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DIARY
Book 339
December 12 - 14, 1940
Regraded Unclassified
- A -
Book Page
American Friends Service Committee
See War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control (France)
Appointments and Resignations
Basby, Duiley: Rockefeller group asks for his transfer -
12/12/40
339
1
- B -
Bank for International Settlements
See Mar Conditions
- 0 -
Canada
See War Conditions: Canada; (Fereign Funds Control
Cullen bill
See War Conditions: United Kingdom
Custems, Bureau of
See War Conditions: United Kingdom
- D - -
Desmark
See Var Conditions: Shipping
- I -
Masky, Budley
See Appointments and Resignations
- , -
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Class memerandum - 12/12/40
119
a) cosporation reported
b) Wythe Williams' activities commented on
Pritz Mandl: Report by Federal Bureau of Investigation - -
12/12/40
120
(See also Book 240. page 234)
France
See Var Conditions: Foreign Funds Control
- G -
Germany
for propagenda in Latin America, see Latin America
les also War Conditions: Foreign Funds Centrol
one
Bee Mar Conditions
Regraded Unclassified
- H -
Book Page
Heath, Donald
HMJr thanks Heath for informal observations on
situation in Germany - 12/13/40
339
369
- I -
Italy
See War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control
- J -
Japan
See War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control
- L -
Latin America
German propaganda films showing bridges, landing
fields, etc., made in South America, printed in
United States by subsidiary of German Dye Trust,
fall into the hands of Customs - 12/12/40
9,316
Liquor
"Army and Havy Whiskey" - label discussed by HMJr
and Berkshire - 12/12/40
21,313
a) Berkshire memorandum - 12/13/40
403
Lothian, Lord
Death announced at 9:30 meeting - 12/12/40
1
a) Mackensie-King and HMJr discuss - 12/14/40.
427
Lumber
See Var Conditions: Price Control
- M -
Morgan, J. P.
See War Conditions: Purchasing Mission
- I -
Nelson, Donald H.
Speech before Bankers' Club of Chicago - 12/13/40..
377
Neutrality Act
See War Conditions
- O -
011; oil Companies
See Mar Conditions
Regraded Unclassified
- P -
Book Page
Phillips, Sir Frederick
See War Conditions: Purchasing Mission
Pike, Summer
See War Conditions: 011; 011 Companies
Portugal
See War Conditions: Gold
Price Control
See War Conditions
Puerto Rico
Hass reperts on conversation with Davila, Puerto Rico
Housing Authority - 12/12/40
339
123
Purvis, Arthur B.
Leaving London for United States - 12/14/40
247
Arrives in New York City - 12/23/40: See Book 342, page 74
- 1-
Research and Statistics, Division of
Report on projects during November 1940
440
Revenue Revision
Tax-exempt Securities: Sullivan, Foley, and Murphy to
work out examples for speech by HMJr or magazine
articles - 12/12/40
4
a) Foley memorandum on conference with Walter Stone
(Scripps Howard), etc. - 12/12/40
213
Rockefeller Foundation
Food Situation in Spain: Chamberlain resume' of Janney
memorandum - 12/13/40
374
Roumania
See War Conditions
Shipping
- $ -
See War Conditions
Spain
See War Conditions
- T -
Taxation
See Revenue Revision
Tax-exempt Securities
See Revenue Revision
Turkey
See War Conditions
- U -
United Kingdom
See War Conditions: Military Planning: United Kingdom
Regraded Unclassified
- Y -
Book
Page
War Conditions
Airplanes:
Employment in Aviation Manufacturing Industry:
Hass memorandum - 12/12/40
339
146
a) Copy sent to FDR - 12/18/40:
See Book 341, page 149
Bank for International Settlements:
French shareholders - resume' of situation - 12/14/40.
433
Canada:
Foreign exchange position - 12/12/40
175
French gold - sale of discussed by Phillips and
HMJr - 12/12/40
208
a) Clark (Canadian Treasury) and HMJr discuss -
12/13/40
388
Exchange market resume' - 12/12/40, etc
211,411,439
Export Control:
Exports of petroleum products, scrap iron, and scrap
steel from United States to Japan, Russia, Spain,
and Great Britain, as shown by departure permite
granted for week ending December 14, 1940
432
Foreign Funds Control:
General over-all control discussed by Treasury group -
12/12/40
40
a) Recent movements of Ario funds
58
b) Gold shipped here by and for account of Bank
of Portugal
59
c) Corporations suspected of subversive activity
or of concealing assets subject to freezing
62
d) Treatment of American property interests by
Germany, Canada, Italy. and Japan
72,258
Axis funds - recent movements of - 12/12/40
156
France:
Offers $50,000 "from Government frosen funds in
United States" to American Friends Service
Committee for purchase of Swies milk for French
children - 12/13/40
326
Germany:
Transactions with Chase National Bank - 12/13/40
415
Italy:
Transactions with Chase National Bank - 12/13/40
413
France:
Bank for International Sattlements: French shareholders -
resume of situation - 12/14/40
433
Germany:
For propaganda in Latin America, see Latin America
HAJr thanks Heath for informal observations on
situation - 12/13/40
369
Gold:
shipment to United States by and for account of Bank of
Portugal discussed by Treasury group - 12/12/40
69
Sale of French gold by Canada discussed by Phillips
and HNJY - 12/12/40
208
a) Clark (Canadian Treasury) and HNJr discuss -
12/13/40
388
Regraded Unclassified
- W - (Continued)
Book
Page
War Conditions
Military Planning:
Reports from London transmitted by Butler - 12/12/40,
etc
339
255,406,464
Characteristics of German Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank
Materiel: Var Department bulletin - 12/14/40
470
Neutrality Act:
Resume' of various steps made by Foley - 12/12/40
215
Oil; 011 Companies:
Summer Pike "to go into South American companies" -
12/12/40
19
Price Control:
Henderson "minding everybody's business except his own °;
HMJr to call his attention to price of lumber, wool,
hides, tallow, butter, wheat, and cocoa - 12/12/40
13
(See also Book 340, page 14)
a) Memorandum and charts
393
b) FDR sent lumber charts - 12/17/40:
See Book 340, page 347
c) Henderson's letter and HMJr's answer - 12/23/40:
See Book 342, page 60
1) Telephone conversation: Book 342, page 191
a) Hass memorandum on "sequence of events":
See Book 342, page 65
Purchasing Mission:
Assets:
Phillips and HMJr confer privately: Cochran
memorandum - 12/12/40
208
a) Sale of French gold by Canada discussed
b) Financial assistance to Great Britain definitely
requested
1) Butterworth memorandum
399
c) Jones told by HMJr Phillips, at last, asked
for & loan from United States - 12/17/40:
See Book 340, page 328
Purvis leaving London for United States - 12/14/40....
