. Mr. Pehle said that Mr. White is thinking along
the lines of escrowing assets to protect the rights of New York
creditors and that he may be able to work out something along
this line with the Yokohama Specie Bank. Mr. Acheson stated that
there has been a recent meeting in the State Department on the
question of the Yokohama Specie Bank, at which time it was agreed
that it is not State's intention to prevent Mr. White from
looking into the Yokohama Specie Bank situation and preparing B.
detailed statement with respect thereto, and there is no
objection to Mr. White's discussing the whole question with the
Bank. The protection of the New York creditors was recognized
to be Mr. White's problem, but that, because of certain other
aspects, it is one which he may desire to discuss with the
appropriate Federal authorities. The State Department does not
want the Japanese Government to ship gold to this country to
pay interest on bonds and diplomatic expenses. Mr. Acheson
indicated that the State Department is prepared to assent to the
servicing of indebtedness and the payment of diplomatic expenses
from the Yokohama Specie Bank for at least two months pending
clerification of the situation. It was agreed that Mr. White
should be cautioned about the probable Japanese proposal to ship
gold to the United States and it was agreed that it would be
preferable if he told the Japanese that this is a matter to be
discussed with the Treasury Department. With respect to the terms
of the Aide-Memoire, Mr. Acheson reported the State Department is
not insisting that the Japanese Government provide for American
foreign service officers in Manchuria and occupied China, although
it is expected that Mr. Grew will include such persons in his
statement and that they will receive the same treatment as foreign
service officers in Japan. It was agreed that the telegram
informing Ambassador Grew that this Government is prepared to
proceed with the licensing of Japanese diplomatic expenses in the
United States should be despatched.
Mr. Iguchi of the Japanese Embassy called recently on
Mr. Acheson and stated that the Japanese Government is now
considering purchasing oil from funds presently held in Latin
America. Admiral Nomura has again raised with Secretary of State
Eull the question of the purchase of oil for Japan, and has stated
Regraded Unclassified
34
- 3 -
that the Japanese Government is now considering using funds
presently held in South America. Mr. Acheson suggested to
Secretary Hull that he reply to Nomura by saying that the
situation is slightly confusing, M Mr. Nishiyama has several
times insisted that Japan has no funds in Latin America and
has suggested that the oil in question be purchased either with
gold from Japan or currency from China and/or Japan. This latter
proposal is & matter which the Interdepartmental Committee still
has under consideration. Inasmich as the Japanese proposal has
now shifted to dollar funds in Latin America, it would appear
that the gold and currency is no longer 8. problem and that the
re-opened proposal will be examined.
Mr. Pehle reported the conference held this morning
with representatives of General Dyestuff Corporation. Apparently
General Dyestuff has taken the position that the denial of
application No. NY 201434 was not final, aa Mr. Halbach had told
an officer of the Chemical Bank & Trust Company that Messrs.
Foley, Acheson and Shea had indicated to him that this action
would be reconsidered. The representatives of General Dyestuff
Corporation at today's conference indicated that they had been
asked certain questions, some of which they were not presently
in & position to answer, and they stated they felt that their
onse should not be decided until they were in a position to supply
such information in full. Mr. Pehle indicated to them that the
Government has many interests in General Dyestuff Corporation and
General Aniline & Film Corporation, and that it was not felt that
the information to which they were referring was relevant to the
application in question. Mr. Pehle indicated that he deemed it
very desirable that the denial should be reaffirmed in order that
the air may be cleared for a sale to some "clean" corporation.
It was suggested that representatives of General Aniline & Film
be called in and told that they have ninety days in which to
arrange for the sale of the stock presently held by I. G. Chemie
to some purchaser who is acceptable to this Government, or the
Treasury will be forced to place men in the company and restrict
its operating license. Mr. Shea mentioned that Assistant Attorney
General Arnold wished to intervene in the shareholders bill in
equity filed in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware to
maintain the status quo with respect to the board of directors
of General Aniline & Film. After lengthy discussion 88 to the
Regraded Unclassified
35
- 4 -
advisability of filing an appearance, either formally or
informally, it was decided that no such appearance should be
filed, but that an attorney of the Treasury Department should
be sent to the hearing in the capacity of an observer only.
Reference was made to an application, No. NY 258683,
involving a payment of Swiss francs to a Liechtenstein citizen
residing in Switzerland in order that a process for the reduction
of methane gases to liquid form might be demonstrated in this
country. The payment is to be made from free funds. A letter
had been received from Admiral Stuart, head of the Naval
Petroleum Reserves Board, recommending that this application
be granted. It was agreed to approve the application.
Regraded Unclassified
36
October 10, 1941
11:10 a.m.
RE SOCIAL SECURITY
Present:
Mr. Bell
Mr. Barnard
Mr. Blough
Mr. Sullivan
Blough:
This is Mr. Altmeyer's suggested message,
written and revised by him, in which he
has incorporated several sentences suggested
by me after discussing the matter with Mr.
Bell. The points - finance is mentioned three
times. Financial and tax matters are mentioned
three times. I have put a line along the
sentences which he has included at our sug-
gestion.
H.M.Jr:
Is everybody satisfied with this?
Mr. Barnard?
Barnard:
I am satisfied with it assuming that it is
to be done. I an not satisfied that it is
good from the Treasury's standpoint to take
up this kind of a thing right now. Assuming
it won't be effective until '43, that is a
long way ahead into the unknown.
H.M.Jr:
This won't take effect until '43?
Bell:
It couldn't, following out the program that you
Regraded Unclassified
37
- 2 -
read the other day.
Blough:
On page seven, beginning with the word "further-
more", there are three sentences put in by Mr.
Altmeyer on inflation and deflation.
H.M.Jr:
Dan, I just cannot pass on a thing in a split
second like this. I just got word that the
President is not leaving town.
Bell:
Is not?
H.M.Jr:
No.
Bell:
Well, we understood that he wanted it to work
on over the weekend. Isn't that right, Blough?
H.M.Jr:
Well, why not simply say, so do I? It is too
much.
Bell:
Well, what is the matter with giving this to
Altmeyer to give to the President and the
Treasury staff has been helping on it, but the
Secretary has not passed on it?
H.K.Jr:
I will simply say - you can tell. I have had
my financing, we have had the Mexicans here,
and I can't - it is too important. Don't
you agree?
Barnard:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
I will take it up, and I will read it care-
fully, and, if I don't understand it--
Bell:
Do you want to take it over the weekend?
E.M.Jr:
I want to take it over the weekend. I can't
help it. You tell him I am going to take it.
Bell:
And can he give it to the President?
Regraded Unclassified
38
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
Yes. We can't keep him from giving it to the
President.
Bell:
Well, I think we ought to say to him, "Give
it to the President," and whatever comments
you have you will give the President after
you come back.
H.M.Jr:
Normally I would spend two weeks on a thing
like this. Viner will be here next week and
Walter Stewart will be here next week.
Well, I am just going to stall. The worse
that can happen is - well, if the President
shoots it Monday, then my hands are untied.
Sullivan:
I don't think you are stalling in view of
that statement you made.
ll.M.Jr:
What was that?
Sullivan:
That nothing was going in for there or four
weeks, and he was going to phone them and have
them down before he sent it anyway. I don't
know if we can very well tell that to Alt-
meyer or not.
H.M.Jr:
No, we can't. I told the boys that.
Sullivan:
I understood that.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I think I will see the British Ambassador,
and I will take this up to the farm with me.
Thank you all.
Sullivan:
Do you want Roy on that this coming week? He
is supposed to be in St. Paul.
Blough:
I am supposed to be in St. Paul at a rather
important meeting up there.
Regraded Unclassified
39
- 4 -
H.M.Jr:
Marriner Eccles is going up. I will let you
go as long as John is here.
Blough:
Could I be gone the first three days of the
week then?
H.M.Jr:
It is all right. John, will you be here?
Sullivan:
Weren't you planning on being gone all week?
Blough:
I think I can be back on Thursday.
Regraded Unclassified
COFT
40
Suprested Draft of President's Message on
Social Security Expansion
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
I herewith transmit 8. report of the Social Security Board,
making recommendations for improving the effectiveness of our
social security system. I trust that it will be possible for
Congress to rive early consideration to this subject.
Today this nation is engaged in at great defense effort
designed to protect and preserve our democratic way of life
from destruction at the hands of agressor nations. There can
be no question as to our success. Our country has the natural
resources and our people have developed a system of free enter-
urise which all history demonstrates is productive of the
Treatest efficiency as well as the greatest satisfaction. The
trest bul ark of our democratic system of free enterprise is an
adequate social security program which provides 8 basic securit
for all of our citizens and encourages each one to increase his
own security through his individual efforts.
This nation has already gone a long way in a short time
in promoting social security. It is only six years since the
Social Security Act became law. Two years ago that law was
Teatly improved by convertin- the Federal old-age insurance
system into a system which provides benefits for widows and
orghans, as well as old-age retirement benefits.
But there are still important croups of our people who
do not have this protection. We have now had sufficient
administrative experience so that we should be able to extend
this Federal old-age and survivors insurance system to virtu-
ally all of the employed and self-employed population of this
country. Likewise We should now extend protection against
unemployment to many groups now excluded and we should make
this protection more adequate.
In addition, we should provide protection against wage
loss due to permanent total disability which in a sense con-
stitutes premature old age. We should also provide protection
whinst wage loss caused by sickness. Moreover, provision
should be made for = fixed cash payment for each day that an
Regraded Unclassified
41
- 2 -
insured worker or a member of his family is confined to a
hospital. Providing compensation for a portion of the wage
loss and providing cash hospital benefits will furnish con-
siderable protection against the economic loss due to ill
health in this country.
I strongly recommend that all of the foregoing types of
social insurance be consolidated into 8. single comprehensive
social insurance system. This would necessarily involve
merging the present Federal-State unemployment insurance
system into such a system. Since all of the employees of the
State agencies administering unemployment insurance have been
employed in accordance with civil service systems meeting
Federal standards there would be no difficulty in bringing
them under the Federal civil service.
The advantages of a single Federal old-age, survivors,
disability, and unemployment insurance system are clear. Such
a system would be safer. and sounder, particularly in the case
of unemployment insurance, because of the wider spreading of
the risks and the more effective utilization of reserves. It
would provide more adequate protection for all workers, par-
ticularly those employed in more than one State. It would
equalize the cost of unemployment compensation and other risks
in the various States. Itwould provide a more effective
nationwide public employment service which is imperative
because of the defense program. It would be much more adaptable
to unforeseen changes in industrial conditions; and it would
provide simplified, economical administration.
While all of the States have enacted unemployment compen-
sation laws, these laws vary widely in the adequacy of the
benefits they provide, in the adequacy of the reserves they are
building up, in the contribution rates that are charged em-
ployers with the same unemployment experience, and in the
administrative procedures which are followed. Since employers
in each state compete with employers in other States, each
State government acting alone is at a. disadvantage in its
attempts to provide more adequate benefits and more adequate
reserves because of the danger of exposing its employers to
unfair competition by employers in other States who may be
permitted to pay lower contribution rates.
Regraded Unclassified
42
- 3 -
It is clear that if the present system is unable to meet
adequately such unemployment as exists today, it is wholly
incapable of coping with the problem of unemployment as it
may confront us during the post-defense period. Therefore,
we should proceed at once to reconstruct our unemployment
insurance system so that it constitutes a real first line of
defense against unemployment; not a thin, irregular line under
divided direction which will crumble in spots at the first
major attack upon it.
The expanded social insurance program I an recommending
will afford protection to the workers of this country against
the major economic hazards to which they are exposed. It will
spread the cost of these hazards evenly among many instead of
unevenly among some.
This protection will involve higher costs which must be
financed. Since this is an insurance program it is important
that the increase in cost be fully covered by increased
contributions. We cannot afford to increase expenditures for
these purposes without providing adequate revenues to meet the
added cost. Accordingly existing rates of contribution will
need to be increased substantially. In paying for this
comprehensive program of economic security employer and em-
ployee should stand side by side as partners, preferably
contributing on B. fifty-fifty basis.
A contributory social insurance system can and will
provide protection to employed persons against future hazards
but it cannot provide protection against hazards that have
already occurred. A public assistance program is necessary
to provide protection to needy persons already out of employ-
ment because of old-age, disability or some other reason. Our
present system of Federal grants to States to cover 50% of
the cost of assistance to the needy aged, the needy blind and
dependent children has done much to provide protection to
these groups. Only 8. small percentage of the aged, for
example, are still dependent on relatives and friends. The
two chief complaints regarding assistance to the needy aged
are that the test of need is too strict and that the amount
of cash assistance is too small. Both of these complaints
arise to a considerable extent because the low-income States
Regraded Unclassified
43
- 4 -
have difficulty in meeting their 50% of the cost.
The most effective way to enable the low income States
to pay more adequate assistance to their needy aged is to
provide special Federal aid to such States, in addition to
the 50% Federal grant all States receive. This special aid
could be related in an objective manner to the economic
capacity of these low-income States to meet their share of
the cost. Such special Federal aid should of course be made
available not only for the needy aged but for the needy blind
and dependent children as well.
I also recommend that Congress give consideration to
the question of providing Federal grants-in-aid to better
enable the States to relieve the distress that exists among
persons who are not eligible for assistance under the existing
Federal-State categories of the aged, the blind and dependent
children. Most of these people are in distress because of
some physical handicap which renders them unable to engage in
gainful work. Many States and localities have inadequate re-
sources to meet the needs of such persons and whatever re-
sources they do have are now used disproportionately to help
needy persons who are eligible under the three categories for
which the Federal Government now shares the cost. The extent
to which the additional grants-in-aid would lessen or other-
wise affect other Federal expenditures and activities for
the relief of distress is a factor which should be taken into
account by Congress in considering these questions.
I recommend that Congress also take steps to protect the
accrued social insurance benefit rights of persons entering
the government service to engage in defense activities, par-
ticularly those who enter the military service. Persons serv-
ing their country should receive as much protection by way of
social insurance as persons in private employment. Certainly
such persons should not lose any benefit rights they may have
accumulated.
The social security program I am recommending will better
prepare us as n nation to meet not only the problems of today
but the problems of tomorrow when the defense program has come
Regraded Unclassified
44
- 5 -
to an end and we face the necessity of returning to a more
normal period of industrial activity. It will bring a far
greater degree of security into every home in the country.
Furthermore, it will help greatly to stabilize general
economic conditions. During a period of economic expansion
it will help curb inflationary tendencies since larger sums
are collected in contributions than are paid out in benefits.
During a period of economic recession it will help to sustain
mass purchasing power since much larger sums will be paid out
in benefits than are collected in contributions.
This social security program I am convinced will provide
a maximum amount of security for the individual at a minimum
cost to the government. If we are to reap the greatest
advantage we should act now.
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
45
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 10, 1941
TO
Ferdinand Kulin, Jr.
FROM
Herbert Merillat
PRESS COMMENT ON
PRICES, PROFITS, AND
SOCIAL SECURITY
The press throughout the country has lined up almost solidly
in support of over-all price-control on the Baruch model. It
feels that the Steagall bill is 8 political compromise which will
be ineffectual in holding down prices. The press does not share
Mr. Henderson's optimistic belief that demands for wage increases
can be handled by voluntary agreements.
With increased awareness of the inflation threat has come a
growing insistence that Congress act immediately to check the
price advance. The press asks for Congressional courage and
vigorous Administration leadership to put 8. stop to the drawn-
out debate on price-control. This attitude, found in small-town
88 well as metropolitan papers, reports that Congressmen back
from their districts detect an increasing public alarm over the
rising cost of living and a demand to check that rise.
The Brookings Institution report has been widely cited to
support the demand that wages and farm prices be controlled as
strictly BS other prices. Here, says the press, is an authoritative,
Regraded Unclassified
46
- 2 -
nonpartisan report which shows up the Administration 8.8 con-
tributing to the growth of inflation, through preferential
treatment of farmers and tacit encouragement of wage increases.
Organized labor quickly reacted to the Brookings Institution
report, assailing the Institution as an instrument of reactionaries
whose recommendations should be disregarded as a basis for price-
control policy. The C.I.O. News said: "Against such propaganda
8.5 is put out by the Brookings Institution, the C.I.O. has to
mobilize and publicize its counter-arguments, at the same time
exposing the pretense to academic impartiality of an institution
which regularly reflects the employers' point of view." The
C.I.O.'s "counter-arguments" came in the statement to the Banking
Committee, claiming that wage increases have not been responsible
for price increases.
"Labor," the weekly of the Railroad Brotherhoods, said:
"Whenever American reactionaries find themselves in a hole,
they send out an S.O.S. and the Brookings Institution
hurrying up with B. 'report.' Invariably, it is just what the
reactionaries have been praying for
From now on this
Brookings report will be constantly popping up. As 8. matter
of fact, it is not worth the paper on which it is printed."
Regraded Unclassified
- 3 -
47
The C.I.O. line, found in statements of its leaders and
editorials in the C.I.O. News, is that price increases have
been caused, not by wage increases, but by profiteering,
material shortages, hoarding, speculation, and uncoordinated
public and private purchases.
Profit Limits
Editorial attacks continue on the suggested six percent
profit-limit. After Secretary Morgenthau's announcement that
drafting of the measure would take some time and that the tax
would not apply to 1941 incomes, the headlines said the proposal
was "shelved." Editorial writers welcomed this news and also
welcomed the criticism of the plan by political leaders and
businessmen.
The profit-limit proposals of Representatives Gore and
Vinson - to limit profits on defense contracts to seven per-
cent or eight percent of the manufacturing cost -- have not
yet been much discussed in editorials. The little comment which
has appeared has attacked the plan as unworkable and inequitable --
unworkable because of the accounting problems involved, and
inequitable, says the Washington Post, because it would apply
only to "defense" contracts, leaving untouched other businesses
which have benefited from the defense effort. Commentators have
Regraded Unclassified
4 -
48
pointed out that it is already the duty of the War and Navy
Departments to hold down prices on defense contracts to &
reasonable figure. The remedy for excessive profits on such
contracts is seen to be in a more careful placement of orders,
rather than in special taxation.
Social Security Expansion
The typical editorial on the proposed expansion of social
security applauds the principle of increased coverage, doubts
whether the expansion can be worked out immediately, and condemns
the proposal to increase the tax rates as an undesirable mixing
of social security with emergency financing.
Liberal papers, such as the New York Post and Philadelphia
Record, urge immediate action to bring more employes within the
social security system. The conservative press, while professing
to approve the expansion in principle, asks whether this is the
time to consider social reforms, and sees serious administrative
difficulties which cannot be worked out in & short time.
Liberals and conservatives join in opposing the use of the
social security system to raise revenue needed in the defense
program. Their arguments may be summarized as follows: Social
security and emergency financing should be kept wholly separate.
Regraded Unclassified
- 5 -
49
Social security tax rates should be increased only if actuarial
data indicates this should be done. If it is necessary to tax
payrolls to raise revenue and check inflation, this should be
done directly and separately, perhaps under some modification
of the Keynes plan.
Editorial writers doubt whether the President was entirely
frank in giving his reasons for recommending increased coverage
and higher tax rates. The urgent need for more revenue, they
suspect, is the real reason for proposing the changes.
Regraded Unclassified
50
October 10, 1941
1:43 D.M.
HMJr:
Yes.
Secy. of
Sen. Bone: This 1s Senator Bone's secretary.
HWr:
Yes.
S:
The Senetor 18 in the hospital and can't get
to a telephone.
RWr:
I'm sorry.
8:
And SQ he asked me if I would call you for
him.
TWr:
Yes.
5:
And ask if you could Elve us any information
with regard to the re-spoointment of Saul Haas,
Collector at Seattle.
HMJr:
Well, I recommended it and it's out of my
hands.
in
It's something then that we should take up
with the White House, I gather.
HMJr:
Thot's right.
S:
At the White House.
HMJr:
It's out of my hands. I recommended it.
S:
Well, that was our understanding; but I thought
I'd check with you first to see whether it had
gone down.
MMJr:
Yes. I'm sorry - is the Senator very 111?
S:
No, but he had some trouble with 8 leg. It
vas broken two years ago.
Mr:
Oh.
3:
A steel oin was cut in at the time, and that
Regraded Unclassified
51
- 2 -
pin did some damage to the bone. They had
to extract it.
HMJr:
I see.
B:
And so he has to stay out there and have his
leg under correction for some weeks.
H4Jr:
Yes.
S:
He's not 111, but he just 1s immobilized.
He can't move.
HMJr:
Yes.
S:
Well, much obliged then. I'll check the White
House on it. Who would I check with down there?
General Watson?
HMJr:
Yes.
S:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
52
October 10, 1941
3:45 p.m.
Lieut.
Hesford:
Hello, good afternoon, Mr. Secretary. This
Hesford speaking.
HMJr:
Go ahead.
H:
Incidentally, I've checked this also with
the Washington forecaster who corroborated
New York.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
There's to be scattered to broken clouds at
four thousand feet, sir.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
The visibilities will be six miles or better.
That puts it in the contact condition class.
There'll be no instrument flying.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
The surface winds will be west-northweet, twenty
to thirty miles an hour; and the winds aloft,
from the west and northwest - thirty to sixty
miles an hour. There will be no expectancy of
rain or scattered showere, although the air in
the lower levels will be somewhat turbulent
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
and when you reach New York this evening,
the temperature on the ground will be in the
low sixties.
HMJr:
Well - but it's not instrument flying?
H:
No. No possibility of an instrument flight,
sir.
HMJr:
Is it - and 18 it getting better? The ceiling?
H:
It has improved right along during the day,
sir.
Regraded Unclassified
53
- 2 -
HMJr:
Would you say it's perfectly safe?
H:
It's perfectly safe, yes, sir. I'm willing
to go on record.
HMJr:
(Laughs) All right.
H:
(Laughs)
HMJr:
Thank you.
H:
You're welcome.
HMJr:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
54
October 10, 1941
4:10 p.m.
Senator
Bankhead:
I want to speak to the Secretary.
Operator:
Go ahead.
HMJr:
Go ahead.
B:
Mr. Secretary?
HMJr:
Talking.
B:
A mutual friend has just told me about a
statement in the afternoon paper - one of
the afternoon papers
HMJr:
Yes,
B:
in which it appears that I said that
you were totally depraved.
HMJr:
That's right.
B:
Well, I very greatly regret the publication
of such a statement, because it's totally
wrong and not justifed. I made no such
reference, had no such thought. The only way
I used that expression was in defending
Mr. Henderson.