247
a) Arrives in New York - 12/23/40:
See Book 342, page 74
Gold and dollar resources of British Empire and extent
of depletion reported on by Federal Reserve Bank of
Few York - 12/12/40
302
Conference on sale of American-owned securities in
United States as well as direct investments; present:
HMJr, Purcell, Frank, Cochran, White, Gifford, Pinsent,
Phillips, Playfair, Forrestal, Wise, Bell, and Clark -
12/13/40
337
a) Phillips sends list which will be included in
vesting order dated December 14, 1940
387
1) See announcement: Book 340, page 177
Background on vesting procedure and Kennedy's place in
problem covered in Pinsent memorandum - 12/17/40:
See Book 340, page 195
Morgan (J.P.) as agent: Frank tells HMJr of Gifford's
statement that he had taken Ranes' and Butterworth's
comments to his 'as informal tip from HMJr" - 12/13/40.. 361
a) HMJr-White conversation - 1/10/41:
See Book 346, page 416
Regraded Unclassified
- V - (Continued)
Book
Page
War Conditions (Continued)
Roumania:
Negotiations with Turkey for exchange of cotton for
petroleum products - 12/12/40
339
126
Shipping:
Denmark: Ships tied up in United States waters -
discussion at 9:30 meeting - 12/13/40
318
a) Conference in Land's office: Foley-Pehle
memorandum - 12/13/40
391
1) Maritime Commission hostile to Treasury
participation: See Book 340, page 25
b) Coast Guard asks for DANMARK for use at Academy -
12/23/40: See Book 342, page 93
c) Conference of Treasury group - 12/26/40:
Book 342, page 176
d) Use of ships in our and other neutral porte -
memorandum sent by HMJr to Navy and to Land -
12/27/40: Book 342, pages 268 and 276
1) Knox's acceptance of invitation to confer -
12/28/40: See Book 343, page 1
e) Cabinet discussion - "for some reason FDR does
not want Treasury in on it" - 12/27/40:
Book 342, page 302
Spain:
Food Situation: Chamberlain resume³ of Janney
(Rockefeller Foundation) memorandum - 12/13/40
374
Turkey:
Negotiations with Roumania for exchange of cotton for
petroleum products - 12/12/40
126
United Kingdom:
See also War Conditions: Purchasing Mission (Assets)
Lothian's death announced at 9:30 meeting - 12/12/40.
1
a) Mackenzie-King and HKJr discuss - 12/14/40.
427
Phillips and HMJr confer privately: Cochran memorandum -
12/12/40
208
a) Sale of French gold by Canada discussed
b) Financial assistance to Great Britain definitely
requested
1) Butterworth memorandum
399
Gold and dollar resources of British Empire and extent
of depletion reported on by Federal Reserve Bank of
New York - 12/12/40
302
Nelson (Donald M.) speech on urgency of need for
assistance - 12/13/40
377
Tax to be imposed on purchases of goods from wholesalers:
United States Customs valuation of these goods further
discussed in British Embassy memorandum - 12/13/40
396
a) Gaston memorandum concerning Cullen bill -
12/17/40: See Book 340, page 300
1
December 12, 1940
9:30 a.m.
GROUP MEETING
Present:
Mr. Haas
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Young
Mr. Wiley
Mr. Foley
Mr. Pehle
Mr. Graves
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Bell
Mr. Sullivan
Mr. White
Mrs. Klotz
Mr. Berkshire
H.M.Jr:
It is bad news about Lothian, isn't it?
Bell:
Wonder what the trouble was, do you know?
Cochran:
The coroner has been there and they haven't given
a report yet, you see. He had no doctor. He
was a Christian Scientist.
Wiley:
He was converted to Christian Science by Nancy
Astor.
H.M.Jr:
Did you say, "By Nazi Astor?"
Wiley:
Nancy, yes.
H.M.Jr:
Is she a Christian Scientist?
Wiley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Edward?
Foley:
We have a lawyer by the name of Dudley Easby.
Regraded Unclassified
- 2 -
2
Nelson Rockefeller would like to take him.
He speaks Spanish and he has some knowledge
of things that Nelson thinks would be valuable
to him. I can get along without him, if you
want to let him go.
H.M.Jr:
What is he doing?
Foley:
Well, he is working on matters coming up from
the Treasurer's Office in connection with checks
and handles matters in connection with the
Comptroller General's Office. He is one of
the boys in Norman Tietjens' shop.
H.M.Jr:
What does he get?
Foley:
He gets around thirty-eight hundred.
H.M.Jr:
What would Rockefeller give him?
Foley:
I think he would probably pay him the same thing.
H.M.Jr:
Do you see any reason, Norman.
Thompson:
He is a good man, but we can spare him.
H.M.Jr:
Speak Spanish?
Foley:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
It is all right with me.
Foley:
Jim Forrestal wants to resume those lunches on
the Defense with Army and Navy, and 80 on, and
I understand he has asked Eddie Greenbaum and
Patterson and several others. He has some new
lawyers now. Some of his older group has gone
back to New York, and he has got a new group.
I guess he wants to break them in.
H.M.Jr:
Where do they eat, downstairs?
Foley:
No, this one, he is going to have in his office.
- 3 -
3
E.V.Jr:
I see. All right.
Feley:
Walker Stone, one of the editorial writers for
the Scripps Howard chain, called up and said they
wanted to so to town and do a campaign on the
elimination of exemptions.
I saw the editorial yesterday. I almost fell
over backward.
Voley:
Me said he needed help. he said he had gotten
the paper that I had read over at the meeting
of the municipal law officers, and he thought
it was good but he had to have a different ap-
proach for his stuff, and he wanted examples
along the line you mentioned about the fellow
who goes to Palm Beach and stays all winter end
doesn't have to contribute.
Give him the telegram that came in this morning
from the Palm Beach fellow calling me down,
"day pick on Palm Beach?"
Klotz:
I loved that. (Laughter)
Foley:
I had a letter from a fellow by the name of
Dominick in Greenwich, Connecticut. lie said
he would fight me in Washington or in hell.
H.M.Jr:
Sure, go ahead. (Laughter)
Foley:
Can John and I get together? We will probably
need Murphy on these examples.
H.M.Jr:
I don't know whether you can get together.
Foley:
Well, give him the material.
H.M.Jr:
I think it would be wonderful to get together
on something with Scripps Howard.
Foley:
Another fellow by the name of Izzy Stone--
I.K.Jr:
What is the name?
Regraded Unclassified
4
- 4 -
Foley:
Izzy Stone. (Laughter) I am distinguishing
him from Walker Stone. He is Washington editor
for The Nation and wants to do something on that.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, that is the fellow. They ran their real
names in something or other.
Foley:
Yes, his name was Einstein, and he changed it to
Izzy Stone. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
Well, the question is, is he?
Foley:
Is he, or isn't he?
H.K.Jr:
The answer is yes. (Laughter)
I have got Norman crying here.
Sullivan:
On these examples--
H.K.Jr:
What does Ike want to do?
Foley:
He wants to write a full piece for The Nation on
it. He says from where they sit up in New York,
it seems to him that the Treasury has been carry-
ing the banner for what the New Deal stands for
more than any other department in town during
the last year or so, and they want to help where-
ever they can.
H.M.Jr:
Sure. Who all do you want to help you?
Foley:
Well, I think if George could make Henry Murphy
available, John and I can get him the stuff he
wants.
Sullivan:
But we want to know about this series of speeches
you are going to make. You remember before you
went away, you wanted four written. Now, we
don't want to waste any of these good examples -
I mean not waste them, but we want to give you
first crack at them.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, well--
Regraded Unclassifie
- 5 -
5
Foley:
Well, what he really wants, Mr. Secretary, is
to show what a man would pay in the way of state
and federal taxes with an earned income of 50
thousand dollars, and what he would get away
with if he had everything in tax exempts, and
then he would like to show what a fellow would
have to pay if he invested 50 thousand dollars
in stock that produced a magneto or something
that went into an airplane after he got through
taking the risk and after he got through supply-
ing something useful for the Defense Program
and compare that with somebody that just putsit
into something like tax exempts.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I was all steamed up down in Jamaica, in
the tropics, to do a speech and - I was all
steamed up in the tropics to do a speech.
Foley:
Yes, I get it. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
I wasn't sure.
Sullivan:
You have to say it twice. If they don't laugh,
it is not very good.
H.M.Jr:
I didn't think I got the necessary response.
Don't wait on me. If you fellows have got any-
thing, I would go to it. What I would like you
to do is, keep a little record of what you do
for these people, each one, just to have it,
but by all means, don't wait on me. Let them
go. Like all these things, they are going to
have to be like drops of water on a stone. We
are going to have to do it over and over and
over again. If Scripps Howard takes hold of it
and goes to town, maybe somebody else will want
to.
Bell:
The Treasury hit the Washington Post yesterday
morning in three places on the editorial page.
A cartoon and two columns.
Sullivan:
Here are the four speeches you asked for.