HMJr:
In doing what?
B:
In defending Mr. Henderson, against this
statement by Ed Smith.
HMJr:
Well, I was terribly shocked; because I've
always thought that while you may not like
me, at least I had your respect.
B:
I don't dislike you, even.
HMJr:
But
B:
I have your - I do respect you. Here's where
it all - here's what I said. Senator Smith
Regraded Unclassified
55
W A.
made some remark about Mr. Henderson, and I
rather liked Mr. Henderson. And I said,
"Well, now, Mr. Henderson 18 not totally
depraved," which was intended to defend him,
you know, as he wasn't all bad; and I don't
know how in the world they soplied it to you.
I dion't say anybody was depraved. I said
that Henderson was not.
4MJr:
of course, what they said was that - where
they cuoted you that I remember was - "not
only 18 Henderson decraved, but Morgenthau much
more so."
E
Well, that's totally wrong. Everybody at that
meeting will, I think, testify to that.
4MJr:
Vell, I appreciate
3:
And I regret it, because those things are dis-
agreeable. I never indulge in personalities,
and I didn't have that sort of feeling about
you.
HMJr:
Well, I appreciate your calling; because it
dic - I was nuite shocked.
B;
Well, you have cause to be. And now if there's
any other correction of it that you'd like to
have made, I'd be very glad to follow any sug-
gestion you make about it: because the report
18 totally unjustified.
H.Jr:
Well, I think if you'd say something for the
press, I think I'd aboreciate it.
in
All right. I'll do that.
HMJr:
If you could give out some
R:
I haven't even seen the baper yet, but I'll
get one and I'll
H Jr:
Vell, it was in this morning's Washington Herald.
8:
ell, I don't read the Herald.
Regraded Unclassified
56
- 3 -
HMJr:
Well, that's where I saw it.
B:
In fact, I didn't read the Post much this
morning because I didn't have time.
HMJr:
Well, it was in the Herald.
B:
In the Herald?
HMJr:
Yeah. I think it would be very nice if you
would say something.
B:
I'll be glad to. It's an injustice to me
whether it is to you or not - it's an in-
justice to me.
HMJr:
Well, coming from you, I was really deeply
shocked; but I'm glad you didn't say it.
B:
No, never said it and never thought it.
HMJr:
And I appreciate your calling me.
B:
All right, sir.
HMJr:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
57
October 10, 1941
4:15 p.m.
Harry
Hopkins:
Henry.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
Well, I want to thank you for the way that
Russian thing came out.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
That's all.
HMJr:
Well, you needn't thank me. I just
H:
Well, it came out - it's a lifesaver for us
today.
HMJr:
Oh, really, Harry?
H:
Oh, yes, because we're getting - we're going
to get a hundred more planes or break a gut
and about fifty more tanks, and about - well,
several thousand trucks some way somehow.
They want them on ships right now.
HMJr:
Well, they want those - they said ten thousand
trucks 18 what they want.
H:
Well, we're going to get them ten; and then
we're just going to tell the Army we want the
next ten thousand trucks.
HMJr:
Wonderful.
H:
And that's all. They've just got to have them.
HMJr:
Well
H:
And that thirty million will just save us.
The Lend-Lease thing in the House, they only
got twenty-four votes in favor of not lending
to Russia.
HMJr:
Wonderful.
Regraded Unclassified
57
October 10, 1941
4:15 p.m.
Harry
Hopkins:
Henry.
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
Well, I want to thank you for the way that
Russian thing came out,
HMJr:
Yes.
H:
That's all.
HMJr:
Well, you needn't thank me. I just.
H:
Well, it came out - it's a lifesaver for us
today.
HMJr:
Oh, really, Harry?
H:
Oh, yes, because we're getting - we're going
to get a hundred more planes or break a gut
and about fifty more tanks, and about - well,
several thousand trucks some way somehow.
They want them on ships right now.
HMJr:
Well, they want those - they said ten thousand
trucks is what they want.
H:
Well, we're going to get them ten; and then
we're just going to tell the Army we want the
next ten thousand trucks.
HMJr:
Wonderful.
H:
And that's all. They've Just got to have them.
HMJr:
Well
H:
And that thirty million will just save us.
The Lend-Lease thing in the House, they only
got twenty-four votes in favor of not lending
to Russia.
HMJr:
Wonderful.
Regraded Unclassified
58
- 2 -
H:
So we got a good record on it.
HMJr:
Wonderful.
H:
All right, Henry.
HMJr:
All right. It was very kind of you to
call me.
H:
All right, old boy.
HMJr:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
M 59
October 10. 1941
w. Bornstein
m. Biotrich
is the August 16 purchase of gold from the Seviet deverament upon which we
advanced $10,000,000 the Federal Reserve Bank of New Teek's credit advise to the
state Task of the 5.8.8.2., Measew, read all fellows: we have credited your
account today $10,000,000 w order of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States."
On August 16 the Federal Receive Bank cost the following cable to the State
Bank of the U.S.S.R.: * have credited your account today $10,000,000 w order
of the Secretary of the Treasury w the United States."
Regraded Unclassified
<
60
- OF COMMERCE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
**
STATES of SERVICE
WASHINGTON
October 10, 1941
My dear Mr. Secretary:
Thank you for sending me a copy of
the record of the conference in Secretary Hull's
office October 7th, together with the account
of your later meetings with the British and
Russian representatives.
Sincerely yours,
June Secretary of Commerce
The Honorable
The Secretary of the Treasury
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
61
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATEOctober 10,1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Kamarck
conject: Conversation with Sir Henry Self, British Air Mission
1.
-18 Jenry stated that the four-motor bomber program was proceed-
in on schedule. From all appearances, the goal of 500 bombers
o month will De met by June, 1943. However, the British are
attemoting, now, to secure acceleration of this program. The
matter is now in the hands of the resident. The allocation
al the bombers will depend upon the Russian negotiations. Sir
Venry has not heard, as yet, about the results of the LOSCOW
conference.
In the course of the conversation, it came out that the weekly
statement we receive on shipment of planes to the British under-
states the actual figures. This is because deliveries to Canada
for use with units in Canada are not included. Airplanes that
7488 directly through Canada on their way to England are inclu-
ded, of course. But when planes are sent to a squadron train-
in in Canada (and the British are training as many squadrons
as possible in Canada), we never receive any information on this,
Later on, when the squadron with its American planes is sent to
in land, likewise no report is made. Sir Henry will have the
statement amended to show in the future all shipments to the
withsh, whatever the destination.
3.
-1> Senry also showed me a statement which he sends to Lubin and
Topeins, which is a more comprehensive statement than the one we
receive. Se volunteered to send a copy of this statement to us
weekly, if you find it of use. The first one will arrive next
week.
enry also have me a statement which is attached, showing
the locations of oceanic flight delivery aircraft. This data
shows that there is no bottleneck in the Air Ferry service. Cut
of die total of 679 airplanes turned over to the British at
Merican factories for delivery by sir since December 1940, on
October T, 502 were already in England or enroute 1458 in England,
- enroute), 25 had reached or were enroute to British Pacific
bases, 67 were in Canada, 74 still in the United States, and 11
had crashed).
Regraded Unclassified
LAGATIONS 00 DLLIVEY
62
1. 3-17C
OFFICE OF D. G.
20 in U.I.
2. B-21's and LIESTATORS
Index 812
(a) & diverted 2-24's off Contract à 5068
OCT 7 1941
6 in service
(v) Liberator I off Contract F-677
19 in U.K.
Subj.
1 at Kansas City
20
(c) Liberator II off Contract 2-677
3 in U.Z.
4 at Control
9 El Detroit
0 on route Detroit
1 st Wright Field
: El N.E.
18 at Altron
2 e., route Alaron
o 2: Long Beach
48
2. 7 LONG RANGE
166 in U.K.
35 at Debert (training)
2 at contraal en route Debert
0 en route Montres] en route Debert
1 en route Detroit on route Debert
S st Dontrosl
3 at Manage City
5 for T.S.A.A.T. Program.
3 Crashed: 1 July 23; 1 My 26; 1 400. 3.
225
4. 570800 III LONG NE
206 in T.K.
2 1° lender
- - on route Cander
7 : controal
20 for U.S.A.A.C. Tenilierization Program,
1 at Cetroit
0 en moute Detroit
2 E: Long Zeach
to Creshed: 1 July 26; 1 any 20; 1 Aug. S; 2 447. 14; 1
2 Sect.27.
247
5.
7E in Table
3 in
1) 14
3 10
and st
Regraded Unclassified
63
Shoot 2.
LOCATIONS F OCEANIC FLIGHT DELIVERY AIRCRAFT
D-17
5-24
Lib.I
Lib.II
Hudson V
Hudson III
Catalina
Total
Location
UNITED KINGDOM
20
6
19
3
166
206
78
498
2
2
lander
En route Lander
1
1
Australia
13
13
En route Australia
3
3
9.
9
Singapore
Dartmouth
9
9
Formitia
1
1
Debert
35
35
fontreal en route Debert
2
2
11 route Detroit en route Debert
1
1
Montreal
4
9
7
20
Detroit
9
1
10
Akron
18
18
In route Akron
2
2
Lright Field
1
1
AV Albuquerque, N. 12.
2
2
sus City
1
3
4
U.S.A.A.C . Familiarization
6
20
26
Long Beach
9
2
11
Crashed
3
8
11
20
6
20
48
225
247
113
679
6.W.Miller
Per B.Z.
C. W. Miller
Director of Planning and Airframe Production
%. Sir Henry Self
A/C Betts
C. R. Fairey
Major Moir
October 7, 1941
Regraded Unclassified
64
Division of Monetary
- 2 -
Research
humary of Locations of Oceanic F11 ht Delivery Aircraft,
october 7, 1941. (Locations of airplanes which the
Br. tish have received from the factory and which
come under the pro ram of delivery by air.
This program began December 1940)
:
:
Location
: Already: Already in : In Canada:
:
: in U.K.: U. Pacific:
or
: In
:
Total
:
or
:
bases or
:
enroute : U. 3::
: enroute: enroute
:
:
:
Doeing 3-17
20
--
--
--
20
Consolidated 3-24
(Diverted from U.S.
Army)
6
--
:
:
6
Consolidated Libera-
tor !
19
:
--
1
20
Consolidated Libera-
tor II
NW
:
4
11
48
Total li-motor bombers
48
:
4
1:2
94
Lockheed Hudson III
209
:
7
23
239*
workheed Hudson V
166
--
47
9
22234
Consolidated Catalina
79
25
9
--
113
Tydo
502
25
67
74
668
0 Not including 8 crashed.
5.32 Not including 3 crashed.
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
65
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 10,1941
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
Mr. Kamarck
FROM
Subject: Airplane Deliveries to the British (not including
deliveries to forces in Canada).
Summary
1. A total of 61 planes shipped 18 reported in the latest
statement received, 51 to the United Kingdom, 4 to the Middle
East, and 6 to the Far East.
2. The first shipment of the two planes of the lateat
Curtise-Wright fighter, the Kittyhawk, 1s reported in this
statement. The Kittyhawk is our P-46, having the same Allieon
engine 8.8 the Bell Airacobra.
3. It will be noted that Boeing delivered three Boston
III's to the British. These planes, which are used by the
British as bombers or as "Havoc" night fighters are, of course,
Douglas models. Since Douglas could not meet the British
demand, a part of the order was assigned to Boeing.
Regraded Unclassified
66
Division of Monetary
- 2 -
Research
Airplane Shipments to the British
(From February 1 to October 4 by air
January 1) to September 13 by sea)
Table A. - Shipmente by Area
Total
Latest
Reported
Week
To Date
To the United Kingdom
Light and medium bombers
33
948
Heavy bombers
2
46
Navel patrol bombers
0
73
Pursuit
16
83
Total to United Kingdom
51
1,150
To the Middle East
Light and medium bombers
4
206
Pursuit
0
516
Total to Middle East
4
722
To the Far East
Light and medium bombers
6
24
Naval patrol bombers
0
9
Pursuit
0
145
Trainers
0
55
Total to Far East
6
233
Totals
Light and medium bombers
43
1,178
Heavy bombers
2
46
Naval patrol bombers
0
82
Pursuit
16
744
Trainers
0
55
Grand Total
61
2,105
Regraded Unclassified
66
Division of Monetary
- 2 -
Research
Airplane Shipments to the British
(From February 1 to October 4 by air
January 11 to September 13 by sea)
Table A. - Shipments by Area
Total
Latest
Reported
Week
To Date
To the United Kingdom
Light and medium bombers
33
948
Heavy bombers
2
46
Naval patrol bombers
o
73
Pursuit
16
83
Total to United Kingdom
51
1,150
To the Middle East
Light and medium bombers
4
206
Pursuit
o
516
Total to Middle East
4
722
To the Far East
Light and medium bombers
6
24
Naval patrol bombers
o
9
Pursuit
o
145
Trainers
o
55
Total to Far East
6
233
Totals
Light and medium bombers
43
1,178
Heavy bombers
2
46
Naval patrol bombers
o
82
Pursuit
16
744
Trainers
o
55
Grand Total
61
2,105
Regraded Unclassified
67
Division of Monetary
- 3 -
Research
Table B. - Shipments by Types
Total
Latest
Reported
Week
To Date
Bell Airacobra (P-39)
14
72
Boeing B-17
o
21
Boston III
3
3
Brewster Buffalo
0
145
Consolidated Catalina
0
82
Liberator
o
22
Liberator II
2
3
Curties Kittyhawk
2
2
Tomahawk
o
516
Douglas Boston I
o
1
Boston II
o
72
Boston III
12
252
Glenn Martin Maryland
o
150
Baltimore
1
2
Grumman Martlet II
o
9
Lockheed Hudson I
o
1
Hudson III
27
284
Hudson IV
o
18
Hudson V
o
344
North American Harvard II
o
55
United Chesapeake
o
51
Grand Total-All Types
61
2,105
Regraded Unclassified
Division of Monetary
68
- 4 -
Research
Table c. - Plane Deliveries to the British by Weeks
Light
Naval
and Medium
Heavy
Patrol
Week
Bombers
Bombers
Bombers
Pursuit
Trainers
Total
Ended
Feb.8*
22
-
3
-
-
25
39
-
-
100
-
Feb.15*
139
Feb.22*
35
-
-
27
-
62
Mar.1*
7
-
5
25
-
37
Mar.8*
16
-
3
10
-
29
Mar.15*
26
1
4
-
-
31
Mar.22*
17
-
2
22
-
41
Mar.29*
25
-
3
18
-
46
Apr.5*
21
-
7
73
-
101
Apr.12*
21
2
2
27
-
52
Apr.19*
20
3
4
5
-
32
Apr.26*
23
2
NW
3
-
28
56
May 3*
61
1
2
15
27
106
May 10*
36
1
8
10
-
55
May 17*
61
13
7
19
-
100
May 25#
30
10
-
25
-
65
June 1*
28
5
5
21
-
59
June 8*
37
2
7
-
-
46
June 15*
26
1
4
20
-
51
June 22*
28
-
4
52
-
84
June 29*
45
-
1
50
-
96
July 6*
19
-
3
20
-
42
July 13*
34
-
3
48
-
85
July 20*
41
-
1
32
-
74
July 27*
45
-
-
24
-
60
Aug.3*
45
-
-
11
-
56
Aug,10*
53
1
-
15
-
69
Aug.17*
49
-
-
12
-
61
Aug.24*
36
1
-
11
-
48
Aug.30*
44
-
-
5
-
49
Sept.6*
29
-
1
4
-
34
Sept.13*
34
-
-
17
-
51
Sept.20*
45
-
-
7
-
52
Sept.27*
37
1
I
3
-
41
Oct.4*
43
2
-
16
-
61
1,178
46
82
744
55
# The date given is for shipments by air. Shipments by water start
three weeks earlier. That is, the statement reporting the shipment
of planes by air for the week ending October 4 would report the ship-
ment of planes by water for the week ending September 13.
Regraded Unclassified
POSTAL SAVINGS STAMPS
CONFIDENTIAL
Estimated Total Value and Number of Units Sold,
by Denominations, During May, June, July, August, and September, 1941
(All figures in thousands)
:
2
Number of Unite by Denominations
Denomination
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
May
June
:
:
July
August
September
Total
:
:
#
$ .10
2,536
1,594
1,625
2,666
3,951
12,370
.25
5,364
5,728
7,341
10,131
11,840
40,404
.50
1,213
875
1,038
1,221
1,264
5,611
1.00
698
468
533
765
659
3,123
5.00
115
61
48
56
66
346
Total
9,926
8,725
10,584
14,838
17,780
- 61,855
Total Value
$3,475
$2,802
$3,288
$4.454
$4,978
$18,998
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, Division of Research and Statistics.
October 10, 1941.
Source: Division of Postal Savings, Post Office Department.
Note: Figures have been rounded to nearest thousand and will not necessarily add to totals. For the
same reason, the sum of units times denominations does not necessarily agree emotly with
total value.
69
Regraded Unclassifi
70
October 10, 1941
To:
HAROLD N. GRAVES
Subject: PROGRESS REPORT FROM DEFENSE SAVINGS STAFF
SALE CF BONDS
Actual cash receipts fr m the sale of E, F and G
Bonds from October 1 through October 8 were $82,410,000,
which is an increase of 8.5 per cent over the same period
in September. Sales from September 1 through September 9
were $73,903,000. Sales from August 1 through August 8 were
$95,903,000.
The trend of sales of E Bonds this year follows closely
that of Series D Bond sales for the same period of 1940.
Sele of E Bonds has remained at a consistent level above that
of D Sonds. (See graph attached)
DIRECT MAIL
Returns from the Industrial mailing for 29 days show 679
orders of $2,285,748. The Customer Mailing in 19 days has
brought in 2269 orders of $1,088,331. Approximately 55 per
sent of these orders are on the regular purchase plen.
FIELD OFFICE
There are ten men in the field, two of them devoting full
Regraded Unclassified
71
- 2 -
time to payroll allotment, and the other eight giving 8
substantial part of their time to this work, in addition to
the handling of assignments in connection with the organization
of local committees. Arrangements have been made with the
Civil Service Commission for temporary appointment of labor
representatives to work on payroll allotment in large Michigan
factories.
Six new field representatives are in training.
The status of the State organizations as of this date is
shown by the attached map.
TREASURY HOUSE
Boston Treasury House closed October 5.
Total sales of Bonds and Stamps were $46,293.95. Number
of stamps sold, 53,094; albums 5,635.
ANY BONDS TODAY
The Charlton Publishing Corporation is printing the words
in their "Big Song Magazine" and "Song Master" which have a
circulation of 600,000 copies a month. Music Corporation of
Americe is sending orchestrations to all their 300 orchestras.
"AMERICA PREFERRED"
The Secret Service is showing 50 prints of the film along
with their reel "Know Your Money". Originally only 10 prints
were re uested.
Regraded Unclassified
- 3 -
72
TREASURY BOOTHS
Garfinkle's booth opened October 3, and to date has sold
$123.35 in Stamps and three $18.75 Bonds. Woodward & Lothrop's
booth opened October 6th, and has sold a total of $1,127.38 in
Stamps and Bonds.
BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS
Work has been completed on the first four of a series
of supplements to be submitted for use in 525 business
publications-an estimated total circulation of 7,000,000,
through the cooperation of advertisers and publishers. These
publications reach owners and managers of firms, corporation
officers, superintendents, etc., representing the executive
force of American business. The supplements are designed
to be carried as center spreads in these magazines, and they
are keyed to the particular business or industrial groups
to which they are directed.
Material also is being produced for a selected list of
350 leading house organs and company magazines.
RADIO
The number of radio announcements broadcast to date ac-
cording to reports received is 425,000.
The Treasury's three programs, one on each of the nationwide
networks, reach a total estimated combined audience of 9 million
& week. A professional radio survey by Hooper rates "Millions
For Defense" in first place among all programs.
Regraded Unclassified
- 4
73
Sixty-two sponsors (92 per cent of the total) include an-
nouncements on an average of eight broadcasts a day -- 264
anouncements per month on 100 programs. Nineteen sponsored pro-
crams have been turned over complete, with Bond announcements
replacing the commercial copy, end the entertainment arranged
along patriotic lines. Eight weekly commercial programs featuring
contests give Bonds or Stamps 88 prizes.
Reports show Treasury announcements featuring the Army
have Deen broadcest 125,000 times; Navy, 55,503 times; Marine
Corps, 35,551 times.
PRESS
To stimulate the printing in newspapers of reminders to
buy Bonds a reproduction proof of the Minute Man poster (copy
attached) together with informative literature was mailed this
week as follows: Editors of daily papers, editorial cartoonists,
syndicate comic artists and authors of miscellaneous syndicate
features. This was & follow-up in the case of the cartoonists
and comic artists, who already are cooperating generously.
Similar material also was sent to the athletic directors of 600
colleges with the suggestion that the Program be promoted in
score cards.
A release on what Negro organizations are doing was sent
to all Negro publications, in line with the effort to provide
these papers continuously with information of special interest
to their readers. These papers also received small mats of the
-inute Man poster for Use as editorial "ears", literature and e
letter,
Regraded Unclassified
- 5 -
74
At the request of the Department of Justice, 42 foreign
language newspapers have been removed from our mailing list.
The Department pointed out that these newspapers were pro-
Nazi, pro-Fascist or anti-democratic, and suggested that
furnishing Treasury Department material to them might seem to
indicate Treasury approval of the publications.
Regraded Unclassified
As of Cutober 10th, 1941
5 =
/
/
21
I
MORTH FAROTA
MINNESOTA
IDAHO
A
WISCONSIN
SOUTH DAKOTA
WYOMING
MICHIGAN
Milk
I
IOWA
ITAM
NEBRASKA
PENNSTLVANIA
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWID
MD.
male CASH a INDIRANCE
KENTUCKY
- CAROLIMA
OKLEHOMA
1
TEXAS
LOOSE LEAF OUTLINE M&P
30UTA CREDITIONS
ALABAMA
MISSISSIPPI
LOUITIANA
PUBLICA
KEY:
State end Local Committees Organized
State Comm ittèes organized
Administratore and/or Chairmon Appointed
Not started
101 ao
Saible nation
o so red
100
100
400
500 NICES
Regraded Unclassified
FOR DEFENSE
AND STAMPS
BONDS
SAVINGS
STATES
UNITED
BUY
DEFENSE 3
FORDEFENSE
BUY
UNITED
STATES
BUY
SAVINGS
AND STAMPS
SUNOR
SUNIAYS
STATES
UNITED
FORDEFENSE
BONDS
UNITED
AND STAMPS
BUY
STATES
SAVINGS
BONDS
BUY
AND STAMPS
Treasury Department Washington, D
from Press Section-Defense Savings Staff
REPRODUCTION PROOF-
AND STAMPS
BONDS
SAVINGS
STATES
UNITED
BUY
FORDEFENSE
For making cuts, stereos, electros-la be used
as front page editorial ears
in mastheads, advertisements
os decorations in stories
C.
as run of paper illustration
For pasting in on drawings of cortoons, comics, panels.