Regraded Unclassified
- 6 -
6
H.M.Jr:
Wonderful.
Sullivan:
Here are more of these memoranda. You wanted a
criticism on a summary of all those things. It
takes quite a lot of work. I think you have
got to determine whether or not you want us to
continue those.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I would until further notice.
Sullivan:
All right, sir.
H.M.Jr:
If, for instance, this thing comes along, I
think we ought to get some very good newspaper
man who will just do a really first class job.
He could help you fellows prepare this sort of
thing.
Sullivan:
Do you recall you agreed that Mr. Blough should
go to Canada to look into that sales tax and the
excess profits? If he is to go before Christmas,
he should go tonight and be back here a week
from Monday. Is there any reason we can't let
him go now.
H.M.Jr:
No.
Sullivan:
You wanted me to remind you about Mr. Stewart.
Do you want to call him or shall I?
H.M.Jr:
I will.
Sullivan:
When you talk with him, he should have in mind
that he said that he felt that they would, and
he was going to put it up, and he wasn't going
to let his view become at all apparent.
H.M.Jr:
I am always very frank. On second thought, I
am simply going to say I think the Treasury
should finance it.
Foley:
On McCloy, I have those statutes any time you
want to look at them. Bernie ran into McCloy
down at the Supreme Court on Monday. He was
?
- 7 -
down there when Mitchell was arguing. He, in
an offhand way, told Bernie that he had resigned
from his firm, and that he was down here full
time.
H.M.Jr:
I see.
Foley:
So I don't think that he violates the statute,
but I talked to Eddie about it, too. Eddie
dropped in the other night, but - shall I show
the statutes to you?
H.M.Jr:
No, that is enough.
Sullivan:
I have to call Gulick this morning for his meet-
ing. We can get him $22.20 a day and part of
the time we can base him at New York, if you
want to do it that way.
H.M.Jr:
No. Twenty-two twenty is plenty for anybody.
If he doesn't want to come down on that basis,
let his own institution take care of it.
Sullivan:
I will tell him that is what we will do.
Thompson:
Besides five dollars subsistence?
H.M.Jr:
The twenty-two twenty plus five.
Foley:
And I think you can shove him up to twenty-five
after you have had him 30 days or something like
that, but I don't think we ought to do anything
more; and, Norman, that won't work out on the
contract basis.
Thompson:
I didn't think it would.
H.M.Jr:
Twenty-two twenty plus five, and if you can go to--
Sullivan:
Twenty-five plus five.
Foley:
They did it in Procurement, but I think they
were playing fast and loose. I think on that
contract arrangement which they never cleared
Regraded Unclassified
- 8 -
8
with us, they were paying him for three days
when he only worked two.
H.M.Jr:
When were they doing that?
Foley:
I think that is what they were doing in some
instance the Norman called to my attention.
H.M.Jr:
If, for no other reason, Congress may say,
"Well, we want to take this group over, and then
They find out that we are paying this thing, and
say, "How do you get that way?"
Foley:
The only way it could be done, Mr. Secretary,
would be out of the President's hundred million
dollar fund.
H.M.Jr:
Try and get it.
Foley:
I shouldn't think he would want to pay for this
out of that.
H.M.Jr:
He wouldn't.
Cochran:
Pinsent will confirm to me before noon about
that meeting tomorrow, and I suppose you don't
want to get the SEC man until we get that taken
care of.
H.M.Jr:
I will be incommunicado from twelve-thirty today
on until tomorrow morning. I will be home, and
I don't want to be bothered.
Cochran:
Pinsent told me that last night Sir Frederick
suggested to him that he might call this morn-
ing and want to see you privately, but he asked
me if Phillips had phoned me last night.
H.M.Jr:
I am leaving here today at twelve-thirty and no
appointments until tomorrow morning. I am tak-
ing all of this stuff home. I hope to read most
of it while I am not asleep.
- 9 -
9
Cochran:
I talked to Stone this morning, and he is going
to send us that memorandum which you wanted.
And on that question of the military mission
of Germany in Argentina, that has been dispersed
some months ago. There have been four men
there. One went to Chile, and one went to Rio.
They passed a law in Argentine that the couldn't
have & military mission of a beligerent country,
so that is stopped.
H.M.Jr:
Wiley?
Wiley:
Customs has run into something interesting.
German educational films are made in South
America, and then they are sent up here and
printed by a subsidiary of the German Dye Trust.
These educational films apparently are only of
educational value for German Military Intelli-
gence. They show bridges, landing fields, and
difficulties of terrain.
H.M.Jr:
In this country?
Wiley:
In South America, chiefly in Peru, but not much
is known about them yet. The films for the
moment are in the Treasury Department, and
there is hope that we can run them off and look
at them.
H.M.Jr:
Good. You know Coast Guard has a projector.
Wiley:
I don't think it fits. These are 35 millimeter
films. I believe we will have to go over to
Agriculture.
Sullivan:
What size are they, John?
Wiley:
Thirty-five.
Foley:
We have one, but ours is sixteen.
H.M.Jr:
Archives has a beautiful picture theater.
White:
Why do you imagine they would want to display
Regraded Unclassified
10
- 10 -
them here?
Wiley:
I don't think they were to be displayed here.
They were probably sent here to be printed and
then go on, probably to Germany via Siberia.
H.M.Jr:
Anything else? Pehle?
Pehle:
Nothing, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Philip?
Young:
I have & note here with a copy of Buckley's
report.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, yes. I sent one to Mr. Hull.
Cochran:
Here is & memorandum on the destination of
securities that you asked for.
H.M.Jr:
Right. Philip, I read this morning early, this
report of Buckley's, see. Got a pencil?
(Buckley's report of December 10 regarding
West Coast airplane manufacturers inspection
trip)
Young:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
Now, these are the things that I would like to
have an answer on tomorrow morning: 1. Why
shouldn't the English cancel their order with
Boeing for these so-called Douglass bombers
and leave Boeing free to do just the big ones.
In this report it said the English would take
it under consideration. I would like to have
the answer on that.
Young:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
2. There seems to be a desperate need for an
aluminum factory on the West Coast to make the
parts, tubing, and so forth and so on, and can
Regraded Unclassified
11
- 11 -
you find out from somebody at National Defense
why the hell - excuse me - don't they do some-
thing about it?
Young:
That is a hard one.
H.M.Jr:
Then in reading this report on Lockheed, why
don't the English have permission to put in
super-chargers in all of their planes that they
want to? If they can have them in some, why
can't they have them in all? Then on a 24-
hour basis, I would like to get, on the same
two weeks that Haas has his thing set up on,
see, the same two weeks, I would like to know -
for instan ce, the English get so many engines.
We know how many engines they get of each kind.
I want a report from them tomorrow - we will go
back, say, for four weeks. That will be enough.
What distribution did they make of these engines,
see?
Young:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
I want that tomorrow because it is - to me - I
can't understand why Lockheed should be short,
waiting for 25 or 30 engines. I just can't
understand it. When I look at their production,
the ones that they received - the two things.
I want to know what did they do with all of
these engines? If they are selling them to
England, they are breaking their agreement, see.
There are plenty of these engines coming off.
What are they doing with them? According to
this report, there are 25 or 30 planesawaiting
engines of the Hudson Model 414. Now, there is
something wrong somewhere.
Haas:
Are those those interceptors?
H.M.Jr:
I don't know what it is.
Haas:
I think one plane they make has the Allison.
H.M.Jr:
Anyway, they are waiting for the Pratt and
Regraded Unclassified
12
- 12-
Whitney 1830's or the Wright 1820's of which
there are plenty each week being turned out,
many, many more than lanes. If they are send-
ing them to England, then they are breaking
their agreement. The agreement is that there
shall be no planes without engines in this
country.
Young:
Part of those planes were supposed to be the
ones which were grounded due to the fact they
gave up the engines to the Boeings.
H.M.Jr:
That is just plain, unadulterated "hooey."