Regraded Unclassified
ales of E Bonds 1941 Compared with Sales of D Bonds for Same Period 1940
LUONS
OF
LLARS
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
"
15
10
5
SERIES E 1941 MAY 2-3
WHE-30 JULY
WLY28 AVG
SEPT
JUNE
5-10
14-19
21-26
AUG-2
4-9
1H6
18-23
25.50
1-6
843
15-20
22-27
12-17
19-24-
26-51
2-7
9-14
16-21
2428
JULY-5
1-12
SERIES D 1940 MAY 3-4
JULY
JULY-29 JULY
SEPT
MAY-27 JUNE
15-18
20-15
JUNE-1
3-8
10-15
17-22
1-6
лис-3
5-10
12+7
19-24
26-31
2-7
9-14
16-21
21-28
Regraded Unclassified
6-11
24.29
8-13
15-20
22:27
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
78
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 10, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Kuhn
This is just 8 reminder that Werner Josten
will be on the America Preferred program over
station WOR and the Mutual network from 9:15
to 9:45 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday).
Mr. Josten will play the solo part in his
own composition "The Miracle" from the concerto
Sacro. He will also say a few words about Defense
Bonds and Stamps.
The program will also include Beethoven's
Prometheus Overture and Suzanne Sten, Viennese
soprano, singing songs by Korngold and Richard Strauss.
Э.к.
Regraded Unclassified
79
OCT 10 1941
A dear Mr. Dunn:
1 have your letter of October 1, 1941, regarding importations
as Miami of clothing and other articles to be cleaned or regaired
for due Duka and Duchose of Windsor.
This matter has been previously considered by the Bureau of
Customs or this Department. Under our customs laws, the cleaner
or repairman must be regarded as the importer and it 1s therefore
not possible to grant any exemptions from usual compliance with
the oustoms laws and regulations, which impose no duty on such
shipments but require that they be entered under bond to secure
their exportation within six months, which period may be extended
(or one additional period of six months.
If the Duke desires to arrange that all shipments be sent to
a single importer who would arrange for their entry and exports-
tion, such importer could give of term bond to cover all shipmente
within B. period of one year and thus reduce materially the cost
of premiums on the bonds. If such an arrangement is desired and
the Commissioner of Custome is so advised, he will be glad to
issue appropriate instructions.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) I. Morgenthau. Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury.
ar. James Clement Dunn,
Adviser on Political Relations,
Department of State,
Washington, D. C.
ww-eat 10-7-41
By Meesenger Summer
File to Mr.
3.40pm you
cc-n-m.c
Regraded Unclassified
*DVISERION POLITICAL RELATIONS
DEPARTMENT or STATE
WASHINGTON
October 1, 1941
My dear Mr. Secretary:
The other evening, at the British Embassy,
the Duke of Windsor told me there was a matter
he wanted very much to lay before you and rather
than talk to you about it at the Embassy, he
asked me if I would convey the messare to you.
It appears that the Duke and the Duchess
find it necessary, because of complete absence
of facilities in Nassau, to send their clothes
to Miami for cleaning and to send such articles
as shoes also to Miami for such repairs as might
be needed. He snoke of the necessity of sending
a pair of glasses, which had been broken, to
Miami for repair. Apparently at the present
time, as there 18 no provision otherwise, it is
necessary for these articles to be entered at
the Customs in bond, thus requiring a rather
large outlay in proportion to the actual value
of the repairs or the cleaning to be done, and
the Duke said that the refunding of these small
individual bonds was so much delayed that it
finally accumulated into rather a large outlay.
He said that unon his visits to the United States
the most extensive courtesies had been granted
him and the Duchess when they arrived in or de-
parted from an American port and he understood
The Honorable
Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Regraded Unclassified
that these were the courtesies usually granted
to governors of British West Indies and similar
British officials.
The Duke asked whether it would be possible
to have some arrangement made by which his ship-
ments for repairs and cleaning, as above, could
be directed to gome particular official who could
perhaps verify the nature of the shipments and
permit the articles to be delivered to their
destination after notation had been made of their
entry, but without payment of bond or any other
duty. He said frankly that he was very desirous
of having an arrangement of this kind made, if it
could possibly be done, on the basis of the ex-
tension of the usual courtesies to him in his of-
ficial position.
I feel, and I think you probably will agree,
thet anything which might properly be done along
these lines would serve to accentuate the courte-
sies and cooperation we show to governors of these
British colonies, particularly those in which we
are building bases for the use of our army and
naval forces.
I shall be very glad to transmit any reply
you might wish to make to this recuest, or it
may be that you will prefer to have the matter
dealt with by your own officials directly with
the British Embassy here or the Duke at Nassau.
Very sincerely yours,
James Clement Dunn
Adviser on Political Relations
82
OCT 10 1941
Dear Mr. Chairman:
I refer to your letter of September 20, 1941,
enclosing & draft of a proposed bill to amend seo-
tion 606 of the Communications Act of 1934 and
requesting the comments and recommendations of this
Department on this proposed legislation. The bill
would widely extend the powers of the President
during wartine or emergency with respect to the
closing, supervision and taking over of radio and
wire communication facilities.
After careful consideration of the provisions
of the bill, it is the opinion of this Department
that the bill embodies constructive changes in 62-
isting law, and I as glad to advise you, therefore,
that, with one suggested deletion, it has our appro-
val.
The Treasury recommends the elimination of the
last phrase of subsection (a)s beginning at the bet-
tom of page 4 and reading as follows:
Regraded Unclassified
83
a 6 I
"but, in time of war or imminence of war,
the President may authorise the exercise
of the power or authority conferred by
paragraph (4) of this subsection only by
the Secretaries of War and the Havy, act-
ing jointly or severally.
The effect of this provision in its present form is to
require the President in time of war or imminence of
war to exercise his power to requisition and take ever
radio or wire communication stations or facilities
only through the Secretary of War or the Secretary
of the Havy, or both. While it may be true that the
President would ordinarily wish to exercise this
power at such times through the Army or Navy, it
would seen to be quite possible that there might be
valid reasons for his desiring to exercise the power
in particular instances through other agencies. In
any event, the Treasury can ⑉ no necessity for in-
posing this mandatory restriction on the President's
delegating diseretion. we believe it proferable
that the President should be permitted, in his sound
judgment, to decide which of his suberdinates should
exercise the power on his behalf, in the light of
the particular circumstances in each case.
Regraded Unclassified
84
- 3 -
You have also requested the recommendations of
this Department with respect to a provision which the
Board is considering including in the bill which would
have the effect of ordering any or all persons engaged
in the wire or radio communications industry, includ-
ing manufacturing, to exclude from their premises
containing communications equipment or facilities,
any or all foreigners or any or all representatives
of foreign governments, persons, associations or cor-
porations. I think that such a provision would be a
desirable one. I believe, however, that it should be
sufficiently flexible so that exceptions could be
made administratively from its prohibitions where
this would be in the best interests of the United
States.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) 1. Morgenthaw. 39.
Secretary of the Treasury.
Honorable James Lawrence Fly
Chairman, Defense Communications Board,
Washington, D. C.
File to Mr. Thompson
By Messenger 10:45 Blackines
SJS:mfw
11/06/6
Miss characy
Regraded Unclassified
treasury DEPARTMENT
85
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 10, 1941
TO Ferdinand Kuhn, Jr.
FROM Alan Barth
EDITORIAL OPINION
ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
ENTRENCHED ATTITUDES
Repeal
Press response to the President's message to Congress had
been foreshadowed in the past fortnight's editorials urging
Neutrality revision or repeal. An overwhelming majority of the
country's newspapers applauded the action. Some strongly inter-
ventionist editorials expressed regret that Mr. Roosevelt had
not sought complete repeal; even these, however, acknowledged
that the temperance of his recommendation may have been the part
of political wisdom. It is generally assumed that steps will
soon be initiated to remove other inhibiting features of the Act.
Anxiety
The latest German offensive on the Eastern front has re-
kindled the editorial sense of danger. In their appraisals of
the situation, commentators are inclined to be guardedly bearish
about Russian chances. They warn their readers that the fall of
Moscow need not mean the end of Soviet resistance. They dwell
comfortingly on the approach of winter and on the cost of the
Regraded Unclassified
- 2 -
86
attack in Nazi casualties. They recall hopefully that entrapped
Red armies have been extricated before and may be extricated again.
But through much of the current comment there appears & feeling
of desperation, if not of defeatism. Editorial writers are aware
that armies cannot retreat forever; they recognize that the tide
must be turned or it will overwhelm. And they know that the
stakes for which this battle is being fought are incalculably
high.
Under these conditions, the editorial writers do not much
care whether the Russians are Mohammedans, Sun Worshippers or
Headhunters. The Boston Herald expresses the prevailing senti-
ment of the press in an editorial in which it describes the
present fighting on the Eastern front as "one of the decisive
battles of the world." It says bluntly: "In this moment, when
world power hangs in the balance, the British and American people
must give unmistakable evidence to Russia that they regard her
battle as theirs."
There is a pervading fear that this evidence will not be
forthcoming - or that it will be "too little and too late."
The press, at least, seems prepared to support almost any Ad-
ministration measures, however drastic, which will afford mean-
ingful assistance to the Soviet Union at once.
Regraded Unclassified
- 8 -
87
State of Mind
Editorial opinion on foreign affairs appears to have
moved over from the dynamic to the static stage. It is no
longer, to more than & minor degree, in the process of forma-
tion; and it is doubtful that it is any longer subject to change,
save under the impact of 8. sudden and radical alteration in the
nature of the international situation.
Hitherto there have been significant shifts in editorial
thinking. Enactment of the Lend-Lease Law brought about the
conversion of a number of newspapers which had opposed it on
constitutional grounds during the period when it was under de-
bate. The President's declaration of a state of unlimited na-
tional emergency produced another important reorientation in
the positions of certain newspapers which at this point felt
impelled to encourage national unity. A final major culling
of the opposition press occurred immediately after the Lindbergh
speech at Des Moines. Some papers shifted ground because of a
genuine repugnance for the dangerous channels into which Lindbergh
was directing the isolationist campaign; others, perhaps, grasped
Lindbergh's anti-Semitism as a convenient pretext for abandoning
a position which had become generally untenable. During the
progress of the past half-year's debate on national policy, the
Regraded Unclassified
- 4 -
88
press as a whole has been moved by the logic of events abroad
and, perhaps also, by the pressure of public opinion at home
toward & steadily increasing interventionism. Indeed, it may
be said today without qualification that there is no section
of the country in which the majority of editorial opinion does
not demand a policy of positive and active resistance to Hitlerism.
It now seems likely, however, that the isolationist minority
has been whittled down to its irreducible minimum. Newspapers
such as The Chicago Tribune and The New York Daily News have
become 80 bitterly entrenched in their attitudes that they can
pursue no course other than to dig themselves in still more
deeply.
Gallup polls, together with more detailed analyses of public
opinion made by Hadley Cantril of Princeton University, Director
of the Office of Public Opinion Research, indicate clearly that
there exists an isolationist core -- about 20 percent of the
public whose isolátionism is 80 deeply rooted in emotion as
to be beyond conversion. It appears equally unlikely that this
minority is subject to further reduction -- at least on the basis
of any intellectual appeal.
The debate on foreign policy 8.8 it is now conducted in the
nation's editorial pages is of a nature calculated only to
exacerbate feelings already painfully inflamed. It is no longer
Regraded Unclassified
- 5 -
89
of 8 nature to persuade. Press and public alike have made up
their minds. They feel that they are confronted with 8. forced
option -- one in which inaction will be as decisive for their
future as action. They no longer want to argue. They want to
move -- affirmatively toward the determination of their own
destinies.
Regraded Unclassified
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON
E )
October 10, 1941
The Honorable
The Secretary of the Treasury
Dear Mr. Secratary
at Secretary Wickard's suggestion I am sending you a copy of a
bulletin which has just been released by this office entitled
"Farmers, Farm Prices, and Inflation." This is an attempt to show
farmers their long-time interest in price stability and to get
them back of the present efforts to pass effective price control
measures. Material in this pamphlet was presented to a conference
of farm organization leaders with the Secretary this summer and
aroused great interest on their part at the time. It may have had
something to do with crystallising the position of the Farm Bureau
and other agencies in support of the pending price control bill.
Copies of this pamphlet are being distributed broadly to county
agents, county committee chairmen, and other local leaders through-
out the country. Approximately 7000 have been sent out already to
such key people.
Ae you know, the Department is attempting to bring about an increased
production of those farm products where more is needed, to curb
further increases in farm prices by providing larger supplies. We
are somewhat encouraged by the fact that prices of many major farm
products have now been stable for nearly a month. We hope this
stability can be maintained as the seasonal increases in supplies of
hoga and other livestock products begin to come on the market and
while the new crop of cottonseed oil, cotton, and other products
begins to move in processing channels.
With best personal regards, I an
Sincerely yours,
Mordican Ezabal
Mordecai Exckiel
Economic Adviser
Office of the Secretary
Enclosure
Regraded Unclassified
91
FARMERS, FARM PRICES, AND INFLATION
Contents
Page
Foreword by the Secretary
2-3
1. Demands are rising
4-5
2. Farm prices have berm relatively low for
20 years
6-7
3. Farm incomes have been better than farm prices,
but still have been low
B-9
4. Price movements in World War I and World War II
10-15
General price movements
10-11
Food prices
12-13
Industrial prices
14-15
5. Farm and factory production have both increased
16-17
6. Dangers ahead for farmers
18-19
7. What price deflation following the World War I
inflation cost farmers
20-21
8. Land costs
22-23
9. Marketing costs
24-25
10. What can farmers do to help prevent inflation and
deflation headaches
27
Department of Agriculture
Office of the Secretary
September 1941
Regraded Unclassified
(2)
Foreword by the Secretary
Almost every farmer operating today has suffered from the price
and income chills (called deflation by the economists) that lasted from
1920 to 1940. Every farmer of middle age or older remembers the price
and income fever (called inflation by the economists) that lasted for
five brief years during the World War I period--from 1916 to 1920.
Farmers don't care for any more of that price malaria, thank you,
The chills last too long and hurt too much.
The fever. or inflation, stage of another attack is threatening
to attack us. President Roosevelt outlined the symptoms and pictured the
effects of this disease in his special message to Congress of July 30.
He recalled the lesson of the World War I inflation and the postwar
deflation, and reminded the nation that the way to avoid deflation 10
to stay away from inflation.
Of course, no one group in the population can stop inflation.
Not farmers, nor investors, manufacturers, workers, professional men and
women. It will take the effort of all the American people working to-
gether to stop deflation by stopping inflation.
Last month, speaking at Athens, Georgia, before a gathering of
farm people, I said this about the stake farmers have in preventing
deflation:
Farmers don't want inflation. It's a bubble and like
all bubbles--it bursts. Yet farmers wouldn't be human if
they didn't get excited when farm prices begin to move up.
Prices for most of their products have been low for a long
time and the upward movement is like a good rain at the end
of a prolonged drought. There are some who think agriculture
should charge all the traffic will bear; get while the getting
is good, with the hope that somehow the aftermath can be avoided.
Regraded Unclassified
92
(3)
But I know that farmers BS & group oppose inflated
prices. They want fAir prices nov. They want fair prices
after the war. So long 8.9 the parity principle 18 operating
effectively, farmers are protected since parity prices are
flexible and rise as other prices rise. The danger is that
other prices will go up 80 fast that farmers will not got
parity, or that prices in general will get too high.
Therefore farmers vill support any sound program that
promises to curb speculation and runaway prices.
Farmers are attempting to prevent inflated farm prices
by producing abundantly. If there is abundance, there will be
little need for price ceilings and rationing. Today farmers
are using the farm programs to produce more, just as they
used the programs in past years to adjust burdensome surpluses.
But if production isn't abundant enough to do the job,
and stopping inflation calle for putting a ceiling on prices
or for price-fixing in some cases, why farmers are for that
too. The time to stop uncontrolled inflation is before it
gets too far along.
For several months B. group of Department of Agriculture economiste
has been analyzing the effects on farm people of the deflation following
the inflation of World War I, keeping track of where farming and industry
stand at present with regard to the forces that make for inflation, and
giving me their judgments on the action that farm people as a group and
farmers individually need to take in order to avoid this time the disaster
that followed World War inflation.
The results of these studies were presented to 8. group of farm
leaders who met in my office recently. These men asked for copies of the
charts and the discussion. They were supplied. Some of the farm leaders
then suggested that these materials be made available to & larger group
of people, and I asked our economists to bring the charts up to date and
summarize their comments. They are presented here for the information of
all interested in farm welfare and the welfare of the nation.
Claude R. Wickard
Secretary of Agriculture
Regraded Unclassified
(4)
DEMANDS ARE RISING
For twenty years farmers have been wrestling with farm sur-
pluses. Their main worry about prices of farm products has been
over how to get them up to a level where they could pay their bills
and take decent care of their families and their farms.
Today farmers face a changing situation. Defense employment
is giving new jobs or better jobs to millions of people who haven't
been able to feed or clothe their families properly. With more money
to spend, they are ready to buy more food and clothing. At the
same time, British needs and lease-lend funds are causing an ever-
widening flow of food to England. For many farm products the problem
is becoming one, not of prices, but of expanding our farm output
rapidly enough to meet these rising demands. Only in cotton and wheat
are total markets still narrow and supplies still heavy. In almost
all other lines, the problem is no longer one of maintaining prices,
but of expanding farm output as rapidly as the slow turn of the
seasons and of breeding and feeding periods makes possible.
With the shift in emphasis from surpluses to scarcity. farmers
face a new price problem. Higher prices mean more farm income.
Continuously rising prices, though, may mean a new cycle of inflation
and deflation, with new hardships as B. result. (Note Figure 1.)
Farmers need the price facts before them if they are to think straight
on these new price problems.
Regraded Unclassified
93
5
PRICES RECEIVED BY FARMERS
WORLD WARS I AND II
PERCENT
(1910-14-100)
WHOA!!
SCREEN
240
ONION! WRONG ROAD
220
200
WHEE!!
180
WHAM!!!
160
WORLD
WAR I
140
120
WORLD
WAR II
100
80
1914
1915
1916
1917
1916
1919
1920
1921
1922
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NA 30388
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE I
Regraded Inclassified
(6)
FARI: PRICES HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY LOW FOR 20 YEARS
After farm prices smashed in 1920, they never recovered fully
again. They went down lower than the prices of other products, and
then they stayed lower almost ever since. This is shown in Figure 2
This figure compares (1) prices of things farmers buy with the prices
of things they sell (upper section): (2) wholesale prices of farm
products with wholesale prices of all other products (middle section);
(3) prices of food at retail with the retail costs of all the things
city workers buy, as shown in the cost-of-living index (lower section).
Each comparison is based on the average relation before World War I.
On all three markets, farm, wholesale, and retail, farm products
have stayed relatively cheap most of the time since 1920. The rapid
up-surge in prices during 1941, however, has now wiped out most of
this disparity.
Regraded Unclassified
FIGURE 2. - FARM PRICES COMPARED TO OTHER PRICES
(ANNUAL, 1910-38, MONTHLY, JANUARY 1939-JULY 1941,
WEEKLY SINCE APRIL 1941, WHERE AVAILABLE)
INDEXES
(PRE-WAR
A. PRICES AT
BASIS)
FARM
Prices paid by farmers
(1910-14:100)
FARMERS'
150
DISADVANTAGE
FARMERS'
ADVANTAGE
100
Prices received by farmers
B. PRICES AT
200
Nonagricultural
WHOLESALE
products
(1910-14=100)
7
150
100
Farm products
C. PRICES AT
200
Food
RETAIL
(1913:100)
Total cost of living
150
100
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39317 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 2
94
Regraded Unclassifi
(8)
FARM INCOMES HAVE BEEU BETTER THAN FAR!
PRICES, BUT STILL HAVE BEEN LOW
Income depends not only on prices per unit but on how much you sell.
Both in city and in country. efficiency has been steadily rising, 80 that
there has been more to sell from each hour's or each day's work. As a
result of each farmer, on the average. producing and selling more now than
in earlier years, farm incomes have been somewhat higher than have farm
prices. Figure 3 takes these amounts sold into account as well as prices
received, It also takes into account the number of people living on farms
and in cities, by dividing the total income received by the number of people
who have to live on that income. This gives the index of farm income per
capita, shown as the solid line on the chart.
Pay per worker has been rising for city workers too, reflecting in
part the increasing production per hour with technological improvements in
industry. Because of decreasing hours per week, city incomes have not gone
up quite as much as have industrial wages (wage changes are shown later, on
page 21). When the total income of all city workers is divided by the number
of non-farm people dependent on that income, that gives the index of non-farm
income per capita. This is shown as the dotted line on the chart.
Both indexes are shown in comparison with their levels in the five
years before the first World War, 1910-14. In comparison with that prewar
situation, per-capita farm incomes have been relatively lower than per-capita
city incomes ever since 1920. The gap has been narrowing since 1932, however.
When the data for 1941 become available (not yet shown on the chart). most
of this gap will have been wiped out.
(The Bureau of Agricultural Economics is now preparing a thorough revision
of its data on fam and non-farm incomes. These revisions will soon be
published, It is not expected, however, that the revisions will change
materially the general picture of the situation as described above.)
Regraded Unclassified
9
95
FIGURE 3.-FARM INCOME, PER CAPITA, compared
WITH NONFARM INCOME, PER CAPITA
INDEXES
A. PRE-WAR BASIS
(1910-14-100)
250
Nonfarm income per capita
200
150
100
Farm income per capita
50
B. POST-WAR BASIS
(1926-100)
150
Farm
income per capita
100
50
Nonfarm income per capita
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG.
39314
SUREAD OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 3
(10)
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II
Price movements since the beginning of World War II may well be
compared with those in World War I. Figure 4 shows the recent price move-
ments compared with those 25 years ago, 1939 is matched with 1914, 1940
with 1915, etc. Prices in this war are shown by solid lines, in the last
war by dotted lines. The prices in the last war are readjusted to put their
level in 1914 on the same level as prices in the present war were in 1939.
The upper section of the chart shows the movements in wholesale
prices of all commodities combined. After an initial boost at the outbreak
of war, the wholesale price level sagged off for about a year thereafter in
both ware, and then started a steady upward movement. The advance was much
less rapid this time, however, until about April 1941. Since then the
general wholesale price level has tilted up just as steeply as in World War I,
Prices of nonagricultural products are shown in the central portion of
the chart. They behaved very differently in the beginning of the two periods.
In the last var they advanced much more sharply in the second year than in
this war, and more sharply than the general price average. During recent
months, however. the price advances have been spreading out into industrial
products as well 88 in agricultural, and the average prices of nonagricultural
products have shown more increase. To date in this war, they have advanced
only 11 points, as compared to about 26 points in the same period 25 years ago.
The lower section of Figure 4 shows wholesale prices of farm products.
Starting at a relatively low point in World War II, they have advanced much
more rapidly than in World War I. The advance since April 1941 is much
larger than the entire war advance before that time. Even so, farm products,
at 89 percent of 1926, are still not as high as nonagricultural products,
which were at 91 percent of 1926 in the latest week (Sept. 6, 1941). In
recent months prices of both farm and non-farm products have been rising at
the most rapid rate since the first upsurge after the war began.
Regraded Unclassified
96
-11-
FIGURE 4.- - WHOLESALE PRICES OF ALL
COMMODITIES, NONAGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS, AND FARM PRODUCTS DURING
TWO WAR PERIODS, MONTHLY, AND
WEEKLY SINCE APRIL 1941
( PRESENT WAR, 1926:100 ) ( WORLD WAR, 1914:1939 AV.)
INDEX
ALL COMMODITIES
90
World war
Present war
80
70
110
NONAGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
100
90
80
$
70
80
FARM PRODUCTS
70
60
JAN. APR. JULY OCT. JAN. APR. JULY OCT. JAN. APR. JULY OCT.
1939 AND
1940 AND
1941 AND
1914
1915
1916
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39256 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 4
Regraded Unclassified
(12)
FOOD PRICES
Food prices in this war to date have behaved much like those
of World War I. This is clear from Figure 5, which compares price
changes in the two wars in the same way as Figure 4. Movements in
wholesale prices of food are shown in the top section. Wholesale food
prices in the two wars have followed each other remarkably closely,
except for the more rapid advance this time in recent months. The same
is generally true of retail food prices, as shown in the central
section of the figure. Despite the advance in retail food prices,
however, the general cost of living (shown in the lower section)
advanced relatively slowly until recently. Almost all of the advances
in retail food prices and in costs of living have come since March 1941.
Food is up almost 10 percent, and living costs up 5 since March (up to
September 1941.) Even with this increase, food is still the cheapest
component of the cost of living, standing at 82.2 percent of the
1924-29 average. as compared with 85.5 percent for all living costs
combined.
Regraded Unclassified
97
13
FIGURE 5:
PRICES OF FOOD AT WHOLESALE AND
RETAIL AND COSTS OF LIVING,
DURING TWO WAR PERIODS
INDEX
WHOLESALE PRICES OF FOOD
( PRESENT WAR, 1926*100)
( WORLD WAR, 1914:1939 AV.)
80
World war
70
Present war
60
90
RETAIL PRICES or FOOD
( PRESENT WAR, 1924-29=100 )
( WORLD WAR, 1914:1939 AV. )
80
70
60
90
COST OF LIVING
( PRESENT WAR, 1924-29-100)
( WORLD WAR. 1914-1939 AV. )
80
70
JAN. APR JULY OCT. JAN. APR JULY OCT. JAN. APR JULY OCT. A
1939 AND
1940 AND
1941 AND
1914
1915
1916
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39259 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 5
Regraded Unclassified
(14)
INDUSTRIAL PRICES
Prices of manufactured products have been much more stable thus far
in this var than in World War I. Figure 6 presents the facts on this, for
four key groups of products. Hides and leather and textile products, shown
in the two upper sections, have advanced rapidly, but not quite as sharply
M 25 years ago. These products are mold on fairly competitive markets.
Products of large industry. whose prices are controlled more by corporate
decisions, have been much more stable, Thue, metale and chemicals, shown on
the two lower asctions, have advanced relatively little compared to the tre-
mendous price increases in the same items in the same period during World War I,
The greater stability of most industrial prices in World War II reflects
both the existence of idle capacity which could be called into use, and the
cooperation which most businessmen have given to the government agencies en-
deavoring to prevent undue price advances, and the steps taken in this direction.
The eteps to control prices of special interest to farmers include the
following:
1. A price-freezing order on iron and steel, which has held stable
this basic metal.
2. Price-freezing orders or informal price agreements on copper,
zinc, aluminum, and other non-ferrous metals, which have held
these prices stable.
3. Informal arrangemente with leading farm machinery manufacturers
not to advance the prices of any farm machinery without prior
consultation with the price control authorities. To date this
has prevented any perceptible change in average farm machinery
prices.
4. Informal arrangaments which were successful in holding down
fertilizer prices during the 1941 planting season.
5. Priority ratings to provide steel, tools, and other materials
for continued production of articles essential for farmers,
including
Farm machinery and repairs
Canning-plant machinery and other food-proceesing
machinery
Steel bins for grain storage
Freight care and locomotives.
6. Measures to control burlap prices. A ceiling on burlap prices
has been announced.
Despite these efforts and the continued cooperation of businesemen in the
endeavor to prevent undue price increases, advances in industrial prices have
become increasingly marked in recent weeks. If the rise in prices is not to
spread out into a general upward spiral in all prices, wages, costs. and again
prices, strong eteps may be needed to check further general price increase. If
costs of living continue to rise, that will intensify demands for larger and
more general wage increases with resulting tendencies toward general price in-
flation. Increases in wages have not, however, as yet become & serious factor 15
higher prices. Up to this time, more than 2/3 of the increase in industrial pay-
rolls has come from more men at work and longer hours per man, and only & little
less than 1/3 from higher average earnings per hour. Much of these higher wages
has increases. come out of defense-widened profits, rather than being passed on as price
Regraded Unclassified
98
15
FIGURE 6.- WHOLESALE PRICES OF
SELECTED GROUPS OF INDUSTRIAL
PRODUCTS DURING TWO WAR PERIODS,
MONTHLY, AND WEEKLY
SINCE APRIL 1941
( PRESENT WAR. 1926=100 ) ( WORLD WAR. 1914=1939 AV. )
INDEX
HIDES AND LEATHER PRODUCTS
100
World
Present
war
war
75
100
TEXTILE PRODUCTS
75
50
150
METALS AND METAL
PRODUCTS
125
100
75
175
CHEMICALS AND ALLIED
PRODUCTS
150
125
100
75
50
JAN. APR. JULY OCT. JAN. APR. JULY OCT. JAN. APR. JULY OCT.
1939 AND
1940 AND
1941 AND
1914
1915
1916
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
MEG.39260 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 6
Regraded Inclassified
(16)
FARM AND FACTORY PRODUCTION HAVE BOTH INCREASED
Pactory production has responded very sharply to the defense demands
BM shown in Figure ?. This response has been most impressive in the durable
products--iron, steel, tools, machinery, and gum--which are key products for
defense. (This 1a shown by the dashed line in the upper section of Figure 7.)
The amount of such durable goods produced monthly by our factories has about
doubled since the start of the war. Shortages in steel, aluminum, and other
basic raw materials may slow down further increases for a. time, until new
plants now being constructed can be brought into operation. Production of
non-durable goods also has increased rapidly and is now running almost & third
higher than before the outbreak of the war.
Processing of food and textiles has contributed to the general indus-
trial expansion. This is shown in the lower section of Figure 7. The expansion
in textiles has been phenomenal, A considerable portion of these are for direct
defense use, Factory production of other processed farm products, including
manufactured dairy products, meat, canning and preserving, etc., is about one-
fifth larger than in 1939. Only wheat milling has failed to share in the
marked increase--and that is not because of any shortage of raw material.
Part of these increases in food and textile manufacture may have gone into stocks
on hand, rather than into increased consumption.
Ag 8. whole to date, heavy industrial production has expanded the most,
with relatively little increase in the prices of steel, chemicals, etc., while
consumer goods and food lave expanded the least, with more marked increase
in prices. That is partly because before the war production of food and con-
sumer products was already running at high levels of output, with relatively
low food and textile prices, while heavy goods output was running well below
capacity, but with prices maintained at relatively high levels. The production
advances since then have pushed both lines of production up to near the capa-
city of the installed equipment, while the farm and food price advances have
wiped out much of the previous price disparities.
If the rise in the volume of factory output of farm products 1s to
continue, prompt and substantial increases in the volume of farm production
will be necessary. This applies to all products except those like wheat and
cotton, and to & lesser extent corn and feedstuffs, where stored reserves are
adequate to meet the demand. For meat, dairy and poultry. and fruits and
canned vegetables, however, continued rapid expansion in farm output will be
necessary to satisfy the growing demand. If the demand is not satisfied by
larger volume of output, further sharp increases in farm and food prices may
result, with the danger of & further spread of spiralling price increases
into wages, industrial prices, and the general cost of living.
Regraded Unclassified
99
17
FIGURE 7. - PHYSICAL VOLUME OF PRODUCTION*, MONTHLY, 1936 TO DATE
INDEXES
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF PRODUCERS'
AND CONSUMERS' GOODS
(1935-39-100)
175
Durable
manufactures
Total industrial
150
production
125
100
Nondurable
75
manufactures
175
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF FARM PRODUCTS
(1935-39-100)
150
Meat products
Textiles
125
Dairy products
100
Wheat
75
Other foods
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
-
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
us DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39324 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 7
Regraded Unclassified
(18)
DANGERS AHEAD FOR FARNERS
The increase in prices to date has been sharpest in farm and food
prices. These increases have wiped out most of the disparity in farm
prices and income which farmers have suffered from almost continuously
since the 1920 deflation and price slump. The recovery of farm buying
power is especially true of products for domestic consumption, while
prices of export crops such as cotton and wheat are still held down some-
what by the accumulated surpluses.
From this point on, farmers face two alternative choices:
I. They can hold their production where it is and
let the expanding demands drive their prices
higher and higher.
II. They can step up their output BO as to satisfy
the increased demands by larger marketinge
instead of by excessive prices.
The first course would involve serious dangers for farmers. It
would help bring about a rapid rise in living costs. This would be hard
on consumers, particularly those with fixed incomes. In the uncertain
future after the war, farmers will need governmental programe to protect
them in the period of postwar readjustment. If large sections of the
population had been alienated because of excessive prices, they might
be unwilling to support continued public action in aid of farmers. A
mistaken price policy now might destroy the consumer support which farmers
will need later on.
Real income depends not only on dollar income, but on how much
those dollars will buy. Higher incomes from still higher farm prices may
be largely or wholly canceled out by higher prices for things farmers buy,
making the gain purely fictitious. Higher income from more production
Regraded Unclassifie
100
(19)
sold at fair prices, on the contrary, would enable farmers to use
more dollars to buy more things. In the short run as well as in the
long run, farmers would be better off by following the increased produc-
tion route rather than seeking excessive prices.
Finally, the long-time effects of inflationary price movements
cannot be ignored. The deflation following the inflation of World War I
blighted the lives of farmers by the hundreds of thousands.
Regraded Unclassified
(20)
WHAT PRICE DEFLATION FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I INFLATION COST
FARMERS
Many men who are farming today lived through the dark years after
1919. Younger men-including almost all who started farming recently--
have little or no first-hand knowledge of what happened a quarter-century
ago, Accordingly it is worth reviewing hastily how the price inflation and
deflation of World War I did affect farmers.
The general movements of farm prices and costs since 1910 are shown
in Figure 8. Farm prices (shown by the solid line) soared to levels more
than twice prewar, plunged most of the way back down in 1920 and 1921, recov-
ered for B. time, and followed 8. generally declining trend until quite
recently. (The advances thus far in 1941, discussed earlier, do not show
on this chart of annual averages.)
Farm costs were slow to rise in World War I and for a time lagged
behind farm prices. By 1920, though, they wore all up substantially. Taxes
rose to 2-1/2 times prewar, city wage rates to 2-1/4 times, freight rates
and farm machinery costs to about 2/3 higher than prewar. After farm prices
turned down, these costs were slow to follow. Taxes and wage rates continued
to rise through the '20's and only started down after the depression of 1929
set in. Freight rates and farm machinery declined for a time, but then leveled
off about 50 percent higher than prewar. Farm prices meanwhile fell to levels
much lower on the average than these cost factors, during the '20's. From
1930 to 1940, farm prices fell again, far below these cost factors.
The price record from 1910 to 1940 shows that farm prices go up fast
in good times but fall equally swiftly in bad times. Prices of the things
farmers pay for go up somewhat less rapidly, but once they get up stay up
both longer and higher than do farm prices. The gain that farmers got was
swift but short; the gain in the position of the other groups was less swift.
but far more enduring.
FIGURE 8.-EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND DEFLATION ON
COST FACTORS, ANNUALLY, 1910-40
INDEXES
(PRE-WAR
BASIS)
Farm taxes per acre
Average hourly earnings
(1909-13-100)
of wage earners
(1913=100) =
250
Farm prices
(1910-14=100)
200
Freight rates,
farm products
21
(1913=100)
Farm machinery
(1910-14=100)
150
100
50
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39315 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
101
FIGURE 8
Regraded Unclassi
(22)
LAND COSTS
Land values and mortgage debte followed farm prices up in the
inflation period. After prices came down, though. these debte remained
and were a stone around farmers' necks for years thereafter. Farm returns
per acre are shown by the heavy dashed line in Figure 9. Their rapid
advance up to 1919 was followed by a slower advance in farm taxes and
interest per acre (the solid black line) and in farm mortgage debte (the
black bars). After prices turned down, taxes and interest and mortgage
debt continued to mount. In 1925 debt per acre was nearly three times the
prewar debt, and taxes and interest were 2-1/2 times prewar. Meanwhile
farm returns and farm values were following B. downward trend, and were
running around only 1-1/4 times prewar.
All through the 1920's taxes, interest, and mortgage debt were
more than twice as heavy a burden, compared to farm returns, as in the
prewar period. All through the 1920's hundreds of thousands of farmers
lost their farms through foreclosure and thousands of country banks
failer. The debts and civic improvements which had seemed BO easy to pay
for in the flush of wartime inflation proved a long and bitter burden.
Not until the great depression of the '30's and the efforts by local, state,
and federal governments to lighten taxes on farmers and to refinance or
readjust farm debts, did the tax and debt burden on farmers begin to be
reduced. Even 80, it still remaine relatively far heavier than before
world War I.
TAXES, VALUE OF LAND, RETURNS, AND MORTGAGE
DEBT PER ACRE OF FARM REAL ESTATE, 1910-38
PERCENT
Taxes and
300
interest per acre
(1910-14*100)
250
Returns per acre
(10 leading crops)
(1910-14=100)
200
23
150
100
Value of farm
real estate per acre
50
(1913-100)
Debt per acre
(1910= 100)
0
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 35656
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 9
102
Regraded Unclassifie
(24)
MARKETING COSTS
The fact that freight costs and city wages stayed relatively
higher after World War I than did farm prices meant that since that time
farmers have received a reduced share of the consumer's dollar. This
is shown in Figure 10, where the consumer's expenditure for food is
split into the share going to the farmer (the shaded area) and the share
going for marketing and processing costs (shown in white).
Before World War I, out of every dollar spent by consumers for
food, about 55 cents got back to the farmer. This increased briefly
during the war; then after the war fell to a level of 45 to 50 cents.
The 1929 depression cut it still further down to about 35 cents at the
low point. From 1935 to 1940 out of each dollar spent for food at retail,
about 40 to 45 cents reached the farmer.
Marketing costs are like farm debts. It is easy to get them up
in times of inflation, and hard to get them down afterwards. If they
stay up when prices fall, there is still less left for farmers to meet
their production and living expenses with.
Regraded Unclassified
FIGURE 10.- EFFECTS OF INFLATION AND DEFLATION ON THE FARMERS'
SHARE OF THE CONSUMER'S FOOD DOLLAR, ANNUALLY, 1910-40
CONSUMER'S
DOLLAR
(CENTS)
80
MARKETING COSTS
60
25
40
FARMER'S SHARE
20
0
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NEG. 39316 BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
FIGURE 10
103
Regraded Unclassi
(27)
104
WHAT CAN FARMERS DO TO HELP PREVENT INFLATION
AND DEFLATION HEADACHES
It is clear that a general rise in all prices is of doubtful immo-
diate value to farmers. If it should spread into a general rise in markot-
ing costs, land values, and farm debts and taxes, it might again be followed
by a deflationary period which would depress farmers for long years ahead.
Now that farm prices are generally back up to a reasonably good balance with
other prices, farmors will be better off if they can increase their production
fast enough to satisfy the market demands, and to prevent continued and
spreading rises in all prices.
At the same time farmers should use the increased income they are
getting now in such ways as to incroase their ability to cope with future
uncortainties. Part of their increased income should go into buying fully
adequate food, clothing, and othor essentials for their familios. In
localities where lumber and labor are atill available, part should go into
fixing up the farm home. Part could go into the education of their families.
If they are in debt, they should speed up paying off the back dobts or
mortgage. If they are free of dobt, & portion could go into Defense Savings
Bonds, lifa insurance, or other forms of saving, to provide a roservo
against the possible troubled times after this new var is over.
If farmers should let higher incones encourage then to & new period
of land speculation, they would be inviting another generation of bad times
anead. If, on the contrary, they use the increased income in the ways just
suggested, they will put thorselves in good, strong shape to neet whatever
problems the future may hold.
Regraded Unclassified
105
memorandum FOR THE SECRETARY,
October 10, 1941.
Mail Report
Mail during the past week has been exceedingly heavy and
not malnly commented on the speech on inflation and the Defense
Band campaign. The speech was widely mailed and has brought a
great any acknowledgments. Almost all of these are favorable;
90MB which are favorable, speak critically of some other aspect
of the Administration's policies, while praising the Secretary's
stand. A number sent editorials and columns of a critical nature.
As this mailing was to colleges and educational institutions,
there are many requests for a considerable number of copies. We
have cent 1,000 or more during the past week and are receiving
requests in every mail.
The two most frequent complaints are against Government
wastefulness in spending, and the Government labor policy. These
can about even, with only one letter in the entire week approving
the Secretary's statement in regard to wages as a commodity.
The Anti-Britain letters keep up, outnumbering the Anti-Russian
once by about 2 to 1.
Abusive letters are in the same general proportion, with many
attacking the Secretary; a slightly smaller number attacking the
President, and e great many abusive of the Administration in general.
There have been B. number of protests of the wastefulness of the
Bond letters, in both frequency and expense of paper, etc. One writer,
sending back the recent letter of thanks for his purchase says, "I 8.m
aná weary of all these letters. I regret I ever started buy-
inc U. S. Sonds. I B.B.) as patriotic as the next men but an sick of
constant receipt of folders, letters, etc. Stop bombarding me,
vasiing postage, printing and the time of Treasury and Post Office
employees." This point of view 1s reflected in many letters where
the writers have already decided what they can do, and not only cannot
increase their purchases but resent being reminded gertorbush of the campaign.
Regraded Unclassified
106
FAVORABLE LETTERS
John Clerke Kennedy, N. Y. C. My little daughter recently asked me
whether a Coast Guard was 8. soldier. Now, having until very recently
owned and published the Techting magazine for fifteen years, and know-
ing as I do the affection with which the Coast Guard is regarded by
all having anything to do with the water, the question served to get
me thinking of how completely the Army and Navy have blotted out your
splendid organization in the public mind. This is A. shame, and can't
help morale B. little bit.
Why don't you have someone make the
country Coast-Guard-Conscious? It would not be very difficult to do.
One man could do wonders if attached to headquarters, or with the
Assistant Secretary in charge. With all that is being done for the
other services, it is little enough to do for these fine boys.
Martin Popper, Executive Secretary, National Lawyers Guild, Washington, D.C.
Tour proposal that corporation profits be limited to 6% for the dura-
tion of the emergency will enlist the overwhelming support of the American
people and its adoption will tremendously enhance our national unity in
this critical period of world history when our very national existence
is imperiled.
The National Lawyers Guild pledges you its most
vigorous support in securing the adoption of effective legislation to
limit corporate profits for the duration of the emergency, so that we
may put an end to the present intolerable situation in which American
industry is reaping unparalleled profits out of the nation'e grave peril,
while the average American 18 called upon to make unparalleled sacrifices.
Roger h, Hardy, Dept. of Education, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Some of the statements you have made in public recently are of great
interest to et least = small group of us in this community. For example,
the restriction of defense profits to 6% is one that all persons in-
terested in the perpetuation of democracy should applaud and support,
for it seems very doubtful if social and political democracy can continue
without relative economic democracy.
Please remember that there are
people who are very much on your side and who are keenly interested in
the continuance of your efforts.
William R. Bascom, Dept. of Anthropology, Northwestern University,
Evanston, Ill. Since I first heard that you came out in favor of re-
stricting corporation profits to 6% of invested capital, I have been
anxious to express my approval. And now that reports seem to indicate
that you have modified, or been forced to modify your original statement,
I feel I must write to you to urge that you stand firm in the effort to
bring about an effective curtailment of excess profite.
In taking
advantage of this democratic method of expressing my personal viewpoint
on this matter, of course, I em speaking na B. private citizen of the
United States, and not 8.0 an official representative of the University.
Regraded Unclassified
10?
- 2 -
George C. Taylor, Lawyer, Albuquerque, N. M. I approve of the idem
of the bond so heartily that I have urged their purchase as a sub
stitute for all forms of life insurance, other than straight life.
Bidding the public of the inflation idea or some hedging scheme
would facilitate sales.
Dr. Werner Peiser, Loyola University, New Orleans, La. As 8 former
member of the Prussion Government during the Weimar Republic, and 13
its Vice Press Chief, 1 have the full consciousness of my duties to-
ward the democratic Government of the U. S. Therefore, I have the
honor to tell you in reply to your kind letter of October let, that
I already have bought National Savings Bonds, and that I shall buy
then in the future in the margins of my budget. Please accept the
expression of my deepest consideration.