They can't fool me. And the other thing, which
is not on a 24-hour basis, is that I am shocked
to find that in every case except the Merlin,
which they had with Ford, England's orders
expire in the fall of '41. All of their engine
orders run out. That seems unbelievably short-
signted to me. They have got enough people that
they ought to be able to answer that. Now, one
other thing: this request of rifles for Canada,
that seems important. How hard are you hitting
that?
Young:
Haven't done anything on it.
H.M.Jr:
Well,
Young:
I wanted to--
H.M.Jr:
Supposing I forward your memorandum to Stimson?
Young:
All right.
H.V.Jr:
Say that this seems important, what can he do
about it.
Young:
The only reason I wanted to call that to your
attention, or one of the principal reasons, was
that is not a recommendation of the United States-
Canadian joint defense board. Now, we have got
to get a tie-in there with what they are doing
and what Canada and British Purchasing Commission
Regraded Unclassifie
13
- 13 -
are doing also. There is no coordination.
M.M.Jr;
Supposing you (Reporter) take this letter:
"Hy dear Mr. Stimson:
I an forwarding herewith a memorandum from
Philip Young to me in regard to rifles for
Canada. This seems very important to me and
I would like to have your advice and help.
May I hear from you at an early date."
Does that fit in?
Young:
Yes, sir.
B.K.Jr:
Now, George, in the room here - I have been
catching up with my memos. Oh, if you would
bring in the head of the Netherland Purchasing
Commission, I would like to meet him.
Young:
He is in London at the moment talking with
Purvise.
H.M.Jr:
Get him. (Laughter) Next time he is around.
Young:
That is a very interesting development. You
have van den Broek and Purvis and Howe all con-
ferring in London on evidently some sort of a
joint purchasing effort.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I got a secret message this morning that
Purvis will leave - I think this weekend for
the United States.
Young:
The sixteenth he was scheduled to leave.
H.M.Jr:
The message says he will leave this weekend.
Now, George, will you write a letter for me,
unless Mr. Bell wants to do it in another way,
to Leon Henderson who is worrying about every
other person's responsibilities except his own,
see. I would like to draw to his attention
Regraded Unclassified
- 14 -
14
these charts which you have sent me which show
that lumber is up sky high, What is he doing
about it? What is he doing about wool, hides,
tallow, butter, wheat, and cocoa? Those seem
to be the ones. I would say that they are all
out of line. Isn't that worse?
Haas:
Yes, those are the ones that made the greatest
rise. There is some question about some of them,
whether anything should be done.
H.M.Jr:
Well, let's say,"What do you think should be done,
if anything, and what are you doing about it?"
Do you want to send him these two charts?
Haas:
Oh, yes.
H.M.Jr:
Why don't you send him these charts, the lumber
chart and the other one.
Haas:
Yes.
H.M.Jr:
And, George, it would make life easier for me
if, instead of sending these things with about
five of these things on, you would put them in
a little book from now on. Any report, instead
ofpinning it up like this, if it could be in a
little folder.
Harry, do you seen any reason - oh, pardon, me,
Pasha. (Laughter) From now on, it is Pasha
White.
White:
That is very dangerous, Mr. Secretary. I was
thinking that over, and I was thinking one of
the wits around here is liable to mention that
to my wife. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
I hope you aren't getting personal.
White:
No. I am afraid of what response there will be.
She will say, "What does that stand for?" and
I can just see Ed Foley saying, "That is short
for passionate, and the part thattroubles me
Regraded Unclassified
15
- 15 -
is my wife's response. (Laughter)
White:
My wife is liable to say, "Oh, yeah!" (Laughter)
Let's forget the nickname. It is really danger-
ous.
You were asking me about whether it was fair,
what you just said about Leon Henderson?
H.M.Jr:
No, advisable.
White:
Oh, definitely. He is worrying about prices,
Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
All right. We will just send it over.
I didn't give George a chance to finish, and we
have got to give White a chance to recover, and
me.
White:
Thanks.
H.M.Jr:
You don't even want me to tell them how the nick-
name came around?
White:
I don't mind what you say, but some of them have
a way af adding on. It is unrecognizable by the
time it gets where it shouldn't. (Laughter)
H.M.Jr:
I will let Harry tell it to you in his own im-
passioned manner. (Laughter)
Klotz:
That was good.
Haas:
The Boeing situation is interesting.
H.M.Jr:
I want to take this chart to the house.
Haas:
Here is all the other stuff (handing reports to
Secretary).
H.M.Jr:
All right, George. Yes, Dr. White.
Regraded Unclassified
16
- 16 -
White:
The Dutch East Indies have apparently come to
an agreement with Japan on the oil arrangements.
H.M.Jr:
All I want to S ay is, I can't help it. I have
not seen Kintner and Alsop or Pearson and Allen,
and I don't expect to see them the rest of this
week, so if it appears Monday in their column,
it is not my fault.
White:
You mean you don't want me to tell you so you
will be able to run it down?
H.M.Jr:
No, I mean on this Pasha White stuff.
White:
Oh, they don't bother with such small fry.
H.M.Jr:
You may be surprised. (Laughter)
Sullivan:
Merry Christmas.
White:
Let's see, we were talking about oil. The Dutch
East Indies - the Japanese asked them for about
25 million barrels, which is about what they
need. The Dutch East Indies companies, the
American and the others, offered them about a
third, which has been accepted, so that accord-
ing to current contracts, they will get about
10 million barrels of oil on these contracts &
year.
H.M.Jr:
As against what? What were they getting before?
White:
I have forgotten, but it was less than that. I
have forgotten how much less. It was less. I
will write this up in connection with the other
oil matter and have it for you when you come back.
There is a phrase here that I don't understand.
I don't know whether it is important because maybe
Merle Cochran could explain it. It says "force
majeure" applies. Does that mean if they don't
deliver, Japan can force them to deliver?
Cochran:
That is the way I understand it.
Regraded Unclassified
17
- 17 -
H.M.Jr:
Harry, Walter Stewart tells me one of the
greatest authorities on oil and oil companies
in this country, if not anywhere, is this SEC
Commissioner.
White:
Pike?
Foley:
Yes, Sumner Pike.
H.M.Jr:
That is field oil and oil companies.
White:
We are ready for him to go into these South
American companies any time you are ready.
H.M.Jr:
Just call him up.
White:
I see, Also ask him about oil.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
White:
Canada has just imposed some new restrictions
on imports in an effort to conserve foreign
exchange. They will hit our exports, particu-
larly, to the extent of about 50 or 60 million
dollars a year, at present contemplated. Auto-
mobiles and petroleum products, electric appli-
ances.
H.M.Jr:
What is our export?
White:
Our exports to Canada will be reduced. They
haven't touched fresh fruit, including applies,
I suppose, because they said it is politically
undesirable.
H.M.Jr:
As a matter of fact, they export apples. They
are not importing apples.
White:
Then I was wrong. Applies aren't included. That
was my own addition. It just says fresh fruit
and vegetables.
Bell:
Clark said they might have to include fresh fruit.
Regraded Unclassified
18
- 18 -
H.M.Jr:
As a matter of fact, my apple grower friends
are worried because they are duping so many of
their Canadian applies in the United States.
They are not helping me at all.
White:
There is a ltter here that you passed on from
Welles indicating what is being done for Chile
and also indicating that it is less than they
had hoped and wondering whether we couldn't
re-examine the situation and see, in the light
of the current situation, whether a little might
not be done for them.
H.M.Jr:
Bring it up - let's make it for next Monday's
staff meeting.
White:
Right. That is all I have.
H.M.Jr:
Are you (Bell) going to see me before ten
twenty-five?
Bell:
I am going to try to. I am going to try to get
it out of New York. They started working at
eight thirty.
H.M.Jr:
While I an talking to Berkshire, you might slip
out and then come back again, and we will go
ahead with foreign funds. I mean, while I am
talking to Berkshire, if you will slip out and
get the dope.