Leo Drew O'Neil, Head, Economica Dept., Boston University. Thank you
for the copy of your address before the Advertising Club. I shall be
very glad to bring it to the attention of all our students here, and
have, in fact, already spoken about your fight against the threatened
inflation to all my classes. I shall now emphasize the points which
you have made in this speech.
T. S, Pivratt, Branch Manager, The Eagle-Picher Sales Co., Cincinnati,
Ohio. I wish to acknowledge the copy of your speech, "The Fight Against
Inflstion". I enjoyed reading it very much and have passed it on to my
organization. I sincerely hope you will give wide distribution to this
subject. It would seem to me it gives a better understanding of our
problems today and tomorrow,
The advertising and publicity on
stamps and bonds has been very fine. It is my opinion that too many
good American citizens are neglecting at this time, for no special reason,
to take advantage of this splendid investment plan. The attached pemphlet
(news release of employee sales) is self-explanatory; I have been buying
and expect to continue to buy each month throughout the emergency F:
saving bond.
Carl D, Smith, President, Babson Institute, Babson Park, Mass. In an
address which I made before a. business group last Thursday evening, I
took the liberty of referring to certain things which you had said In
that address and of pointing out the validity of your position.
Prof. Howard T. Lewis, Harvard University, Soldiers Field, Boston, Mass.
I should like to take this opportunity to express my complete agreement
with the position you nasumed in that discussion. Furthermore, I should
like to express my admiration for the courage which you displayed in
saying the things you did say. Many a man, knowing in his heart thet the
facts are 0.8 you have stated them, lacks the courage to express himself.
Regraded Unclassified
108
- 3 -
Unfortunately this seems to be particularly true with a certain
type of public official. It is heartening to know that you do have
the courage of your convictions.
Duane Doolittle, Principia College, Elsah, Ill. It was with a great
deal of interest that I have studied your effective speech given in
Boeton with regard to inflation. In booklet form this speech has
been going the rounds of our faculty here, each person initialing it
after its examination.
Lately we have seen reports that you
do not favor any action that will hold wages around their present
levels, and we wonder if you or one of your assistants would be will-
ing to let us know the reasons for this decision.
Evelyn Newman, Division of Literature & Languages, Colorado State
College, Graeley, Colo. I will make every effort ER 8. teacher and
community worker to bring the content of your speech to my students
and audiences, impressing upon them the gravity of our national situs-
tion if inflation should come upon us.
Thanking you for your
letter and for your very fine address (I have put both upon the bulle-
tin board of our department).
Elwyn L. Cady, Kansas City, Mo. I thank you for your letter of
September 30th, enclosing a copy of your address, "The Fight Against
Inflation". This is an able presentation of a timely subject. As A
staff pember of B. midwestern college, it was my privilege to conduct
Economic Outlook Meetings for more than ten years. I know that you have
e: big job shead, for the average citizen does not think in economic
terms.
I suggest that you organize e amall but experienced
group of economists with platform personalities, and send them to
zeetings of business groups. Such a program will, in my opinion,
shable you to create in the public mind, the understanding of infla-
tion mentioned in your letter. If I can be of service to you in your
program. please feel free to command me.
R. 2. Drake, Portland, Oregon. Às recipient of a copy of your splendid
and timely speech and pledge on the subject of inflation, I wish to
congratulate you upon your analysis of this very important subject.
I also wish to pledge my interest and cooperation in every way possible
for e can aged 73.
Regraded Unclassified
109
UNFAVORABLE LETTERS
Karl Aschaffenburg, Plainfield, N. J. A report requested by the
Federal Reserve Bank and listing the property of 8 national of a
foreign country was returned by the Foreign Property Control Depart-
sent of the Federal Reserve Bank, N. Y. C., with the request to
insert in each of the four copies of the report one single word
which could have easily been filled in by B. clerk, since this word
was to be found in the enewer to two similar questions on the same
report. The letter accompanying the report contained 43 words, cost
the government, resp. the texpayer $0.31 in postage, which will have
to be paid once more by the sender when the report is again returned
to New York. Besides, there is the delay of several days, not count-
ing the inconvenience of having to register the same letter twice.
At the present time the citizen of the U. S. is neked to pay
high taxes for the defense of this country, as well 8.0 to invest money
in Defense Bonds. It would therefore seem only fair to the taxpayer
that the Administration exerts every effort to work efficiently and
with the least amount of unnecessary expense as well as inconvenience
to those who are gladly willing to support it.
W. A. Dower, Executive Vice President, The Hartford Chamber of Commerce,
Hartford, Conn. It is seldom that one sees 8 wave of apprehension sweep
over the business community like that which followed the newspaper
reports on your proposal to limit corporate profits during the emergency
to 6% upon invested capital. Since the nation is but the sum of its
local communities, there is no surer way to sample the sentiments of
affected parties than through those community business organisations
which, after all, make up the aggregate of American business.
Manning Stires, Vice President & General Counsel, Midland 011 Corpora-
tion, N. Y. C. Taxation of war profits is commendable, but a Revenue
Act which is framed to catch every dollar of earnings of all businesses
above a. minimum allowable amounts to confiscation. Many businesses,
by careful management and stockholder sacrifice and not as the result
of war activity, will show an increase in earnings currently and in the
next few years, and, under the Act 89 I understand it, these earnings
will be deemed excess profits.
It would be wholesome to the body
politic were a tax act to be framed which would allow a corporation
to deduct dividends of 8. greater or less extent, depending upon the
nature of the business, before determining profits. Were this prin-
ciple recognized, venture capital would be put to work and cause a
broadening of activity that would be bound to result in & general in-
crease of prosperity.
You probably will conclude that such e
radical departure from present day tax imposition would defeat the
Treasury from collecting a considerable part of the so-called excess
profits. To what extent this loss will be off-set by the increase of
taxable income in the hands of stockholders you are in the best post-
tion to estimate.
Regraded Unclassified
110
- 5 -
"A Citizen* Holland, Mich. I am # rather havy holder of various
Government bonds, certificates, and obligations. The moment the
present Administration provokes the act that causes a shot to be
fired in this var, which would be the signal for a declared or un-
declared var, I shall take that as a signal to cash all my Government
obligations.
F. 1. VanDemark, Insurance, Cut Bank, Nont. The only objection to
buying these Government bonds 1s that the Government is squandering
money right and left and it does not seen right to buy bonds where
the Government is doing this. It is only putting the Government that
much further in debt. This fall, as well no other falls, I have re-
fused to take money offered by agents of the Government. Why they
should offer me money when the Government is nearly bankrupt, I B.D.
unable to say, ... My advice to the Government is to stop spending
money foolishly.
Borris M. Komar, N. Y. C. I have noticed in your public statement that
you do not know of any instance when the Soviet Government failed to
meet its obligations. My client, an American corporation, holde 11
bearer notes of 1000 pounds sterling each, issued by the Soviet Govern-
ment as an obligation of the Soviet State, signed by its People's
Commissar for Finance, and payable on November 1st, 1940. My client
acquired these notes in good faith and paid cash consideration for
them prior to their maturity. All attempts of my client to receive
payment of these notes failed. The Chase National Bank also took this
question up with the Soviet Government and the Soviet State Bank, but
received no satisfactory answer. I am writing this letter privately
to you instead of answering your statement in the public press, because
my client desires no harm to the Soviet Union. In fact, it has offered
to donate from the proceeds of these notes, if paid, 5% to the Soviet
Red Cross, which is over $2,000.00.
Harvey C. Eley, N. Y. C. I feel very deeply on this matter of aiding
in defense right up to the limit of my small means, and I think that
most of my friends and acquaintances feel the name way. However, I must
say that although I am 8. life-long Democrat and have supported the New
Deal, I do think it is high time that imperative measures be taken to cut
down and alash the expenses of the Administration in Washington, and to
reduce in a big way "non-defense" expenditures. :- - I strongly advise
that now with this 10$ tax you undertake semiannually or quarterly to
let the people know in the newspapers just how this tax is spent and the
efforts that you are making with your staff to reduce the expenditures
for "non-Defense" items.
Fred V. Shields, Alexandria, Va. I have your form letter of October 6th,
soliciting me to purchase U. S. Defense Bonds. There was also enclosed
a mass of circulars and pamphlets designed to allay my fears of inflation.
Regraded Unclassified
111
- 5 -
Frankly, I WBB not impressed with either the letter or the circulars
and pamphlets. Unfortunately, I an convinced that you are one
of 8 group of officials who have committed this Government to a policy
of wild and reckless spending. Moreover, I do not believe that you
have been honest in your statements to the people. ... If you
honestly believe that prices can effectively be controlled without
controlling vages, then I feel that you are not competent to run a
Government Department. If, on the other hand, you do not believe that
this is true, and made the statement because of a fear that it might
damage the political fortunes of your Party, then you are not fit to
run H. Government Department.
J. D. Lackerley, Lewiston, Idaho. Replying to your "personal" letter
of September 17th, relative to the purchase of Defense Bonds. I am not
#. New Dealer for I believe in work and thrift, two ideas so repugnant
to the President, and I presume equally repugnant to those who support
his domestic policies.
...
In your speech you refer to a committee
in Congress to study ways and means to curtail non-essential Govern-
ment spending. Let the remind you that the debt during your tenure of
office has increased about $27,000,000,000. You were silent when
Harry Hopkins was spending billions for purely political purposes, and
making outright gifts of public funds to New Deal politi cians.
Senator Byrd has for years urged economy and the net result so far has
ceen B. stream of wisecracks and invectives from the President whenever
bankruptcy 1s mentioned.
To now ask that social security taxes
be doubled or trebled in addition to a so-called "separation wage"
cerely more investment in debt, is not only cruel but reprehensible.
Albert W. Russel, Cleveland, Ohio. It seems to me plain, common sense
that inflation cannot be checked unless there is some reasonable limit
put on wages.
It will be difficult to secure the cooperation of
the people as a whole in your sound program if labor racksteering is
not restrained.
Muriel Schuster, Hillside, N. J. The George Washington Grammer School
of Hilleide, N. J., recently decided to purchase Defense Savings stamps
through the school. Although it has been in force only two weeks, it
her met with such spontaneous enthusiasm that we are overwhelmed at the
response. However, we have met with some difficulty in securing the
stamps and books. We were under the impression that all banks carried
the stamps. The two that we visited in the neighborhood did not carry
the stamps, only the bonds.
We have been unable to obtain Saving
Bond posters from either the bank or the Post Office. Will you please
send whatever you can to the George Washington School of Hillside, N.J.7
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
112
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 10, 1941.
TO
secretary
Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Dietrich
CONFIDENTIAL
Registered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
£76,000
Purchased from commercial concerns
£15,000
Open market sterling remained at 4.03-1/2, and there were no reported
transactions,
In New York, closing quotations for the foreign currencies listed below
arre a.e follows:
Canadian dollar
11-7/16% discount
Argentine peso (free)
.2345
Brasilian milreis (free)
.0505
Colombian peno
.5775
Mexican peso
.2070
Uruguayan peso (free)
.4600
Venezuelan bolivar
.2700
Cuban pego
1/16% discount
There were no purchases or sales of gold effected by us with foreign countries
today,
No new gold engagements were reported.
Spot and forward silver were again fixed in London at 23-1/2d and 23-7/16d,
respectively. The U.S. equivalente were 42.67# and 42.554.
The Treasury's purchase price for foreign silver was unchanged at 35#. Handy
and Barean's settlement price for foreign silver WBS also unchanged st 34-3/44.
We made no silver purchases today,
A
Regraded Unclassified
113
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
October 10th, 1941
ERSONAL
D SECRET
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I enclose herein for your
personal and secret information a
copy of the latest report received
from London on the military
situation.
Believe me,
Dear Mr. Secretary,
Very sincerely yours,
Habifax
The Honourable
Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
United States Treasury,
Washington, D. C.
114
TELEGRAM PROM LONDON - OCTOBER 9TH. 1941
British ship 4000 tons was bombed and
sunk night of October 7th/Oc tober 8th while
anchored at Sues. The canal is open.
2.
Dutch submarine on October 3rd.
torpedoed and sank French merchant ship 3500 tons
20 miles east of Terranova (Sardinia).
3.
Night of October 6th/00 tober 7th. 23
Wellingtons bombed Pirmeus harbour; damage
extensive, violent explosions in warehouses.
Same night ten Blenheims bombed Bardia.
4.
Libya. October 7th. Marylands
escorted by Tomahawks attacked two dumps near
Gambut; enemy fighter probably destroyed second
damaged.
5.
October 6th and October 7th. Enemy
aircraft (one probably destroyed) bombed Tobruk
town and harbour. Positions in 81 Adem Sector
machine gunned. Troops west of Bu.... Bu....
machine gunned and attacks made on landing
grounds in Sidi Hanish. No damage or casualties.
6.
Palestine. October 7th, De tober 8th.
Nine hostile aircraft attacked Haifa, negligible
damage.
7.
Malta. October 7th, October 8th. Six
sircraft approached the island but dropped bombs
in the sea. October 8th. Six aircraft
approached the coast but did not cross.
Bit/
Regraded Unclassified
115
⑉8⑉
8.
Russia.
German thrust Vyasma area
continues to make progress.
Germans claim of
encirclement Russian forces not confirmed.
Russians evacuated Orel. Germans advance beyond
town cutting Moscow-Kharkov railway. Russian
forces encircled west of Berdyansk subjected to
intense pressure from east north east and west.
German force thrusting north east of Bardyanak
towards Mariupol.
Regraded Unclassified
116
RESTRICTED
0-2/2657-220; No. 515 M.I.D., W.D. 11:00 A.M., October 10, 1941
SITUATION REPORT
I. Eastern Theater.
Ground: The situation on the East front is obscure.
There is no further official information of ac-
tions on the central front. The Russians claim they have broken
out of the encirclement east of Bryansk and west of Vyazma,
Russian reserves have moved south from Tula and
are counterattacking at Chern, northeast of Mtsensk.
Around Leningrad and in the Ukraine no military
operations were reported.
Air: German reports indicated strong air activity all
along the front, especially airfields in the Crimea and military
objectives at Leningrad.
II. Western Theater.
Air: British bombers were dispatched in spite of bad
weather against the German-occupied coast of France, Boulogne,
Calais, and Dieppe. Aalesund, on the west coast of Norway, was
bombed last night. Reports tell only of a lone German raider over
England's southwest coast last night.
III. Middle Eastern Theater.
No news.
RESTRICTED
Regraded Unclassified
117
MEMORANDUM
October 11, 1941.
TO:
The Secretary
FROM:
Mr. Sullivan
Mr. Doughton called this morning at 9:45 to ask when
we would be ready to submit the Administrative Amendment Bill.
I was fairly vague about my response and then he stated that he
was very anxious to have work on the Administrative Amendment
Bill started as soon as possible in order to hold up the Social
Security bill. He continued to press me for a date and I told
him I thought we ought to be nearly ready by the early part of
November.
Ths
Regraded Unclassified
118
Regraded Unclassified
October 10, 1941
b. D. V, Sall
D. Motrish
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
AS 1145 today the Secretary had . meeting with m. Groupho, Garge
d'affaires. and Mr. Lukasher, President of the where Trading Company, which
m. Peley attended.
About 2:30 Mr. Investois - is and told be that the fearstary had agreed
to advance $30,000.000 to basels against the feture delivery of gaid. Mr. Deractela
propared M agreement similar be the ⑉ which was emented ⑉ August 15. and I
propared the telegram no the Federal Reserve hat of New Terk.
A is p.m. Mr. Foloy tesk the agreement and the telegram to the Bearstary, -
signed both. Mr. was to - to the Bussies Rebaccy be have the agreement
signed W the baseles Charge d'Affaires but at 5120 p.a. be received word that the
Reselan Charge d'Affaires could net 000 his will 7:30 y.a. It use then decided
to pet the credit through IS October 11. as the agreement states *Thirty million
dollars, consittating as advance payment, shall be yold w Detaber 11. 1941 to the
deverament of the Union of seviet Sochlist Republics . 00,
October 11.
Mr. Burnetein informed no this serving that the agreement was signed w the
Incoice Charge d'affaires last night. I then sent the telegha to lev Yesk Instruct-
ing the Federal to make the pegment of $30,000,000 and told R7. Customs w tele-
phane that the credit atries and sable be the State look of the V.S.S.B. should
red the case as these you through on the transaction of August 16. the Delivery la
which the credit advise chould be propared and the wording of the cable to the
State Test ware both approved w the Reseirn Charge d'affaires.
kr. Duractela said that be would formed to the Bussian Garge d'affaires a
photostatic copy of the agreement.
At 10:50 a.m. m. Comeron advised - that the credit of $30,000,000 and less
made to the account of the Statemak of the V. B. 1. 1. I called Mr. Dorastoia
but vos make be embact his will 11:25 a.a. I 108 his know that the credit
M been made and supposted that be call the husian Charge d'Affaires and advice
Ma accordingly.
&
FR:1ap-10/11/41
TREASURY department
119
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE October 11, 1941
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Klaus
The attached clipping from the New York Times may be of interest
to you.
U.S. Flier in R. A. F. Killed
THOMPSON, Conn., Oct. 9 (P)-
Flight Commander Andrew Mame-
dotf, 29 years old, former barn-
storming aviator from this town,
was killed In action yesterday
while serving with the Eagle
Squadron of the Royal Air Force,
& member of his family said to-
night. Anntase A. Vonsistaki, head
of the Russian National Revolu-
tionary Fascist party, the young
man's uncle, said the flier's parents
were notified by the Air Ministry
in London.
801
Regraded Unclassified
120
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
PROCUREMENT DIVISION
hades and OF UK DIRECTOR to and < be:
10/13/1991
WASHINGTON
October 11, 1941
DUT TO THE SECRETARY:
A revised plan for the disposal of scrap materials
collected in the recent aluminum collection campaign has
neen agreed upon with the Office of Price Administration,
Us Office of Production Management, and Vetals Reserve
Company, and to date acceptances of the revised plan have
teen received from eight of the smelters.
Under the revised plan smelters which agree to sell
to etals Reserve Company quantities of secondary alu-
=inum ingot equivalent in amount to ingot produced by
them from campaign aluminum scrap will be given the bene-
fit of reduced prices on the aluminum scrap and also on
crass, copper, zinc, and iron and steel contained in the
CEI sign scrap. They are to pay 7.752 per pound for alu-
sinus scrap in lieu of the price of 11.5% per pound formerly
fixed by the Office of Price Administration, B reduction
of 3.752 per pound. Correspondingly, those accepting the
plan will agree to sell secondary aluminum ingot to Letals
Reserve Company et prices somewhat below the reduced sec-
undery ingot ceiling prices which will become effective
overber 1, 1941.
It is believed that under this revised plan the
melters will realize amounts roughly equivalent to those
wich they originally expected to realize on the scrau
slaminum, had it been possible for them to sell secondary
Innot et the ceiling prices in effect before the Aluminum
Congany of America reduced its price on virgin aluminum,
recessitating reduction of the secondary aluminum ceiling
prices.
Instructions have been issued to the State Procurement
Lilcers to bill the smelters which accept the revised plan
at the reduced prices fixed thereby, and I expect that ell
CL the sluminum scrap will have been collected within the
heat few days.
Director Child of Procurement.
Mark
Regraded Unclassified
121
CONFIDENTIAL
UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS
Comparative Statement of Sales During
First Nine Business Days of August, September, and October, 1941
(August 1-11, September 1-11, October 1-10)
On Basis of Issue Price
(Amounts in thousands of dollars)
:
:
Amount of Increase
:
Percentage of Increase
Sales
:
:
or Decrease (-)
:
or Decrease (-)
Item
:
:
:
:
October
:
September
:
October
: September
: October
: September
:
August I
over
:
over
I
over
:
over
:
I
:
I
September
:
August
:
September
:
August
Series I 1- - Post Offices
$ 15,906
$ 15,361
$ 17,438
. 545
-$ 2,077
3.5%
- 11.9%
Series E - Banks
29,796
25,275
31,144
4,523
- 5,869
17.9
- 18.8
Series 1- Total
45,705
40,636
48,582
5,069
- 7,946
12.5
- 16.4
Series , - Banks
8,559
6.790
9,660
1,769
- 2,870
26,1
- 29.7
Series G - Banks
50,054
44,529
59,273
5,525
- 14,744
12.4
- 24.9
Total
$104,317
$ 91,954
$117,515
$12,363
-$25,561
13.4%
- 21.8%
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, Division of Research and Statistics.
October 11, 1941.
Source: All figures are deposits with the Treasurer of the United States on account of proceeds of
sales of United States Savings Bonds.
Note: Figures have been rounded to nearest thousand and will not necessarily add to totals.
Regraded Unclassified
122
CONFIDENTIA
UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS
Daily Sales - October 1941
On Basis of Issue Price
(In thousands of dollars)
Post Office
Bond Sales
Bank Bond Sales
All Bond Sales
Date
Series I
Series I
Series 1
Series G
Total
Series 1
Series 7
Series G
Total
October 1941
1
$ 1,450
$ 3,029
$ 1,286
$ 8,271
$ 12,587
$ 4,479
$ 1,286
$ 5,271
$ 14,036
2
1,870
2,786
867
4,324
7,977
4,656
867
4,324
9,847
3
2,150
3,299
1,065
6,323
10,687
5,449
1,065
6,323
12,837
4
1,270
1,696
612
6,400
8,707
2,966
612
6,400
9,978
6
3,449
4,778
1,444
9,286
15,508
8,226
1,444
9,286
18,956
7
1,207
2,595
572
2,913
6,080
3,802
572
2,913
7,287
8
1,363
3,674
821
3,611
8,106
5,037
821
3,611
9,469
9
1,652
4,270
903
3,654
5,827
5,923
903
3,654
10,479
10
1,495
3,672
989
5,272
9,933
5,167
989
5,272
11,428
Total
$ 15,906
$ 29,798
$ 8,559
50,054
$ 88,411
$ 45,705
$ 8,559
$ 50,054
$104,317
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, Division of Research and Statistics.
October 11, 1941.
Source: All figures are deposits with the Treasurer of the United States on account of proceeds of sales of
United States Savings Bonds.
Note: Figures have been rounded to nearest thousand and will not necessarily add to totals.