Bell:
If it isn't ready, I should think you could say
that preliminary reports indicate that this
issue has gone as well as any previous issue.
Foley:
I think if you could say that, it would be a
great help.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I will tell you what I can say, because
I had what's-his-name dictate it to Hadley last
night, that at five o'clock last night he com-
pared the subscriptions with the last five year
note and at five 'clock last night we had more
Regraded Unclassified
19
- 19 -
subscriptions for this than the previous one
which was also three-quarters of a percent.
Foley:
Yes, that would be a big help. That was one
of the things that Walker Stone wanted to know,
just what the difference was in actual performance,
because he thought that if we could demonstrate
that there was no real difference between a
partially exempt and a wholly taxable security,
it would go a long way toward overcoming some
of the handicaps.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Bob Rouse gave ne that at five o'clock,
and I said please dictate that over the tele-
phone to Hadley, which he did, but at five
o'clock last night, compared with - when was
the last five year note?
Bell:
Last December.
H.M.Jr:
There were more subscriptions at the same time
than there were for last December.
Foley:
Would it have been the same, Mr. Secretary, if
you had offered it as a partially exempt?
Bell:
It might have been, but it could have gone down
to five-eights, but it might have been the same
coupon rate, but the Secretary could have made
it a little thinner and made it five-eights.
H.M.Jr:
You mean this one, the one we just sold?
Bell:
Yes. You could have gone on a five-eights and
got twelve thirty-seconds.
Haas:
About eight, I think.
H.M.Jr:
Well, the whole Street had the price at seven-
eights.
White:
That is speculative. You don't know if it was
five-eights, Dan, it might have gone to a little
Regraded Unclassified
20
- 20 -
discount.
Foley:
It might have gone sour.
Bell:
It would have been a little too thin to put a
five-eights coupon. I think it would have been
about the same.
Foley:
I think, if you could say that, that would be
grand.
H.M.Jr:
They would all jump on me, The New York Times,
for instance, have a little piece and say the
gossip is that I could have priced the tax free
note at five-eights. Well, it would start a
whole argument. I an just going to say, "These
fellows don't know enough about it. It just
went as well as the last one.
Bell:
And I think that is a good thing to say. I
wouldn't go in too much but you got as many
as you did last time because you have got a
different situation.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I would say it went just as well.
Bell:
I think that is good. We will try to have some
figures.
H.M.Jr:
Norman?
Thompson:
We are planing to move Mr. Pehle's Foreign Funds
section over to the Raleigh Hotel.
H.M.Jr:
Good.
Bell:
May I tell you some more?
H.M.Jr:
Please.
Bell:
Jesse Jones announced a loan yesterday to Argen-
tina. Ambassador Espil called up and wanted to
know if you couldn't say something on the Treasury
Regraded Unclassified
21
- 21 -
end. I said I would speak to you, but I didn't
think we ought to do that at this time.
H.M.Jr:
No. Now, if you want to go out and get that,
I will have Berkshire come in and then if you
will come back, we will continue on foreign
funds.
Foley:
They think that these fellows --
(Mr. Bell left the conference and Mr. Berkshire
entered)
K.M.Jr:
Berkshire, show them this sign ("Serve Army and
Navy Whiskey. James Moroney.") which I picked
up. I was shocked. I picked it up when I was
up there. I think it is terrible. Now, what,
under the law, can you do?
Berkshire:
We have, by wire, after I had the poster last
night, conceled the label first. There had been
an old label issued by the Federal Alcohol Ad-
ministration in 1936 authorizing that whiskey
to be labeled "Army and Navy Brand whiskey."
I find that later they advertised it as "Army
and Navy Whiskey." The FAA had cited them for
that, that is, the dropping of the word "brand,"
and they had paid a fifty dollar offer - compromise
of that violation. Now, this evidently is the
next that they have observed. They have dropped
the name "brand" again. That doesn't go to the
bottom of the thing, I might say, Mr. Secretary.
We don't propose that they use this kind of a
label even with the word "brand" there, and since
the FAA came over to the Unit, we had refused to
issue Army and Navy Brand to sherry wines and
something else. This I didn't know about. It
was the first I had heard, but we canceled that
brand, and we may, if this advertising material
has been disseminated outside of the State of
Pennsylvania - that is necessary, and my wire asks
that that be investigated. If it is disseminated
beyond the borders of the State of Pennsylvania,
Regraded Unclassified
22
- 22 -
we may cite them and even revoke or suspend
their permit.
H.M.Jr:
Well, couldn't I, B5 Secretary of the Treasury,
telegraph the Governor of Pennsylvania and ask
them to cooperate to stop this thing?
Berkshire:
You should. I can't say what authority the
Governor of Pennsylvania would have in control-
ing a matter of this kind.
R.S.Jr:
What I thought of doing, and that is what I
wanted your advice on - I mean, I an all right
on my law. I think that this is pretty shock-
ing. I didn't know whether you people thought
it was wise or unwise for me, as Secretary of
the Treasury - I would like, for instance, at
my press conference to show this to the boys,
and say, "This is the kind of thing here the
Treasury is not going to stand for, and that
we hope we will get public support on. This
is the first thing of its kind I have seen, and
that I have seen it myself, and that we have
taken steps to cancel this brand. If You can
see - I didn't know that that was & brand name.
When I saw "Serve Army and Navy Rye Whiskey,"
I thought it meant to serve it to them. That
is the way I read it.
White:
That is the way I read it.
Foley:
Yes, and then you have got "for company attention"
down there in quotes, too. What does it say
over the name "Moroney?" On the left hand side.
Rlots:
"At holiday time."
White:
It is specifically designed to convey an in-
pression of the prestige of the Government and
SO on,
H.M.Jr:
What I thought, I would just 20 out and say to
the boys, "I think that this is absolutely out-
rageous. This is the kind of thing we want to
Regraded Unclassified
23
- 23 -
nip in the bud, and I want to do my part to
see that this kind of thing doesn't spread."
White:
I am wondering, Mr. Secretary, whether there
might not first be tried. to get in touch with
the people who have done it and merely request
them, talk it over with them. I have 8. little
bit doubts about making--
H.M.Jr:
Well, they have done it, Harry.
White:
Do they know that you disapprove or that there
is disapproval in the Government on it?
H.M.Jr:
Well, how are you going to let them know?
White:
Well, I would be inclined to let the Army and
Navy take it up with them. I feel 8 little bit
"leery" about clamping down on anything if it
is within the law, even though it is of that
character.
H.M.Jr:
Well, it is 8. matter of taste.
White:
That is why I think it should be done either
through cooperation or let the Army and Navy
complain. I don't feel strongly about it.
Sullivan:
I agree with Harry in principle, but not in his
technique. You have full authority. You don't
need cooperation from anybody. I think it is
beneath your dignity to go after a thing like
that. That is pretty small. And the whole
purpose is accomplished by having Stewart re-
voke it. That is all there is to it. He has
full authority under the law. He doesn't need
cooperation with the Army or the Navy or the
Governor of Pennsylvania or anybody.
White:
Doesn't he need a good legal reason for revoking
it.
Sullivan:
Why certainly he does. He has got it. He has
Regraded Unclassified
- 24 -
24
to approve every bit of their--
H.M.Jr:
every label--
Sullivan:
of their labeling and everything else.
H.M.Jr:
I have got to go out in the field to check up
on you fellows.
Berkshire:
It seems so, Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
Well, somebody certainly in Philadelphia - the
Secretary of the Treasury has to go up and see
a thing like that and pull it off a sign post.
Berkshire:
It certainly should have been picked up by our
men.
H.M.Jr:
The question is, how much other obscene and
stuff of bad taste is there like that going on
in the United States.
Berkshire:
Well, Mr. Secretary, if we weren't on the watch
constantly, I can't imagine what might happen.
H.M.Jr:
Well, do you get copies of all advertisements.
Berkshire:
No, sir. The law doesn't require that they
get approval of advertised material. They must
get approval of their labels, and then there
are certain restrictions about their advertis-
ing matter. Unless they submit one for free
approval, we don't have anything to say about
it unless we just catch them.
H.M.Jr:
Bell, I want to say at my press conference that
I saw this advertisement, and I have taken the
first steps to cancel the permit. Is that what
you call it?
Berkshire:
The label approval.
Bell:
Well, it was approved?
Regraded Unclassified
- 25 -
25
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
Thompson:
The label on the bottom hasn't the word "brand."
H.M.Jr:
They call it "Army and Navy Brand, and then you
see they use the word "serve" - you see, it is
"Serve Army and Navy Rye Whiskey." You wouldn't
do it, if you were me?
Bell:
I don't know, but I don't understand how it got
approved. Do they have authority in the field
to approve things like that?
H.M.Jr:
It says, "brand," but they just serve Army and
Navy whiskey, for company attention.
Bell:
Even what is on the label, "Army and Navy Brand,"
I don't see how they got it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, it was approved by the old FAA. Do you
see any reason why I, as Secretary of the Treas-
ury--
Foley:
Mr. Secretary, I don't think we ought to shoot
today on this. I think you ought to give us a
little time to look into it and make sure we
are on good, sound grounds. I would like an
opportunity to determine what constitutes a
violation and what our power is to summarily
revoke these permits. I am not prepared now
to say that it is all right for you to go out
and make this statement at a press conference.
H.M.Jr:
You are not?
Foley:
No.
White:
It is a matter of morals involved there, Mr.
Secretary.
Foley:
It doesn't make any difference whether it is
done today or at your next one, and then we
will know 8. little more than we know now.
Regraded Unclassified
26
- 26 -
White:
It is a matter of morals involved, and I - I
don't know.
Bell:
How about him saying he is looking into it?
Sullivan:
No. What you are objecting to--
Klotz:
I think these fellows ought to be given a chance.
After all, they are perfectly all right. Every-
body advertises that way. If they won't cooper-
ate then, I would say, Go after them,' but they
haven't been given a chance.
Foley:
My reaction, Mrs. Klotz, is this: I think we
ought not to be objective or personal about this.
I don't think we ought to single out one fellow.
I think when we do it, we ought to put it on a
higher plane, and say, "That this sort of ad-
vertising, at a time when we are marshalling
the resources, the man power of this country,
is the sort of thing that just can't go on.
It is unpatriotic, and it isn't compatible
with what we are doing. The Secretary of the
Treasury is going to see to it that this kind
of advertising and this sort of sales campaign
for liquor is not conducted anywhere within
the United States or anywhere in the vicinity
of our training camps.
H.M.Jr:
That is what I want to say.
Foley:
Yes, but I think that we ought to put it on a
broader basis, and I think you ought to give us
a little chance to look into it.
H.M.Jr:
All right, but also I think it just raises this
whole question of advertising and labeling and
how good are you since you have taken it over.
Berkshire:
Mr. Secretary, we think we have pretty close
supervision over certain of the labels, because
there isn't one approved that doesn't go through
the office down here. Now, as far as that
Regraded Unclassified
- 27 -
27
advertising is concerned--
H.M.Jr:
Yes, but how about outstanding ones?
Berkshire:
Well, there isn't any way, of course, of condemn-
ing this liquor, and all of the liquor that is
now labeled "Army and Navy" must be sold that
way.
H.M.Jr:
I will tell you what you haven't done, Berkshire.
You haven't made a review of the permits for
labels and advertising which were given prior
to the time you took this thing over, have you?
Berkshire:
We haven't gone back through all of those
records.
H.M.Jr:
I am ordering you to do it now. I want you to
bring in every label, every piece of advertis-
ing, and review it just the way we do in Inter-
nal Revenue. I gave orders that every charitable
organization that had been granted tax exemption,
we reviewed every single one, and each year they
have got to come in and prove that they have
that right. Now, I put this on the same basis,
that first you should review every single one
that has been issued, and then make a business
of reviewing them once a year.
Berkshire:
We can do that, all of the active ones. Of
course there have been some three hundred labels
a day approved ever since the FAA went into
effect.
H.M.Jr:
Go back - if you haven't'got enough help, get
your help, but go back and review every out-
standing label and every piece of advertisement
that has been issued prior to the time that you
took it over.
Berkshire:
We can do that.
H.M.Jr:
Because you don't know how many more things
there are.
Regraded Unclassified
28
- 28 -
Berkshire:
There isn't very much of this because they
pass through our office there.
H.E.Jr:
And what I would think of is getting in an
advisory committee of outsiders, sort of &
jury.
Berkshire:
We denied this same label.
H.M.Jr:
Did you hear what I said?
Berkshire:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
I would get a kind of a jury, get some women
on them and some people - get some women and
some men to represent the American nation,
represent the League of Women Voters, some
groups like that. They could be a sort of
jury. They would love it. You don't have to
pay them. You should have done it long ago.
Then you and Foley get together. Does this
come under Foley?
Foley:
Sure.
H.M.Jr:
We will have a report from Philadelphia about
this in the next two or three days, I am sure.
Foley:
Monday.
Berkshire:
Yes, sir.
H.M.Jr:
O.K., Berkshire. I will see you Monday, Berkshire.
What I am going to do, now, gents, on this frozen
funds, those who sat with me yesterday, we have
added Philip Young to the list. He said it would
solve 80 percent of his problems. We will meet
again at twelve o'clock. Frozen funds at twelve.
I have got to see Bell.
Regraded Unclassified
29
December 12, 1940
10:27 a.m.
Walter
Stewart:
Hello, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
How are you?
S:
Very good, sir.
H.M.Jr:
Walter, on thinking over this question of
asking your one organization to assist us on
this Federal tax study, 800, on second thought
I agree with you. I think that it is something
that the Treasury ought to pay for itself.
S:
You do think 807
H.M.Jr:
Yes, I do.
3:
You mean - just how will you set it up then?
H.M.Jr:
Well, we'd set it up just the same. I mean,
whoever comes down we'd pay it in the regular
way. I mean, we can pay them $22.50 and $5.
a day, I mean, for the top men.
S:
Right. I think I'd do that until I got deeper
into it anyway.
H.M.Jr:
And Thompson tells me that we have money enough
to do that.
S:
Right. All right, sir.
H.M.Jr:
So I wanted to tell you that. On second
thought I think we ought to do it.
8:
Well, then if you want me to be of any help
on personnel or something I'll be delighted
to do it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we certainly will. It was most helpful
having you down.
S:
Thanks very much.
H.M.Jr:
All right.
3:
Good-bye.
Regraded Unclassified
30
December 12, 1940
11:14 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Fiorello
LaGuardia:
Hello, Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
How are you?
L:
Pretty good.
H.M.Jr:
I was Henry the other day. Why do you demote
me?
L:
(Laughs). Maybe I have to be on my guard.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, you never know. Look, I got word that you
were coming down either Monday, Tuesday or
Wednesday - going to have lunch with me Tuesday.
L:
No, I've got the Canadian Commission. Let's
see, Monday and Tuesday I have the Canadian
Commission.
H.M.Jr:
Where?
L:
In New York.
H.M.Jr:
Oh. I understood from
.....
L:
Yeah, I thought Bo too. I was off my track.
Now I could come down Wednesday for a very
short time.
H.M.Jr:
Well, do you want to come around noon?
L:
Uh-huh.
H.M.Jr:
Do you like my lunches - you remember you
kicked about it the last time you were here.
L:
Yes. Suppose I take a 11 o'clock plane and
that will get me at the Air Port at 12:30.
H.M.Jr:
And then you'd come up here?
L:
And then I'd come right up there and then I'd
come right back.
Regraded Unclassified
31
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Swell.