Regraded Unclassifie
HORDEFENSE
FIELD ORGANIZATION News Letter 123
BUY
PROTO
STATES
DEPENSE SAVINGS STARF
CAVEROA
Auxus
-
DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, II. C:
October 11, 1941.
NUMBER 21.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY MORGENTHAU
"The Defense Savings Program has now been In progress for five
months. It has yielded ds a billion and & half dollars from two
and one-half million individual investors. The result so far is
certainly not below our expectations, but just as certainly it
falls far short of our needs, It falls short especially in that
it has only begun to reach workers' pay rolls. Every one of the
great national labor organizations has given its endorsement to
systematic saving, and voluntary pay roll allotment plans are
now in operation in more then five thousand companies employing
between five and six million workers. Our strongest efforts must
now be made in our great industrial centers, and must be directed
2% the good sense and patriotism of the workers themselves,
"The kind of spending that the Treasury is most erocious to divert
into Defense Savings Bonds is the spending produced by pay in-
creases and bonuses, and by increased dividend payments. I should
like to offer AS a suggestion, for example, that every Christmas
bonus in the United States be paid in Defense Savings Bonds or
Stemps this year. The banks of America can start the fashion so
thet it will sweep the country. The total amount of such bonuses
may be small, but there could be no finer example to the public,
no more striking reminder of the spirit of those times, no better
safeguard for the days of economic strain that are sure to follow
the war.
"We at the Treasury believe that the voluntary Defense Savings
Program has already awakened a greater sense of pride in America
and at grester sense of participation in the national effort. We
shill continue along that road of voluntary cooperation, and I am
perfectly confident that we sh-11 rench vast numbers who are will-
Ing end cager to put their savings to work for their country."
HENRY MORGENTHAU, JR.
Secretary of the Treasury.
(From his address to the Annual
Convention of the American Bankers
Association, October 2, 1941.)
Regraded Unclassified
124
Chicago, Illinois
October 8, 1941.
TO THE FIELD STAFF:
The fundamentals behind Defense Savings are widely acclaimed.
Constantly we receive messages of approval from individuals of
every belief and in every walk of life.
Many of these messages are entitled to more space than is
available here, but briefly they say:
"We believe in the future. Today we look forward. We shall
work and save today for a greater tomorrow."
"This is our America - we shall defend her. The price we pay
is small when the benefits are weighed carefully."
"Secretary Morgenthau's appeal for everyone to become a share-
holder in America is great. Às his advice is followed the Nation
will be more unified, more virile, stronger in every possible way."
"We see more than a million of our youth in military service.
They are called on for the greatest of sacrifices. The least
those at home can do is to invest in Defense Savings Securities."
mye believe in thrift. We believe in future reserves for
every individual. We know that dospressions may be avoided if we
save in good times."
"The only way to check higher prices and inflation is to
prevent a 'spending spree'. Investment in Defense Savings Bonds
will promote a philosophy of thrift and halt a dangerous philosophy
of extravagance."
Sincerely yours,
GALE F. JOHNSTON
Field Director, Defense Savings Staff
Regraded Unclassified
125
FIELD ORGANIZATION NEWS
Within recent weeks the following men, all well-known and distinquished
citizens of their States, have accepted Secretary Morgenthau's invitation to
serve as Chairmen of the Defense Savings Committees for their respective
States. We are honored to add their names to the now nearly completed roster
of State Chairmen,
We present:
James P. Boyle of Tucson, who is serving as Chairman of the
fully organized and functioning Arizona Committee.
Edward H. Heller, of the firm of Schwabacher and Company,
San Francisco, who will serve as Chairman of the Defense
Savings Committee for Northern California.
Dr. John S. Nollen, President Emeritus of Grinnell College,
who will serve as the Chairman of the Defense Savings
Committee for Iowa.
Judge Edgar S. Jouett, Vice-President and General Counsel of
the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, who has accepted Chair-
manship of the Defense Savings Committee for Kentucky.
Francis McDermott, Vice-President of the First National Bank
of Omaha and State Commander of the American Legion, who will
head the Nebraska Committee.
*
*
*
*
IN THIS ISSUE
MASSACHUSETTS Reports Progress - Page 4
MINNESOTA Retailers Boost Stamp Sales - Page 5
MINNESOTA Committeemen Introduced - Page 6
CANTON'S Big "S" Day - Story and Pictures - Pages 7 to 10
PAY ROLL ALLOTMENT Installation Procedures Outlined
Page 11
STATES AND CITIES Have Allotment Plans - Page 12
ALLOTMENT Progress Notes - Page 12
POLISH National Alliance Parades - Page 13
SLOVENIAN and LITHUANIAN Groups Invest - Page 13
TO THE LADIES - Pages 14 and 15
NEWSBOYS Lend A Hand Page 16
BOSTON'S Shawmut Bank Has New Plan - - Page 16
EAGLES Display Bonds - Page 16
VIRGINIA Banks 100% - Page 17
RADIO Programs - Page 18
STOCK EXHAUSTED: - Temporarily. At the moment the supply of one
of our most popular publications "Any Bonds Today?" is completely
exhausted. More copies are being printed however, and soon this
item will again be subject to requisition by State Administrators.
APPLIMENT OFFICE
Regraded Unclassified
126
MASSACHUSETTS
State Committee Reports Progress On All Fronts
THE SEPTEMBER MEETING of the State Defense Savings Committee for
Massachusetts was held September 26, with State Chairman Edwin C. Johnson
presiding and Division Chairman presenting reports of significant progress
in all phases of the educational and promotional program.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS from these reports:
** Practically all commercial banks in the state have now qualified
AS issuing agents - David E. Hersee, Chairman of the Banking Division.
*** Contact has been established with all agricultural schools, all
granges and county farm bureaus, and all other agricultural clubs; most
of them have arranged to present the Defense Savings Program to their
members. - Charlie B. Jordan, Chairman, Agricultural Division,
IHHI The current issue of the magazine of the State Teachers Federation
carries a special article on Defense Savings. Hugh Mixon, Co-chairman,
Education Division.
The pay roll allotment plan has been described in detail to all
members of Associated Industrios of Massachusetts and follow-up work to
secure widespread installation of the plan is now in progress. John F.
Tinsley, Chairman, and Edward Connelly, Sub-chairman, of the Industry
Division.
I
Sub-chairmen have been appointed for each of the various branches
of the insurance business and all of them report that they are receiving
100% cooperation. One large insurance company reports 1136 employees en-
rolled in a pay roll allotment plan. Charlos J. Diman, Chairman, Insurance
Division.
*** Plans to enlist the full support of all credit unions in the state
are being developed, Edward L. Shanney, Chairman, Credit Union Division.
**** Proclamations of the Governor and the Mayor of Boston, beautiful
window displays, and mary other special efforts during "Retailers for Defense
NECK" have helped to launch sale of Defense Stamps in retail outlets. -
Daniel Bloomfield, Chairman, Trade Division.
STATE ADMINISTRATOR Daniel J. Deherty reports: 38 of the 39 cities of
the State now have active committees and many town committees have also
been formed and are hard at work. ... Large blocks of Defense Bonds have
been purchased, with appropriate coremonies and publicity, by many fraternal
organizations including: the Roxburg Post of the American Legion, Woburn
Elke Lodge, Somerville Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Mt.
Benedict Council of the Knights of Columbus.
#
&
+
Boston taxicabs carry "Buy Defense Bonds and Stampa" stickers.
- 4 -
Regraded Unclassified
127
MINNESOTA
Retailers' Boost Stamp Sales: Allotment Plan Making Headway
SALES OF DEFENSE STAMPS during "Retailers for Defense Week" jumped
phenomenally. Some early reports: St. Paul - sales doubled over the
previous week; Minneapolis - sales up $4,600; Northfield, Faribault, Park
Rapids - local supplies of stamps completely exhausted.
AN IMPORTANT BY-PRODUCT of the week of intense activity on the part of
retailers to put over the stamp sale in a big way was the installation and
whole-hearted acceptance of pay roll allotment plans in many retail ostablish-
ments.
STATE AND LOCAL COMMITTEES throughout the state are now thanking re-
tailers for their fine cooperation and urging them to "keep up the good
work".
INSTALLATION OF PAY ROLL ALLOTMENT PLANS in 115 Minneapolis business
establishments employing nearly 60,000 workers in less than one month is
the outstanding achievement of the Minneapolis Committee under the leader-
ship of its active Chairman Robert F. Pack,
MINNEAPOLIS BUSINESS HEADS lunched in groups at the Federal Reserve Bank
and heard the story of Defense Savings from the bank's president, John Peyton
and Otis Preston, an officer of the bank and Chairman of the Employers'
Division of the Minneapolis Committee.
A TEAM OF INSURANCE MEN under the leadership of Edward H. Keating
followed up after these initial contacts and in cooperation with officers
and employees of individual concerns worked out the details of the allotment
procedure and developed a program for explaining the plan personally to
every employee.
ORGANIZED LABOR went on record for the Defense Savings Program in
September when the convention of the Minnesota State Federation of Labor
adopted a strongly worded resolution of support. R. F. Wentz, a Vice-Presi-
dent of the Federation is Chairman of the St. Paul Committee,
*
*
+
FERGUS FALLS BOND A MONTH CLUBS
In Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Cyrus Field, Otter Tail County Chairman is
forming "Bond a Month Clubs". Each member, upon joining one of these Clubs
signs the following pledge:
"For My Share in the Defense Program of MY COUNTRY, and to
benefit myself and my family with a safe and sure savings
out of earnings plan, I join with my fellow citizens in &
monthly plan of systematic thrift and saving, and to that
end agree with MY COUNTRY and my fellow citizens who sign
like pledges, to buy. each month, a Defense Bond or
Defense Stamps, in a pre-determined set amount to be fix-
ed by me according to my circumstances and earnings."
$
-5-
Regraded Unclassified
128
Introducing the members of the
DEFENSE SAVINGS COMMITTEE FOR MINNESOTA
HONORARY CHAIRMAN:
STATE ADMINISTRATOR:
Governor Harold E. Stassen
Arthur D. Reynolds
DEPUTY STATE ADMINISTRATOR:
CHAIRMAN: D. J. Arnold, President, Northwestern
Lief Gilstad
National Life Insurance Company
MEMBERS:
Otto Bremer, President of the
Mrs. S. E. Linsley, President,
American National Bank
Minnesota Congress of Parents and
Teachors
Mrs. A. C. Carlson, former National
President, American Legion Auxiliary
Dr. Charles W. Mayo, Rochester
Judge Vince A. Day, Minneapolis
Wm. L, McKnight, President,
Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co.
Judge John P. Devaney, Minneapolis
Miss Ruth H. Mitchell, President,
it. Duncan, Jr., Secretary, Minnesota
Minneapolis League of Women Voters
Bankers Association
Michael F, Murray,
Oluf Gandrud, President, Swift County
Fritz-Cross Company, St. Cloud
Bank, Benson
Albert Pfaender, Attorney, New Ulm
Frank J. Gavin, President, Great
Northern Railway Company
Frank P. Powers, President,
Kanabec State Bank, Mora
Sandor D, Genis, Manager, Twin City
Joint Board Amalgamated Clothing
Paul A. Rasmusson, Former State
Workers of America
Budget Commissioner, Minneapolis
Francis A. Gross, Director
John E. Rogan, Attorney, Mankato
Northwest Bancorporation
LeRoy Salsich, President, Oliver
Jay Hormel, President, Hormel
Iron Company, Duluth
Packing Company, Austin
Charles W. Stickney, Chairman,
Arthur W. King, Jr., President,
Minnesota Agricultural Conservation
Duluth Junior Chamber of Commerce
Committee
Henry S. Kingman, President, Farmers &
E. W. Swanson, Vice-President,
Mechanics Savings Bank of Minneapolis
Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis
Goorge W. Lawson, Secretary,
I. N. Tate, Vice-President,
Minneapolis Federation of Labor
Weyerhaeuser Salus Company
Richard C. Lilly, President, First
J. Camuron Thompson, President,
National Bank of St. Paul
Northwest Bancorporation, Minneapolis
F. H. Wilson, Chairman, Order of
Railway Conductors, Duluth
DEVERSMENT PRINTING EFFICE
- 6 -
Regraded Unclassified
129
"S" DAY IN CANTON: A GREAT PATRIOTIC SPECTACLE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 will long be remembered in Canton, Ohio as "S"
Day - the day when Canton retailers and almost every other business and
professional group in the city joined together to stage a gigantic demon-
stration on behalf of Defense Savings Stamps.
IN OTHER CITIZS, during "Retailers for Defense Week" similar demon-
strations and parades were arranged; but, according to Major Benjamin H.
Name, Chairman of the Defense Savings Staff's Retailers Advisory Committee
and an "eye-witness", Canton's celebration surpassed all the rest. One
indication of the correctness of this assertion - an estimated 250,000
people or twice the population of Canton, watched the mammoth parade which
brought the day's activities to a close.
#
*
DOLLARS FROM HEAVEN:
Opening event of "S" Day was the flight of the world-famed woman
airplane pilot, Arlene Davis, of Lakewood, Ohio, over the down-
town area of Canton. During this flight she roleased hundreds
of balloons containing certificatos worth one dollar each in
Defense Stamps when presented at designated stores, As she flew
low over the city Miss Davis broadcast to the crowds below and
to B coast-to-coast radio audience of the Mutual Notwork her
personal appeal for full support of the Defense Savings Program.
The Goodyear Blimp also circled the city throughout the day dropping
balloons and trailing a "Buy Defense Stampa" streamer.
Eager children captured most of the balloons as schools in Canton
and in nearby towns were dismissed early on "S" Day and children
were on hand en masse, When interviewed by newspaper reporters
many of those who had captured balloons said that they intended
to use their dollar's worth of stamps as first installments towards
Defense Bonds.
STALPS WERE ON SALZ practically everywhere:
Special stamp booths, which in some cases were staffed by volunteers
from the Junior Lengue, Y.W.C.A., and patriotic organizations
were erected by many stores.
Arlene Davis autographed stamp albums for those purchasing their stamps
in Loew's Theatre lobby.
A free pony ride was offered to children who bought stamps at the
special booth erocted in the public square and by early afternoon
this popular place had entirely exhausted its supply of stamps of
the ten cent denomination.
- arence
- 7
Regraded Unclassified
130
DAY IN CAVION: GREAT PARADE SYMBOLIZES DETERMINATION TO KEEP LIGHTS
BURNING BRIGHT IN AMERICA
Left: Market Street in Canton, Ohio, lights
up for big Defense Stamp parade, September
16.
ENDOMAN
Below: One of the many beautiful floats in
the 2-hour-long parade.
STARK DRY GOODS
"DOLLARS FROM HEAVEN"
Below: Arlene Davis, famous aviatrix, sell-
ing Defense Stamps before taking off for her
flight over downtown Canton during which
she dropped hundreds of balloons, each con-
taining a certificate redeemable for one dol-
lar's worth of stamps at some designated
store.
Conton's public square racing for
Phm nearhy buildings and Miss Davis'
DI - RELATIONS BOXIS -
Regraded Unclassified
131
"8" DAY IN CANTON
(Continued)
TE PARADE:
More than 4000 marchers, 15 bands, several Army, Marine Corps and
Crast Guard units, and 150 floats took part in the parade which
got underway at 7:30 P.M., and continued well into the evening.
Canton's main streets were ablaze with lights for the occasion as the
Retail Merchant's Board had brought out its spectacular Christmas
lighting display.
Marching groups, decorated trucks and beautiful floats represented
practically every element in the community - lodges, patriotic
societies, labor unions and other organizations - as well as
business houses.
Aerial bcmbs exploding intermittently, colored streamers and bits of
paper floating down from the taller buildings, beautifully deco-
rated store windows, many having the Minute Man and other patri-
otic motifs, all combined to make the evening parade tremendously
impressive.
"Viewed from a curbstone the parade was tops", wrote a
reporter in the Canton Repository. "Boauty, a proud
sense of patriotism, and the warmth of an elbow-rubbing
democracy combined to provide dramatic punch that a less
spontaneous, more formal pageant could not have achieved".
THE MANY PERSONS whose cooperation mado it possible for Canton to
stage its outstanding demonstration cannot be listed here. However, special
recognition is due to Charles M, Isaac, Executive Secretary of the Canton
Retail Merchant's Board and Roy D. Moore, Publisher of the Canton Repository
und Chairman of the State Defense Savings Committee for Ohio.
Both Mr. Isaac and Mr. Moore in thoir reports of the event have empha-
rized the genuinely enthusiastic 100% cooperation which was shown by every-
one who was asked to help. Canton merchants contributed most generously to
meet the special expenses of the occasion - for example the cost of bring-
ling out the special display lighting and the living expenses of service men
who were on duty in Canton throughout the week, In many other tangible ways
the business men gave evidence of their determination to make "S" Day a
trily notable occasion,
In these events sell stamps? Well, Postmaster Louis J. Elsaesser
amounced that during the first two days of Retailers for Defense Week
thies amounted to nearly as much as the combined sales during the first
four months of their marketing in Canton.
Regraded Unclassified
MORE PICTURES OF CANTON'S BIG PARADE
132
R. avr
BaY
DRING
STAMPS
-
SALY'S
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA
ISALY FLOAT
STATE CHAMPION DRUM CORPS
MAJORETTES OF THE SONS OF V. F.W.
SONS OF V. F.W.
DRUM CORPS
SPECTATORS
MAJORETTES, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL BAND
CON
/
BUILDING
178
TRADES
AF-L.
WORKERS
550
-
- - -
Regraded Unclassified
133
PAYROLL ALLOTMENT PLAN INSTALLATION
Procedures For Local Committees to Follow
Outlined In Field Bullotin #7 From Which
The Following Excerpts Were Taken
"The Payroll Allotment Plan for systematic installment purchase of
Defense Savings Bonds has been endorsed by many leaders of labor and in-
Employees of several thousand business concerns throughout
the matry. country ilready are using the Payroll Allotment Plan as a means of
reserving a portion of their current earnings toward the purchase of De-
fense Savings Bonds, and a major responsibility of the field organization
in to promote its widespread adoption.
...
"Members of State and local Defense Savings Committees, whose experi-
once and ability qualify them to do so, should be assigned to specialize
in the presentation of the Payroll Allotment Plan to employers and employ-
It is desirable that representatives of both employers and en-
cos, ployees be included among the committee members selected to specialize in
this work. It is also desirable that members of State and local committees
who also are members of the National Association of Life Underwriters be
included in this group, innamuch 15 members of this Association in many in-
stance have had experience in this type of work.
"The active cooperation of employee organizations should be enlisted
not only to further the installation of Payroll Allotment plans but also
to stimulate continuing interest in such plans.
...
Adoption of the Pay-
roll Allotment Plan is a joint undertaking by employer and employee. It
is the employee who is asked to purchase Defense Savings Bonds in this nan-
nor; it is the employer who is asked to defray out-of-pocket expenses of
querating the Payroll Allotment Plan.
"Through consultation with labor and industry representatives on De-
fense Savings Committoes, the field organization should at all times be ade-
quately informed concerning labor rolations and should be able to develop
the beat possible presentation of the Payroll Allotment Plan to both employ-
UPS end employees of individual establishments. Wherever the extension of
the Payroll Allotment Plan is contemplated to establishments in which there
the unions of employees, the promotional approach should be guided by the ad-
vice of labor representatives having membership in Defense Savings Connittees."
NEW ALLOTMENT PLANS
Here are 1. fuw of the nationally known business organizations which have
Mountly announced payroll allotment plans:
Carnation Company, Seattle, Washington
Coca Cola Company, Atlanta, Georgia
B. F. Goodrich Company, Akron, Ohio
International Business Machines Corp.,
Binghanton, New York
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing CO.,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-11-
Regraded Unclassified
134
EMPLOYEES OF MANY CITY AND STATE
GOVERNMENTS PARTICIPATING IN ALLOTMENT PLANS
Government employees in many parts of the country are setting an
example for employees in private business in this matter of systematic saving
for Defense Bonds. State, county and city government employees as well as
employees in practically all Federal departments and agencies are par-
ticipating in regular voluntary purchase Plans.
The state governments of NEW MEXICO, RHODE ISLAND and WASHINGTON have
installed allotment plans similar to those in effect in many private busi-
ness firms. Voluntary purchase plans similar to the ones used by Federal
departments and agencies are in effect in many offices of the state govern-
ments of CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSIS-
SIPPI, MISSOURI and MONTANA.
Among the city governments which have established allotment plans are:
DENVER, Colorado; BRIDGEPORT, HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN and WATERBURY, Connecticut;
NEWARK and JERSEY CITY, New Jersey; CENTRAL FALLS and PROVIDENCE, Rhode-
Island; MEMPHIS, Tennessee; and SEATTLE, SPOKANE, TACOMA and WENATCHEE,
Washington.
Other city and county governments with eithor allotment plans or
regular purchase pledge plans of one kind or another include: the cities of
WICHITA, Kansas; MONROE, Michigan; JACKSON, Mississippi; WINSTON-SALEM, North
Carolina; and EL PASO, Texas; and HINDS COUNTY Mississippi and TRAVERSE COUNTY
Texas.
ALLOTMENT PROGRESS NOTES
MORE THAN 80% of the 12,000 employees of the Prudential Insurance
Company of Newark, N. J., are participating in an allotment plan.
"PRACTICALLY ALL" of the 450 employees of the Green Shoe Manufacturing
Company of Boston, Mass., are saving regularly for Defense Bonds.
NEARLY 90% of the 400 employees of the Illinois Tool Works in Elgin,
Illinois have joined fL Defense Savings allotment plan.
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS labor leaders are working actively to
encourage installation of payroll allotment plans.
SHOE WORKERS in the Nashua and Wanchester, New Hampshire factories of
the McElwain Company adopted a resolution favoring an allotment plan.
MORE THAN 50,000 DALLAS, TEXAS WORKERS have enrolled in systematic sav-
ing plans according to W. À. Thomas, Chairman of the District Defense Savings
Committee there. Theatres, rotail and wholesale merchants, insurance
companies, local offices of the Federal Government, cotton brokers, and
businesses of many other typos have established these plans and participation
in the program is increasing stoadily, Chairmen Thomas reports.
DISTRIBUT PRINTING CITICE
- 12 -
Regraded Unclassified
135
COLORFUL POLISH PEASANT COSTUMES POSTERS CALL ATTENTION TO DEFENSE SAVINGS
Young ladies employed in the offices of the Polish National Alliance, which has its headquarters in Chi-
caps, are shown here as they appeared on September 10 after participating in a Defense Day parade in
Chicago's Polish community on Milwaukee, Division, and Ashland Avenues.