L:
All right. Then I'll make that for Wednesday.
H.M.Jr:
That'll be fine.
L:
Yeah. They're raising hell all through the
country on that.
H.M.Jr:
On what.
L:
On your proposed unconstitutional tax.
H.M.Jr:
I'm getting wonderful support.
(
L:
You are. (Laughs).
H.M.Jr:
Yes, sir, from everywhere except Palm Beach.
L:
Palm Beach.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah. They don't like it.
L:
Aw, they haven't got anything down there.
H.M.Jr:
They don't like it.
L:
They're just
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
L:
All right, 12:30 Wednesday.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you're plane gets in - you'll be here
about 12:45.
L:
Yeah. The plane will be there at 12:30. Just
give me time to get to your office.
H.M.Jr:
All right. I'll be waiting for you.
L:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
32
December 12, 1940
11:19 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Forrestal.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
James
Forrestal:
Hello, Henry.
H.M.Jr:
James, how are you?
F:
Well, a little bit dizzy.
H.M.Jr:
Well, ah - I was going to get off a wisecrack
but I - (laughe) - I was going to say I hope
it isn't the blonde that's responsible.
F:
(Laughs).
H.M.Jr:
I've got these English fellows coming in at
10:30 tomorrow morning to talk about why they
don't sell their stocks different and also
their assets in this country, and I'd like very
very much to have you sit in.
F:
0. K., Henry.
H.M.Jr:
Now, I don't know whether your former boss
told you what he told me as to the damn fool
way they've been selling their stuff.
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
Did he feed that to you? Have you got all of
that?
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
So that you can dieh it out to them?
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
Well, that's what I want you to do.
F:
All right.
Regraded Unclassified
33
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
I mean, how for instance they whisper to a
fellow - you get your security in one place
and your money in another place?
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
He told you all that.
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
All right. And I'm going to try to have
Jerome Frank or somebody here from the S.E.C.
F:
O.K.
H.M.Jr:
But I'm going to lay it right on the line and
I need your help because you know this Wall
Street .....
F:
Racket. (Laughs).
H.M.Jr:
Thank you, and I only know it by hearsay.
F:
Well, you know it good enough all right.
H.M.Jr:
But I got along fine with Clarence Day
and I liked him.
F:
Well, he's got a first-rate brain.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, and if you've got what he told me then
I want to lay that right on the line.
F:
(Laughs). All right.
H.M.Jr:
You've got it haven't you?
F:
Well, I think so, yes.
H.M.Jr:
You might want to talk to him about it - Just
how he thinks that they've been making a fool
of themselves up on the Street, and one of the
things that I want to get them to do is to
as soon as they're out of an issue 1s to tell
the world.
F:
That's right. Absolutely.
Regraded Unclassified
34
- 3 -
H.M.Jr:
See?
F:
That's right.
H.M.Jr:
And also that the possibility of negotiating
some of these sales privately.
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you be thinking about it, will you?
F:
Well, I'll probably talk to him sometime
tonight.
H.M.Jr:
Will you do that?
F:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
10:30.
F:
All right, Henry.
35
December 12, 1940
11:22 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Operator:
Chairman Frank.
H.M.Jr:
Hello, Jerome.
Jerome
Frank:
Hello.
H.M.Jr:
Are you back at work?
F:
Oh, yes.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, good. I got your message that you went
after the Trans-America suit.
F:
oh, yes. We're having lots of fireworks now.
H.M.Jr:
Good for you.
F;
They're probably going to refuse to comply
with a subpoena on a cock-eyed reason and
we're probably in the next day or 80 going to
have to go into court after them.
H.M.Jr:
I Bee. Jerome, the reason I'm calling you
is the English are coming in here at 10:30
tomorrow morning to have you and Forrestal
and me tell them why we think they've been
handling their sales 80 badly because I feel
that very strongly. You remember you and I
spent a lot of time with them and then they
didn't take any of our advice.
F:
No.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I told them the other day that I thought
they had been handling it very badly and now
they're coming in at 10:30 tomorrow. Could
you be here?
F:
Yes. Could I bring one of my men with me?
H.M.Jr:
Which one?
F:
I'd like to bring Purcell.
Regraded Unclassified
36
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Yeah. That's the fellow you had the other
time.
F:
Yeah, that's right.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah, I think that would be helpful.
F:
All right. 10:30.
H.M.Jr:
If you please.
F:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
Thank you.
Regraded Unclassified
37
December 12, 1940
11:29 a.m.
H.M.Jr:
Hello.
Cordell
Hull:
Henry, this is about those Grecian planes.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
H:
The way I understood it we undertook to get
the British to put up 30 in the beginning
which we wanted the Greeks to have and the
British said they couldn't and anyhow the upshot
was we were to put up 15 of these 42's or
something and the British 15 and they were to
come out of the British order.
H.M.Jr:
Yeah.
H:
Now, the British step in to you and say here
these don't exactly fit in over there and we'll
find out whether - what you have got that they
can use and let you know.
H.M.Jr:
That's right.
H:
Well, now, the British are taking the thing
out of our hands in & sense Bo far as our
pledge to the Greeks are concerned and I'm
telling Mr. Murray and he's agreeing with me,
in fact suggesting 1t, that we must make clear
to the Greeks that we are not in any way welsh-
ing on our pledge, that we're not going to let
the British unless they and the Greeks with
the Greeks voluntarily agreeing on modifying
our promise. We re not going to modify it
ourselves or go to the Greeks and say you can't
use this, you can't use that and so on and 80
on and .....
H.M.Jr:
Well, let me ask you this: has somebody for
this Administration promised the Greeks 30
planes?
H:
Well, I thought the Greeks were to have 30 -
they asked for 60 and somebody said they - there
are so many people who are in on this, you know.
Welles has been in on 1t, I've been in on it
and Berle has been on it and you've been in on it
Regraded Unclassified
38
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, we don't have to promise anybody anything.
H:
Yes, well then .....
H.M.Jr:
We ven't promised anybody anything.
H:
Well, anyhow - what I'm getting at is this:
that we don't want the British to come back
and tell us that they have talked the Greeks
out of this thing and leave the Greeks wondering
if we haven't welshed on them in some way. Now,
we want to keep in touch with the Greeks. I
think that it's understood that we were to
be responsible for 12, I mean, 15 to go to
the Greeks and we want them to know that we
are not trying in any sense to get out through
anything that may be said to them by the
British, that we stand by our promise.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I haven't contacted the Greeks. I've
only talked to your office - I've talked to you
and to Stone, that's the only person I have
talked to. Now on the practical side they
claim, and it is very easy to ascertain it,
that this Curtiss P-40 cannot land in Greece
because they haven't got the kind of airports
that this plane needs. This needs a smooth
concrete field to land in. You see?
H:
Yes. Well, now, we want to get that from the
Greeks.
H.M.Jr:
So I made the suggestion to Stone last night
that what I told him of my conversation with
the British be immediately repeated to the
Greek Minister here BO that he could check up
as to whether the English were telling the
truth.
H:
Yeah. Now, Murray is going to do that this
morning and send you a copy of his conversation.
H.M.Jr:
Well, who 18 Murray?
H:
He's the head of the Near Eastern Division.
H.M.Jr:
Well, you and I are together because we're
both saying the same thing. I said that the
Regraded Unclassified
39
- 3 -
Greeks ought to be told that to make sure
that the English are telling the truth.
H:
That's all. We don't want the Greeks to have
the least occasion for suspicion.
H.M.Jr:
I can get that but you agree that if what the
English say is true that it would be stupid
to send a plane over that they couldn't use.
H:
Yes, we are glad for the British to tell us
anything, but we want the Greeks personally in
on it.
H.M.Jr:
I think that 16 perfect.
H:
Yeah.
H.M.Jr:
I think that's perfect.
H:
Yes. All right, Henry.
Regraded Unclassified
40
December 12, 1940
Ree
lints
12:00 m.