SLOVENIAN WOMEN INVEST FOR DEFENSE
LITHUANIAN GROUP BACKS DEFENSE
WITH DOLLARS
BI
UNIT
STA
SAV
BO
AND
Mm John Prisland of Sheboygan, Wis., national
invoident of the Slovenian Women's Union of Amer-
Investment of $20,000 in Defense Bonds has
M. is shown receiving from C. E, Broughton, chair-
been reported by the Lithuanian Citizens Politi-
for of the Wisconsin Defense Savings Committee, a
firm Bond. "Our Union is proud
cal Club of Waterbury, Conn. From left to
& its lord for national defense." said Mrs. Pris-
right, Charles Cvirka, president of the club:
De
us, The above picture was taken in the office of
Peter E. Poskas, vice-president: and Leroy W.
Foote, manager of the branch of the Waterbury
Savings Bank where the bonds were purchased.
REVETION
-
Regraded Unclassified
136
70 THE LADIES
How One National Women's Organization Cooperates
Last surrer in Southern California, delegates to the bienniel conven-
of the National Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., voted
tion unsnimous endorsement and approval of the Defense Sevings Program. Before
the chill of Autumn had yet touched New York City, where the Business and
Professional Women have national headquarters, B detailed Defense Savings
Program, designed to dovetail into the club's general program for the year
1940-41, had been worked out, written up, and sent to all the Presidents of
the 1700 local units of the NBPW.
The general program for the NBPW club year was designed around the
110/20 "Strongthen Democrecy for Defense." In October, for example, it was
suggested that the women develop, the subject, "Our Town's Defense Contri-
bution." Next April, meetings are to be concerned with "The Cost of Defense."
National headquarters urged local club presidents to fit the subject of De-
Tense Savings into both of these sessions.
At the same time that the detailed Defense Savings Program was sent to
1700 local BPW Presidents, 50 copies of the leaflet "We Gels Have To Stick
Towether" were sent to each local President for distribution among her
The Plan
In a ten point plan of action, local Presidents of all Business end
Professional Women's Clubs, were urged to:
1. Appoint a Dofense Sevings Chairman.
2, Set aside 8 meeting, or part of E: meeting, for 8 Defonce
Savings Program.
3, Set uside five to fifteen minutes at the beginning of each neet-
ing throughout the V-ar for some Defense Savings activity.
4, Help to olan B. community Defense Savings Program.
5. Pinn one big Defense Sevings sociel function for the year.
6. Use Defense Sevings Bonds for club investments.
?, If the club has e redio program, schedule B series of Defense
Savings Programs.
3, UFO publicity to remind club members and others in the community
of the Defense Sevings Progrem.
9, Organize B study group under the leadership of the Club's Defense
Sevings Chairman.
10. Encourage club members to use Defense Bonds and Stamps in every
Wey that they con.
Each of these points was developed with detailed program suggestions end
lists of materials that can be obteined through the Defense Savings Staff,
These include spooches, quizzes, posters, music, leaflets and booklets.
14 -
Regraded Unclassified
137
TO THE LADIES
(Continued)
Local BPW Clubs Swing Into Action:
Palestine, Tex., "Received the Defense Savings Program for
Business and Professional Women and it came to us just at the
right time. From it I got the idea to have our club sponsor
the sale of Defense Stamps at our local fair to be held here
October 6-11. We had intended to have a concession at the
Fair to boost our finances, which are deplorably low right
now, but it occurred to us that this service we might render
would be of more lasting benefit to a greater number of peo-
ple than the money we might earn from the sale of something
else, so we are going to donate our services and time for the
entire week to this purpose. The Fair Association will give
us any space we might want, and the Postmaster and the Chair-
man of the Citizens Defense Committee have offered us all the
help that they can give."
Reno, Nev., "Our Business and Professional Women's Club in
Reno devoted its first dinner meeting of the year to a Defense
Saving Stamp Program. The $2.50 usually spent for decorations
was used in the purchase of Defense Stamps. These were given
as prizes in a quiz called "What's My Name?" The leaflet "We
Gala Have To Stick Together" was distributed by one of our
members, who was dressed as the Goddess of Liberty. At the
same time "Any Bonds Today?" was being sung."
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"We Must Deny Ourselves
The National Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., concludes
its message to local club presidents on Defense Savings with these thoughtful
and sober minded words:
"It must be remembered that there are people in every community
who cannot afford to save without endangering the health of their
families. But for those who can afford to save it is not enough
to buy one stamp or one bond.
"The object of the Defense Savings Program is continuous, systematic
saving out of current carnings. He must deny ourselves some luxuries
and use what we save in this way to buy Defense Savings Bonds and Stamps."
#
#
We hope, TO THE LADIES, will give women members of State and local
Defense Savings Committees concrete, practical information which may be helpful
in planning their own activities.
4. & REINTING AFFICE
-15-
Regraded Unclassified
NEWSBOYS PREPARE FOR HOUSE-TO-HOUSE DISTRIBUTION OF
138
DEFENSE SAVINGS FOLDERS
PRESS
ANCTORS
Vermont State Administrator Fred C. Martin talks to carriers of the Burlington Free Press before they
save to distribute Defense Savings literature. The newsboys reached every household in Burlington and
Winooski. which have a combined population of about 35,000.
BIG BOSTON BANK OFFERS
NAUGATUCK EAGLES DISPLAY THEIR BONDS
NEW SAVINGS PLAN
CARLSON
AERIETGIO
- - of
EAGLES
State Administrator Daniel J. Do-
Serty and Vire President William F.
MoCarthy of the National Shawmut
Rank of Borton discuss the details of
the bank's THE plan to encourage in-
in Defense Bonds. Under
This plan - may, at their
artion. in the monthly pay-
ents XX) Them loans an additional
This simple but attractive window display features the $10,000
km whom set aside and accumu-
worth of Defense Savings Bonds which have been purchased by
Bombo lated times the purchase of Defense
the Naugatuck, Conn., Aerie No. 640 of the Fraternal Order of
Eagles.
DEVERSMENT
-
Regraded Unclassified
139
VIRGINIA BANKERS CO OVER THE TOP
All Virginia banks, 130 national and 184 state chartered institutions,
total of 314, have now qualified as issuing agents for Series E Bonds.
Virginia thus becomes the fourth field division in which the banks are
cooperating "100%" with this phase of the Defense Savings Program. Inasmuch
AT Virginia has many more banks than the first three to attain 100% status
(The District of Columbia, Nevada and Oregon) the achievement is especially
hoteworthy.
All National banks in the following states (in addition to the District
of Columbia, Nevada, Oregon and Virginia) have now qualified according to the
Treasury's September 30 report on the number of qualified issuing agents:
Arizona, Florida, Maine, South Carolina, Utah and Washington. New York with
412 out of 425 National banks qualified also merits special mention.
All State banks have qualified in only the four 100% states. But again
New York with 296 of its 300 state chartered institutions qualified has an
outstanding record.
All mutual savings banks in nine states have now qualified: the District
of Columbia, Waryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York (134 banks) Ohio,
Progon, Vermont and Washington. Maine with 30 out of 32 such banks qualified
10 close to the goal.
For the Country as a whole, 89% of all National, 72% of all State, and
20% if all mutual savings banks have now qualified,
These figures are impressive tributes not only to the patriotism and
sound judgment of bankers generally but also to the untiring efforts of many
leaders of the banking fraternity. Secretary Morgenthau, addressing the
ennual meeting of the American Banker's Association in Chicago, October 2,
said:
"You have given magnificent help and given it unselfishly
and cheerfully, in the selling of Defense Savings Bonds
and Stamps, In this effort the Treasury will continue to
depend greatly upon the bankers of America, not only as its
agents in selling Defense Bonds but also as missionaries in
spreading the gospel of savings in times like these."
BANKS MAY NOW STOCK BONDS WITHOUT PUTTING UP COLLATERAL
The Treasury has recently announced that it is no longer necessary for
here insured with FDIC to cut up collateral for the Series End Sonde which
they In stock for their customers.
Every director, officer and employee of the Lincoln National Bank
= Newark, K. da, has purchased at least one Defense Bond. The bank is
asvertising this fact with the comment: "Have you?"
-17-
Regraded Unclassified
140
DEFENSE SAVINGS ON THE AIR
Radio Programs For Coming Week
Monday, Oct. 13
FOR AMERICA WE SING
9:30-10:00 P. M. (EST)
NBC Blue Network
Symphony Orcheatra conducted by Dr. Frank Black with the NBC Choir.
GUEST STARS: Felix Knight and Anna Kaskas.
+ # # # * #
Tuesday, Oct. 14
MILLIONS FOR DEFENSE
8:00-9:00 P. M. (EST)
NBC Blue Network
This week's all star cast includes Fay Wray, Claude Rains, Phil Baker,
Kenny Baker, Barry Wood, Wynne Murray, Leonard Joy's Choir and Orchestra
and Graham McNamee and Larry Elliott.
# * * * + *
Saturday, Oct. 18
AMERICA PREFERRED
9:15-9:45 P. M. (EST)
Mutual Network
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alfred Wallenstein. Commentator
Deems Taylor.
GUEST STAR: Jascha Heifetz.
******
AN ATTRACTIVE BROCHURE has been issued by the Bendix Aviation Corporation
to announce its sponsorship of "Millions for Defense" for the next three months.
"For Bendix", the booklet states, "the broadcasts will
accomplish everything we could want them to.
if they achieve their purpose for America. This is
our aim, our hope, our prayer."
THESE STATIONS carry the Treasury Hour Program:
Ala. - WHMA, WSGN; Ariz. - KTAR, KGLU, KYUM, KVOA; Ark. - KTHS;
Calif. KFBK, KWG, KCO, KERN, KECA, KTMS, KFSD; Colo. - KVOD, KGHF; Conn. -
WNBC; District of Columbia - VMAL; Fla. - WTLSC, WSUN, WLOF, WKAT, WMFT, WJHP;
Ga. - WAGA, WGAC; Ill. WENR - VLS; Ind. - WOWO, WISH, WBOW, WGBF; Iowa - KSO,
WOC, KMA; Kans. - WREN; Ky. WINN; La. - WIBO, VIDSU; Md. - WCBM; Mass. - WBZA,
WBZ; Mich. - WBCM, WFDF, WXYZ, WIBM, WELL, WJIM; Minn. - WTON; Nev. - KoH;
New Mexico - KOB; New York - WJZ, WKIP, WTRY, WSYR, MFF, WHDL, WEBR, WHAM,
WJTN; North Carolina - WHKY, WGNC, WMFR, WMFD, VEED, WCBT; North Dakota - WDAY)
Ohio - WHK, WAKR, WIZE, WING, WSAI; Okla. - KOME, KToK; Ore. - KEX; Pa. - KQV,
WFIL; Rhode Island - WEAN; South Carolina - WORD, WCOS; Tenn. WMPS, WAPO,
WHOL; Tex. - KGKO, KFDM, KXYZ; Utah - KUTA, KLO; Va. - WRNL, WINC; Wash. - KJR,
KGA; W. Va. - WINC, IMVA; Wyo. - KFBC.
- = present printias cirrice
- 18 -
Regraded Unclassified
141
CABLE
To: Federal Reserve Bank, N.Y.
From: Stabilization Board of
China, Hong Kong.
Date: October 11, 1941.
17.
Charge U. S, Dollar - Chineco Yuan Stabilization Fund of
China, Special Account, and pay Chartered Bank of India, Australia
and China U. S. $11,330 for account of Chartered Bank of India,
Australia and China, Shanghai Branch Office. National City Bank
of the City of New York U.S. $21,142.20 for account of National
C
City Bank of the City of New York, Shanghai Branch Office.
(Signed)
Stabilization Board of China.
(Sec'd by phone from FRB, N. Y., 10:20 a.m., 10-11-41 kr. Lang's of, hr)
Regraded Unclassified
(3
0
142
?
I
DEPARTMENT CF STATE
WASHINGTON
In reply refer to
a 840.51 Frozen
October 11, 1941.
Credita/3729
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to
the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and encloses
six copies of e paraphrase of a telegram from the American
Consulate, Martinique, dated October 1, 1941, 11 a.m.,
concerning a. breakdown for the October exchange license
which WB 9 submitted by the High Commissioner.
Enclosure:
From Consulate, Martinique,
October 1, 1941. 11 S.D.,
6 copies of paraphrase.
Copythr:10-13-41.
Regraded Unclassified
143
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED
FROM: American Consulate, Martinique, French West Indies
DATE: October 1, 1941, 11 a.m.
NO.: -
The following breakdown is submitted by the High Com-
missioner for the October exchange license:
GUADALOUPE
Foodstuffs
140,000
Industrial materials...
117,200
Manufactured series
87,000
TOTAL
344,200
MISCELLANEOUS
Financial Attache
.....
44,700
MARITIME
Foodstuffs
126,000
Manufactured Goods
103,500
Industrial Materials..
133,600
TOTAL
363,100
SHEEHAN
EA:PAK
804.51 Frozen Credits/3729
Copy:1c:10/13/41
Regraded Unclassified
PLAIS
144
Johannesburg
Dated October 11, 1941
Rec'd. 12:12 p.m., 12th
Secretary of State,
Washington.
leventh.
Minister of Finance announced yesterday arrangement with British
Government for reducing Unions gross external debt by repatriating securities
issued in London aggregating approximately thirty million pounds. British
government will take over all holdings by residents of United Eingdom of
Union stocks ordinarily redeemable commencing 1943 and 1945 respectively
and transfer them to South African Reserve Bank in exchange for equivalent
amount of gold. Bank will pay in installments up to end of this year. Mean-
while banks gold reserve will be maintained by replacement purchases from
nines. Union Government's loan requirements current fincal year aggregate 78
million pounds including 4E million for defence, public works and railways and
30 million for Eebt repatriation. Of total 26 million available from public
debt commissioners leaving 52 million required from public of which 22 million
vill De derived from two loans to be offered October 13 one long term at 3%
ADd one short term at 2 1/46 both issued at par. Debt repatriation loan to be
offered later at 3% also issued at par maturing 25 to 30 years. Savings bonde
3 1/4. maturing 12 years also being offered to middle class of investors.
BROOKS.
22
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
145
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
Chauncey
DATE October 11, 1941
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
Mr. Dietrich
FROM
CONFIDENTIAL
Registered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were AS follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
£ 9,000
Purchased from commercial concerns £19,000
Open market sterling was again quoted at 4.03-1/2, and there were no reported
transactions.
In Sew York, little movement took place in foreign exchange quotations except
for a alight improvement in the Argentine free peso. Closing quotations were:
Canadian dollar
11-7/16% discount
Argentine peso (free)
.2350
Brazilian milrois (free)
.0505
Colombian peso
-5775
Mexican peso
.2070
Uruguayan peso (free)
.4600
Veneruelan bolivar
.2700
Cuban peso
1/16% discount
There were no gold transactions consummated by us today.
No new gold engagements were reported.
It will be recalled that, on August 21, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
granted the Central Bank of El Salvador a three-month loan of $200,000, setting aside
as collateral $226,000 in gold from the Salvadorean bank's earmarked account.
Although the naturity date was November 21, we were advised that the Salvadorean bank
repaid this loan yesterday, whereupon the Federal returned the $226,000 in gold to
the Salvadoreen bank's earmarked account. At present, there are no Federal loans
to Salvador outstanding.
D
Regraded Unclassified
146
RESTRICTED
7-2/2657-220; No. 516 M.I.D., W.D. 11:00 A.M., October 11, 1941
SITUATION REPORT
I. Eastern Theater.
Ground: The situation on the central front is still ob-
scure,
No change at Leningrad.
The German High Command claims that the destruc-
tion of the Russian armies trapped in the Bryansk and Vyazma areas
is proceeding rapidly and that the destruction of the forces sur-
rounded north of the Sea of Azov is practically completed.
German armored forces have reached Gzhatsk, 50
miles northeast of Vyazma.
Air: German sources claim Moscow and Leningrad were bomb-
ed last night. Moscow reports downing several German bombers in
that area.
II. Western Theater.
Air: The R.A.F. raid over Germany last night was on a
normal scale after several days of comparative innctivity resulting
from bad weather.
A port on the British east coast, thought to be
Hull, was the main objective of German planes last night.
London yesterday announced that the new American-
built Airacobra has been employed especially for protection of long-
range bombers during their attacks on Nazi-occupied positions on the
Continent.
III. Middle Eastern Theater.
Air: Axis air forces operated against Tobruk and Marsa
Ustruh, while the British raided Benghazi and were thought to have
operated over Sicily.
RESTRICTED
Regraded Unclassified
147
October 12, 1941
Identical letters were sent to the following:
Hon. Secy. of Labor
Hon. Paul V. McNutt
Hon. Secy. of State
Hon. John M. Carmody
Hon. Attorney General
Hon. Secy. of War
Hon. Secy. of Agriculture
Hon. Secy. of Navy
Hon. Postmaster General
Hon. Secy. of Interior
Hon. Secy. of Commerce
Hon. Vice-President
Hon. Jesse H. Jones
The President
148
NOV 12 ANS'D
Dear Mr. President:
You may be interested in the enclosed
leaflet oovering Tax Savings Notes, which has
been prepared by the Treasury for distribution
to banks and corporations throughout the country.
The purpose of the leaflet 18 to pro-
vide these institutions with concise information,
for reference, when discussing tax notes with
depositors or employees.
Although we do not now contemplate
distributing the leaflet to the public, copies
are available at the Treasury Department upon
request.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) 1. Morganthaw. 11.
The President,
The White House.
By Menna m 9:55
Enclosure.
11/13/41
GB:amo 11/11/41
Regraded Unclassified
149
THE COMMANDANT OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
WASHINGTON
13 October, 1941
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY:
Subject:
Crash of Coast Guard plane V-188.
Inclosures:
(4) One set of 4 pictures showing location of crash.
(B) One set of 7 pictures showing damage to plane.
(c) One airway map showing location of crash.
(D) One road may of Dutchess County, New York, showing
location of crash.
1.
In accordance with your request I am submitting this
comorandum and its inclosures for your personal files. You were
previously furnished a narrative report made by each of the following
men, together with copies of radio messages that were made to and from
the plane during the flight:
Lieutenant W. E. Sinton
ACMM(AP) E. T. Preston
ACMM Lonnie Bridges
CRM 5. J. Brodnan
Lieutenant J. A. Breston
Lieutenant A. J. Hesford
Lieutenant C. L. Harding.
2.
Plane V-188, with Lieutenant W. E. Sinton, Pilot,
ACMM 1. T. Preston, Co-pilot, ACMM Lonnie Bridges, Plane Captain, and
CRM S. J. Brodnan, radioman, left Washington Airport at 4:00 P. M.,
October the 3d, for New Hackensack, New York, with Secretary Morgenthan
as passenger. In coming down through the fog to make a landing at
New Hackensack, the plane hit the tree tops on Lloyd's Hill, approximately
thirteen miles north of the airport, but due to almost superhuman effort
and ability on the part of the plane crew the plane was kept in flight
and eventually landed safely at the Philadelphia Airport. The details
of the flight are contained in a previous report to you. The plane was
badly damaged, as shown in the inclosed photographs, and it is almost a
miracle that & fatal crash was avoided.
Regraded Unclassified
150
Secretary of the Treasury
#2
3.
On October the sixth a detail from the New York District
made a search to determine accurately where the plane hit the tree tops.
This was accurately located approximately thirteen miles north of the
New Hackensack Airport, and photographs and maps showing the location
are inclosed herewith. A wing tip, part of stabilizer and loop
housing of the plane were recovered from the trees.
h.
It will be two months or more before the plane can be
repaired and placed back in service.
anuserche
R. R. WAESCHE
151
Regraded Unclassified
visa of EAL from - 3 : : 5
Regraded Unclassified
150
153
Regraded Unclassified
Closeun of trees cut by V 188 . arrows indicate larger trees, to
obtain better perspective as to size of trees . hold photo at arms length.
Regraded Unclassified
Photographm of tree tope and branches cut offend snapped off by V188.
Altimeter in photograph is used for showing relative size of branches.
Although Altimeter WAS used to obtain correct altitude of snot above
sen level, the altimeter-setting in this nh tograph in not corrected.
154
155
View near summit of Lloyd Hill where V-188 was damaged.
White lines in center of photograph are trees which were cut and snapped
off by plane.
Regraded Unclassified
156
AST
Regraded Unclassified
- - - -
-
- - -
i
ST JAST GUAI
PL
R50-1
157
158
Regraded Unclassified
159
Regraded Jnclassifie
C
0
IN
the
TV
161
Regraded Unclassifie
NEW YORK!
-
Regraded Unclassified
N
N
N
N
N
N
NEW YORK
DUTCHESS COUNTY
MAP OF
P6
S
T
A
E
T
E
H
00
JUNYHO
=
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0400189W
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164
October 13, 1941
11:15 a.m.
GROUP MEETING
Present:
Mr. Buffington
Mr. Morris
Mr. Barnard
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Viner
Mr. Sullivan
Mr. Waesche
Mr. Johnson
Mr. Kuhn
Mr. Graves
Mr. Foley
Mr. Haas
Mr. White
Mr. Schwarz
Mr. Bell
Mrs. Klotz
H.M.Jr:
I have got a lot of little tidbits here I
would like to get rid of. I got a complaint,
Harold. A ten year old child doesn't get
Irving Berlin's song, and then I asked and
they said they had a hundred letters and a
thousand postal cards and they can't fill them
until November first.
Graves:
That is right. They are out of print.
H.K.Jr:
Not too good.
Graves:
Well, we are always in difficulty in keeping
our stocks up, on account of paper shortage
difficulty that the Government printing
office has.
R.M.Jr:
But three weeks, Harold, to wait, for a little
girl, kind of spoils it.
Regraded Unclassified
165
- 2 -
Graves:
We have had difficulty with posters and
literature of all kinds in getting anything
like prompt delivery.
H.W.Jr:
Tell your mail order fellow not to get so
far ahead then, will you, or else your
production man. At least get them together.
I would much rather have your mail order man
stay ahead and get your production man busy.
Harold?
Graves:
Yes, sir.
H.K.Jr:
Please. I see by the Pearson and Allen column
that they say that the Justice Department
hopes the Treasury will relent on money for
four hundred fifty sailors.
Toley:
They haven't said anything to me.
11,V.Jr:
Well, they said something to Pearson and Allen,
Foley:
I guess that comes first.
H.M.Jrt
This is just distributing. I have just got a
lot of odds and ends. Mr. Barnard, here are
two things. The British magazine says the
U.S. is grabbing markets. You had better get
the original magazine. And do we, or don't we,
buy those locomotives? I would like to know.
I am sending everything now to you that comes
to me from Cliff Mack, 30 if there is something
important, if you would either come in or send
me a little chit or something. And then would
you make a note to find out what are the
important items that Cliff Mack, Procurement,
has difficulty in getting ready delivery of, you
mee, and then after that I would like to sit
down with you. I mean, what are things that he
can't buy within the week that we have given
him to buy, you see.
Regraded Unclassified
166
- 3 -
Barnard:
All right, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Please. Harry, I see there has been . - rather,
this is Foley. Are we juggling in the--
Foley:
I saw that in the paper yesterday.
H.M.Jr:
In the State Department? And after three
years they have finally put Joe Green--
Foley:
As personal assistant to Hull.
H.M.Jr:
.... in charge of the refugees. God help
the refugees. I think it is outrageous.
Klotz:
Oh, that is terrible.
H.M.Jr:
Isn't that terrible? Did you know anything
about it?
Foley:
No, I had no advance notice of it at all. I
saw it in the paper yesterday.
H.M.Jr:
Isn't that terrible?
George, I notice that there is an A. F. of L.
monthly bulletin that talks about inflation.
Would you get hold of the monthly bulletin
and let me see it? What happened to Preston
Delano? He want out and made his speech
about big banks. He must have got religion.
Bell:
About them cooperating?
H.M.Jr:
No, he laid it right on the line. Great
concentration of financial power offers
certain immediate advantages. The prime ob-
ject of the American citizen is the wealth
of the individual and preserve freedom, and so
forth and so on. He talks about the big banks
and the Bank of America. Did you write his
speech?
Sullivan:
Where did he give it?
Regraded Unclassified
167
- 4 -
Schwarz:
He wrote it himself.
Bell:
New Hampshire.
H.M.Jr:
Whitefield, New Hampshire.
Suilivan:
It must be the mountain air.
H.M.Jr:
It has been a long while in getting there.
Sullivan:
You should have sent him up there sooner.
(Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
Say, as long as you are so perky today, New
Hampshire, I think, is one of the four states
we don't have an administrator on. How about
the mountain air?
Sullivan:
The trouble is we have SO many good men it is
hard to pick them.
H.M.Jr:
Utah and Louisiana and North Dakota and South
Dakota.
Sullivan:
I will take care of that.
H.M.Jr:
Before the sun sets?
Sullivan:
Before the sun sets tomorrow.
H.M.Jr:
Ambassador Winant sends me & telegram that I
would like to refer to Bell and White and
Viner and Foley. I don't know what it is all
about but it has to do with Lend-Lease and
inter-department advisory committee, carrying
out the Eden memorandum. Well, if the four of
you would get together and draft me an answer,
will you please?
Bell:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
That is all the junk I have got.
Regraded Unclassified
168
- 5 -
Thompson:
I have a letter designating Mr. Julian as
Community Chest Chairman for the Treasury.
He is glad to serve again this year as he
did last. Mr. Acheson wrote you a couple of
weeks ago asking that you let him have all
files on the Vultee Aircraft contract mat-
ter.
I have been in touch with Phil Young, and
he has nothing over there, and we have
nothing in our files other than what we
have already given the State Department.
The only thing missing are the stenographic
recordings of meetings in your office, and
I assume you don't care to have those sent
over.
H.M.Jr:
No.
Thompson:
Well, that tells them to look in the Swedish
file which we gave them.
H.M.Jr:
In other words, it is in the State Department?
Thompson:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
Dan, I am ready to talk to whomever is interested
in Social Security. When do you want to talk?
Bell:
Roy Blough is away.
H.M.Jr:
But I have made up my mind.
Bell:
Oh, I see. You read the--
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Bell:
All right, any time you say today.
H.M.Jr:
Today?
Bell:
I don't care, today or tomorrow.
Regraded Unclassified
169
- 6 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, why not let's say at ten o'clock tomorrow?
Bell:
All right. The same people?
H.M.Jr:
Yes, and I would like - Jake, if you haven't
read Altmeyer's memo, I wish you would do
it and bring it in to that meeting.
Viner:
Is that a new memo? Not the bulky one?
Bell:
Well, that is a draft of the President's
message.
H.M.Jr:
If you could ask somebody about this "in-
sured worker or & member of his family."
I don't understand that. I can understand
where each worker should be insured, but
how are you going to insure the members of
the family?
Bell:
I think that is probably following out the
President's idea.
H.M.Jr:
Well, anyway--
Bell:
That if anybody doesn't work, they ought to
get so much money.
H.M.Jr:
All right, Daniel.
Bell:
Mayor LaGuardia called me again late Saturday
night about those people who are working up
there, 80 I got hold of Mr. Cann and told
him to get McNamara down there and get the
people off the job until we determine whether
or not they are violating the Hatch Act, and
Mr. Sullivan is going to have a conference
on it.
Sullivan:
We have already had that conference, Dan.
Mr. Cann came over and talked with Mr. Foley
and Mr. Thompson and myself, and it was the
Regraded Unclassified
170
- 7 -
unanimous opinion that they should not be
permitted to return to do that work.
Bell:
I understood they did not want to work, but
they were told to work by somebody outside
of our organization.
H.M.Jr:
Well, how is it left?
Bell:
They are not working.
H.M.Jr:
They are not?
Bell:
No.
Sullivan:
They were called off Saturday night, and
about a half hour ago Cann phoned up and told
them they were not to report.
M.M.Jr:
Do I have to get in on it?
Sullivan:
No, you are out.
K.M.Jr:
Which way did LaGuardia want it?
Bell:
He wanted it this way.
H.M.Jr:
For heaven's sake, tell him he has got it,
because this is the tenth thing he has asked
me and the first I have been able to do.
Bell:
I called him and told him what we were doing.
Would you like to have us call him and say,
"They are off permanently"? I think the work
is over tonight.
Foley:
He was absolutely right in complaining.
What they did, they made these people go
on annual leave and go up there to check
these petitions.
H.K.Jr:
Who gave that order.
Regraded Unclassified
171
- 8 -
H.M.Jr:
Who gave that order?
Bell:
Apparently it came from the politicians in
the ward.
Foley:
With cooperation with somebody in the Treasury,
too.
Bell:
They said not.
H.M.Jr:
John, I wish you would go to the bottom of
that.
Sullivan:
All right, sir.
H.M.Jr:
After all, Internal Revenue is under you.
I have got to look to you. I would like to
know where that order came from.
Bell:
They think it came from outside, but they
went to, as I say, MoNamara and asked for
annual leave. He said as long as they wanted
to go, he gave them annual leave.
H.M.Jr:
What were they checking?
Bell:
Checking these petitions to see whether or
not they were proper and not fraud.
Sullivan:
There was a petition signed to put LaGuardia
on the ticket for two other parties. The
Democratic organization there is protesting
the validity of those petitions on the ground
that most of the people who signed them
were registered and voted in the Republican
primary.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I still say, John, get to the bottom
of it.
Sullivan:
All right, sir.
Regraded Unclassified
172
- 9 -
H.M.Jr:
Because it is your responsibility and who
is giving orders - it is like that other
case I sent you. Who gave the orders on
that investigation? This is the second one.
Sullivan:
I am ready to talk with you any time.
H.M.Jr:
This is the second one. I never give an
order like that.
Bell:
The other thing is, we ought to get to-
gether pretty soon on the type of Treasury
stamp that we are going to issue beginning
with the first of the year, savings stamp.
I have some models here, and I don't know
whether Harold has seen them or not. Have
you, Harold?
H.M.Jr:
Well, I am not particularly interested in
them.
Bell:
You are not?
H.M.Jr:
No. If you and Kuhn and Graves and Odegard
decide, it is all right with me.
Bell:
All right, we will go ahead on it.
H.M.Jr:
Just as long as the color isn't pink. We
have got plenty of people around.
Bell:
One unfortunate thing about it is that we
have got about a hundred and sixty million
dollars worth of stock on the postal savings
stamps.
H.M.Jr:
That is face value?
Bell:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
I mean, it is not worth that.
Regraded Unclassified
173
- 10 -
Bell:
No, that is the face value of it, but it
costs quite a bit of money to prepare that
stock.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I still refer it to you gents.
Bell:
All right, that is all I have.
Buffington:
I have nothing to report.
H.M.Jr:
You are getting along all right?
Buffington:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Are you getting enough help?
Suffington:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
You are not getting pushed around by the
savings bank fellows, are you?
Buffington:
Not at all. I have several things under
consideration, but I would rather wait a
few days until they are more definite.
h.M.Jr:
Harold?
Graves:
Nothing.
H.K.Jr:
Just like that?
draves:
Yes.
There is one thing I might mention. I probably
ought to go down to New Orleans myself on
that matter down there which me spoke of
the other day. If it is a reeable to you,
I will do that, probably this week.
S.M.Jr.
I hate to let you go. Isn't there anybody
else that could do that but you?
Regraded Unclassified
173
- 10 -
Bell:
No, that is the face value of it, but it
stock. costs quite a bit of money to prepare that
H.M.Jr:
Well, I still refer it to you gents.
Bell:
All right, that is all I have.
Buffington:
I have nothing to report.
H.M.Jr:
You are getting along all right?
Buffington:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Are you getting enough help?
Buffington:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
You are not getting pushed around by the
savings bank fellows, are you?
Buffington:
Not at all. I have several things under
consideration, but I would rather wait a
few days until they are more definite.
H.M.Jr:
Harold?
Graves:
Nothing.
H.M.Jr:
Just like that?
Graves:
Yes.
There is one thing I might mention. I probably
ought to go down to New Orleans myself on
that matter down there which we spoke of
the other day. If it is agreeable to you,
I will do that, probably this week.
H.M.Jr:
I hate to let you go. Isn't there anybody
else that could do that but you?
Regraded Unclassified
174
- 11 -
Graves:
Well, it would be 8. little difficult. We
have become involved a little with the
collector of Internal Revenue, who is in
and out of this picture. That is, he
announced that he was going to run for
mayor.
H.M.Jr:
Who?
Graves:
The Collector of Internal Revenue was asked
to serve as our administrator down there.
He accepted. Then he backed out because he
was going to run for mayor. He announced
for mayor.
(The Secretary held 8. telephone conversation
with Mayor LaGuardia.)
Sullivan:
I have already passed that message along.
H.M.Jr:
Well, tell Berkshire to have a couple of
special fellows go in - gee, we used to have
a wonderful squad in the old days. I don't
know what he has got now. Tell him to go
into a couple of cabarets and look at the
things - bar bottles, is that what they used
to call them, Harold? Do you know what a
bar bottle is?
Sullivan:
I?
II.M.Jr:
Yes. (Laughter)
Bell:
How about a club bottle.
Sullivan:
They use jugs where I come from. (Laughter)
K.M.Jr:
Anyway, let what's-his-name, Berkshire, send
up a couple of good guys and make some spot
checks. I would like to see the report.
Sullivan:
Yes, sir.
Regraded Unclassified
175
- 12 -
H.M.Jr:
If you (Graves) think you have got to go,
you decide.
White:
I have nothing.
H.M.Jr:
Have you got that answer, whether I should
call up that fellow or not?
White:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Yes?
White:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Should I?
White:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
You stay behind a minute.
Which show did you go to, Harry?
White:
"My Sister Eileen."
H.M.Jr:
You didn't follow my recommendation?
White:
Well, I went with a friend who had already
seen the other.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, I see. Well, you had better go back
and have another conference and see "Panama
Hattie."
White:
Yes. I will pick another friend. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
Harry calls me all the way up in the country
and says, "Say, Boss, what is a good show for
me to see in New York?" I recommended one
and he didn't go.
Customs, are you encouraging any more smuggling?
Regraded Unclassified
177
- 14 -
H.M.Jr:
Chick?
Schwarz:
Chuck Kades is talking tonight in St. Paul
before the National Tax Association on
tax exempts and tomorrow morning Roy Blough
is talking both on the fiscal situation and
income tax.
H.M.Jr:
George? How is the cost of living?
Haas:
Oh, I will have that for you. Here is a
table showing how the debt increased.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes.
Haas:
We are almost half a length ahead this
time.
H.M.Jr:
Oh!
Haas:
Those are the stamps by denominations. They
just became available.
H.M.Jr:
Mr. Barnard?
Barnard:
All members of the Joint Committee on Non-
essential Expenditures have been appointed
now.
H.M.Jr:
You haven't heard of anything?
Barnard:
Nothing more.
Regraded Unclassified
178
- 15 -
H.M.Jr:
Have you?
Bell:
Nothing except what is in the paper, that
there is liable to be a meeting this
week. The members of the committee have
been appointed.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else?
Barnard:
Nothing else,
H.M.Jr:
Ferdie?
Kuhn:
The Manufacturers' Association of Connect-
icut is meeting in New Haven November 12,
and they would like very much to have you
come and talk about payroll allotments.
If not, can someone, one of the Assistant
Secretaries, go up?
H.M.Jr:
Well, you talk it over with the crowd,
will you?
Kuhn:
Harold and I goth think it is a good
meeting and they are a pretty important
bunch.
Regraded Unclassified
179
- 16 -
H.M.Jr:
You talk it over with them.
Can I give this to you from my son Henry,
who is going to make a speech before some
plant workers on payroll allotments? He
would like some material. Henry has accepted
in Cleveland.
Kuhn:
Right. I will send it to him.
There is nothing else, except that we have
a new conductor for the Treasury Hour.
H.M.Jr:
Who?
Kuhn:
Al Goodman's assistant for the past twenty
years.
H.M.Jr:
Wonderful.
Kuhn:
We will see what happens.
H.M.Jr:
Did you get me the records from last
Monday night?
Kuhn:
I have inquired as to whether there was a
new one. I haven't heard whether there
was. When would you like those?
H.M.Jr:
Whenever you have them, I would love to go
down and hear them. We must keep this con-
fidential in the Treasury, but we have a
better than fifty-fifty chance of getting
Toscannini to play for us, and only for us,
this year with the NBC orchestra. There is
a better than fifty-fifty chance. He will
do it around the Christmas holidays. It will
be the only time he will conduct during the
whole year.
Kuhn:
That is all.
Regraded Unclassified
180
- 17 -
Bell:
On that committee, Mr. Secretary, I em
making up some material which I ought to
go over with you before we go up there.
I don't know whether you want it or not.
H.M.Jr:
What committee?
Pell:
That Expenditures Committee. I am making
up quite a lot of material.
H.M.Jr:
Sure, you, Barnard, and I, will sit down.
Jake?
Viner:
Nothing.
H.M.Jr:
Will you give me back that Lauch Currie
thing tomorrow? You might show it to Mr.
Barnard and Mr. Bell.
Dan, I wish that you and Morris, between
you, would know by Wednesday whether we
can or cannot pay off United States Housing's
issue in cash.
Bell:
The answer is "Yes".
H.M.Jr:
Well, have you taken it up with Strauss?
Bell:
No, but you have to approve all the financing.
H.M.Jr:
Don't you think it would be nice, between
now and Wednesday, if you would do that?
Bell:
Yes, I can discuss it with him. I don't
think they care. They are leaving it
entirely to us, but I will be glad to discuss
it with him.
H.M.Jr:
Will you? And also, you know I raised the
question about only borrowing over five years
for Jones?
Regraded Unclassified
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181
Bell:
Jones can't go beyond five years.
H.M.Jr:
Can he do five years?
Bell:
He can do five years, yes.
H.M.Jr:
That is all right. Have you considered
about paying off Commodity Credit?
Bell:
We ought to pay off Commodity Credit, because
when Jones gets his money and pays back
Commodity Credit what he owes it, they will
have about a hundred million cash, and they
ought to use it to at least reduce it by
half, and I should just as soon see it elim-
inated.
H.M.Jr:
Well, will you have Morris work that up
for the Wednesday luncheon. That is what
I want to talk about.
Admiral?
Waesche:
That Norwegian steamer which landed & Nazi
agent in Greenland was not seized by a Navy
vessel. It was seized by the Coast Guard.
That is the picture.
H.M.Jr:
It was?
Waesche:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
We caught her?
Waesche:
Yes, sir. She landed the Nazi agent there
on Greenland. I have only a very few meager
details. Of course, the original report
went to the Navy Department. I just had a
personal letter from --
H.M.Jr:
And a Coast Guard fellow caught her?
182
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Waesche:
Yes, sir. Of course, he is in the Greenland
Squadron, which is entirely & Coast Guard
Squadron, which is operating under the Navy,
of course. But the Squadron is in command
of the Coast Guard.
H.M.Jr:
That is Iceberg Smith, isn't it?
Waesche:
Iceberg Smith, yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
The old rascal. The Navy claims everything.
Waesche:
There is that final report you asked for.
H.M.Jr:
Well, there is no use doing anything.
Waesche:
Oh, no, it was just as a matter of interest.
H.M.Jr:
It would just unnecessarily irritate them.
I will kid Knox about it. But it was a
Coast Guard vessel with 8. Coast Guard crew,
that caught them?
Waesche:
Yes, Coast Guard vessel and Coast Guard crew.
Foley:
Operating under the Navy.
H.M.Jr:
Are they operating under the Navy?
Waesche:
Yes, those particular vessels are operating
under Admiral King. There are three vessels.
The old Bear and the North Star, which we
took over from the Department of Interior,
and the Northland. The North Star and the
Northland are both completely manned by
Coast Guard officers and men, and the officer,
Iceberg Smith, in command of that group of
three ships, is a Coast Guard officer, and
he reports directly to Admiral King of the
Atlantic Fleet.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else?
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183
Waesche:
That is all, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Anyway, I compliment you.
Morris:
I have this clipping that I looked up that
you asked me about, the one about the English
trade unions and what they have done.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
I will see you some time, because I want
to hear about your experience in New York.
Was it interesting?
Morris:
Very interesting.
H.M.Jr:
Worth while?
Morris:
Yes, sir. I also saw Panama Hattie (laughter).
White:
You picked your friends from a different
place.
Foley:
I will tell Alice about that.
H.M.Jr:
I congratulate you.
Foley:
I was in New York. I saw the rodeo (laughter).
H.M.Jr:
I could answer that one.
Sullivan:
Mr. Doughton is hollering for an early start
on the Administrative Amendment Bill to
forestall the other matter. There has been
some indication in the last couple of days
that an effort will be made during the course
of the hearings on the Administrative
Amendment Bill to make some changes in
the Revenue Act of '41, which we just passed,
and I would like to talk with George and
Doughton before that movement gets any
184
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further, and have an understanding that
no changes in revenue are going to be made.
H.M.Jr:
And I give you an option on Thursday for
lunch, if you want me to have the two of
them down.
Sullivan:
Well, I thought I might skip up there today
and talk with them.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, but if there is something, let me know,
and I will invite the two of them down
Thursday for lunch.
Sullivan:
All right, sir.
H.M.Jr:
I want you to get up there.
Sulliven:
There is also a memo on the matter we
discussed over the telephone Saturday
at noon time. I am having lunch with
that fellow today, and I will give you
more information after I talk to him.
H.M.Jr:
I can mention it without mentioning names?
Sullivan:
Surely.
H.M.Jr:
As a result of the Vinson Committee looking
into excessive profits, one company had made
a profit of seventy-two percent. It has al-
ready refunded, if that is what it is; at least
it has redrafted the contract that cost the
Government seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. And there is a company that made
two hundred forty-seven per cent profit, and
don't think that the laboring man doesn't
know it.
Sullivan:
I will give you a memorandum. I am going
to get facts and names this noon.
- 22 -
185
H.M.Jr:
I am interested. Do they know the differ-
ence between seven per cent on a contract,
say where a company might have six contracts
a year and seven per cent on the over-all?
Sullivan:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Does Vinson really know the difference?
Sullivan:
Yes.
Foley:
Before we get back into that position on
Vinson-Trammell again, Mr. Secretary, I
think we ought to have an opportunity to
talk it over.
H.M.Jr:
Sure.
Sullivan:
I think so too.
Foley:
Because that is a play to cut us out from an
excess profits tax that really works, and
if we can't get the other, this is better
than what we have got.
H.M.Jr:
Did you hear what I said to John? I called
up John and asked him to find out what they
have got, just to see.
Sullivan:
You see, they haven't had any hearings and
I don't think we should take any position
until we find out just what they are showing.
H.M.Jr:
I have been accused of following the
German pattern of six per cent. You might
tell them that some of my pseudo-Germans
are thinking of lowering it to four. They
think six is too high.
Sullivan:
And look what is happening to the country.
They haven't any excess profits tax in
Germany now, sir.
Regraded Unclassified
186
- 23 -
H.M.Jr:
Some of the letters I have got have accused
me of following Hitler's pattern of six per
cent, and in this morning's paper they
say the Germans are now thinking of lowering
it to four, but what they say is something
quite different, that you can't pay more than
four per cent dividends.
Viner:
That is dividends, not profits.
H.M.Jr:
No, I am following it. But the people that
write me the letter, Jake, don't understand
it.
Ed?
Foley:
We had a nice talk on Saturday with Dr.
Stonier, the Executive Director of the Amer-
ican Bankers' Association, about how we could
get over to the banks in the country the
administration of freezing control. He is
cooperating. He is sending the editor of
"Banking" today to see us, and he wants,
or suggested, that we send in advance the
letter that we discussed the other day, that
will go to all the banks, to the State Sec-
retaries of the state associations, over
your signature, and they will tie in with
the state secretaries so that during November
and December, when they have these regional
meetings in the different states all over
the country, they can push freezing control,
and speakers can be provided and the matter
brought to the attention of the smaller
groups, which is just what we want.
H.M.Jr:
Do you know what they are doing, Buffington?
Buffington:
I have just heard in a general way.
H.M.Jr:
Whatever they do, let Buffington know, so
that we can make & good entry there with
Regraded Unclassified
187
- 24 -
the banks and Buffington will get the same
opportunity. That is the purpose of the
staff meetings, you see.
Buffington:-
All right.
Foley:
He is going to send a committee down very
soon, and when that is arranged I will let
you (Buffington) know, and I would like
to have you available for that committee.
H.M.Jr:
O.K. gents. Thank you all.
Relations
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