Pres of 12/22
RE FREEZING
Present:
Mr. Bell
Mr. White
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Graves
Mr. Young
Mr. Pehle
Mr. Wiley
Mr. Klaus
Mr. Bernstein
Mr. Foley
H.M.Jr:
Now, where do we go?
Pehle:
Harry seems to be missing.
H.M.Jr:
Well, we won't wait. Go ahead.
Pehle:
Well, on the point as to movements of Axis funds,
I have a memorandum which points out some of the
high-lights, things that have been gathered
recently.
H.M.Jr:
Read it out loud so that everybody can get it.
(Mr. Pehle read memorandum which is Attachment 1)
H.M.Jr:
Well, the one thing which seems to be missing,
in the first place, is how few cases you have,
and the second thing is, what about that move-
ment of gold out of Portugal?
Cochran:
I have a memorandum on that.
(See Attachment 2)
Regraded Unclassified
41
- 2 -
H.M.Jr:
Well, that ought to go here. Do you know about that?
What is that?
Cochran:
Well, we have gotten more gold here now than
their Central Bank statement shows that they
posess.
H.M.Jr:
That ought to go on, Portugal.
Cochran:
And the Federal has made some investigations of
that, and they are going to give us a list of
the different types of bars and so on that they
have.
H.M.Jr:
I think that was one of the most - how much
money?
Cochran:
About 70 million dollars. That is their total
gold that they have over here now.
H.M.Jr:
How much of that has come in the last two or three
months?
Cochran:
I will have to check up on that. We have had
33 million dollars in gold shipped since
October 2.
H.M.Jr:
That ought to go into this thing. To me, that
is one of the most - there is 33 million dollars
here, which can hire a lot of propagandists, if
that is German.
Wiley:
Mr. Secretary, it looks as if they have enough
money already in Brazil to almost buy the
government and the armed forces.
H.M.Jr:
Not quite.
Wiley:
It is somewhere about a hundred million dollars.
H.M.Jr:
But look at this thing coming out of Portugal.
Did you know about that?
Regraded Unclassified
42
- 3 -
Wiley:
No. The last I heard was that they had sus-
pended shipments of gold.
Pehle:
They are starting again, aren't they, Merle?
H.M.Jr:
I would add that, very definitely. Now, who
else was going to have things for me?
Bell:
White. He was in my office at a conference,
and he had to go to his office to get it.
H.M.Jr:
Oh.
Cochran:
You asked me for several things.
H.M.Jr:
Please, will you (Pehle) take this back and add
Portugal on there.
Cochran:
I have the statement from Sir Frederick Phillips
on their desires and the one from Clark describ-
ing the Canadian situation. I kept the one from
Somary, which the men, most of them, have seen,
but which was submitted before this thing came up.
H.M.Jr:
Well, where are they?
Cochran:
I have them right here.
H.M.Jr:
I would like to have them and take them home.
Cochran:
And if you want this Portugese memorandum.
Because we are trying to find whether the Portu-
gese treasury owns this gold. This is the one
from Clark, here is the one from Phillips, and
this is the Somary memoranda, and this is the
memo the British sent us sometime ago telling
us what they want if we put on exchange control
in China.
H.M.Jr:
Is Phillips coming now?
Cochran:
He is coming at 12:30 and is going into my
office.
Regraded Unclassified
- 4 -
43
H.M.Jr:
Who else has got some more work?
iley:
Here is a little item of back ground, sir, that
might be helpful in talking to the Secretary
of State.
(Mr. White entered conference)
Wiley:
This is from the alien property custodian report
of 1919: "The relation between the German
Government and the great German chemical houses
was so close that representatives of the indus-
try were naturally almost direct representa-
tives of the government and their work in this
country gave them unequalled opportunities for
examining our industries from within * #,
After the war began the industry became a center
not only of espionage but of propaganda and of
direct governmental activity. The number of
striking instances of this development is so
great that only a few can be detailed, but
these appear sufficiently striking * #."
(See Attachment 3)
Wiley:
Now, of course that should apply with equal
force to the possibilities of the present. Then
we have already got several items of interest
with regard to what is going on now: "The FBI
is watching the Dye Trust activities, especially
since two persons posing as aspirin salesmen in
its employ were found actually to be engaged in
subversive or at least dubious activities in
the Western Hemisphere, including the carriage
of secret codes (the Hoehne and Wolff cases).
(Mr. Foley entered conference)
Wiley:
"2. Chemical Marketing Company and German Gold
and Silver Refining Institute (Dr. Kertess and
associates) are undoubtedly engaged in activi-
ties close to espionage according to the Dies
Committee report.
Regraded Unclassified
- 5 -
41
"3. Ufa Film. This is B. propaganda agency and
is being used in connection with the Agfa Ansco
for taking pictures of military objectives in
the Western Hemisphere in the guise of producing
"educational films" for consumption in Germany.
Then German shipping facilities, they can be
accepted as going into that work.
The German money forwarding agencies, Robert
Hautz and Company, New York and Chicago; Hans
Utsch and Company, New York; Carl Marks and
Company, New York; etc., are believed clearly
to need investigation.
H.M.Jr:
Now, I can't remember, but I know I have asked
each one of you for something. Does that
finish you?
Wiley:
A little later I will have something.
H.M.Jr:
Fine. I will give you a call. Harry?
White:
You asked for a description of the treatment of
American property interests by Germany, Japanese,
Canada, and Italy.
H.M.Jr:
Yes.
White:
I have it here. Would you like me to read the
summaries or just tell you?
H.M.Jr:
No, I want to take it and read it at home.
White:
The one on Italy, as I indicated before, is
rather brief.
H.M.Jr:
Have you got anything else?
White:
Then you asked for a statement of the remittances
by the--
II.M.Jr:
Post office.
Regraded Unclassified
45
- 6 -
White:
Yes. We had submitted those figures about two
months ago. We got in touch with the Post
Office and the American Express Company to
find out that, and we brought them up to date
as much as possible.
H.V.Jr:
I would like them all. I will take it all home
and do the best I can.
Shite:
All right. There is a brief memorandum here on
what the fund might do with regard to Latin
American relations.
R.S.Jr:
You give all of that stuff that you prepared to
McKay and tell him to send it up to the house.
White:
Right. There is one thought that occurred to
me that I don't think has been mentioned. I
haven't heard it mentioned. It just occurred
to me today. With respect to the possibilities
of controlling subversive activities in Latin
America through the extension of exchange control,
all that information that we received of the
tie-up between American concerns and others is
very comprehensive. There is E possibility that
might be worth thinking about, that where ex-
ports are sent to companies that this Govern-
ment doesn't approve of through agents, through
the extension of exchange control, you have an
instrument which you can use if you wish in that
so as to get the changes made by the American
companies if they don't see fit to cooperate
through the ordinary channels.
H.M.Jr:
Now, does Mr. Wiley get those Nelson Rockefeller
reports?
White:
I don't know. I have got them on my desk, and was
going to - didn't know who they would go to.
H.F.Jr:
The ones where he is looking into which American
businesses are being--
Regraded Unclassified
- 7 -
4S
White:
That is right. I was going to give them to
Gaston.
Klaus:
We got one set on Peru and a report from the
State Department man.
H.M.Jr:
No, Nelson Rockefeller.
Klaus:
He sent them in. They were State Department
reports.
H.M.Jr:
You had better get together with White and make
sure they are the same things.
White:
If they haven't got them, I will make them avail-
able.
H.M.Jr:
It is something Rockefeller made available to
me personally. I doubt if you have them.
White:
They are very comprehensive. It is one of the
best jobs I have seen done on anything like
that. I was very much suprised at the amount
of work they have done in a brief time of that
caliber.
H.M.Jr:
Just make sure, because it ought to flow into
them for digestion.
White:
I think it has great possibilities.
H.M.Jr:
Will you?
White:
I will do that.
H.M.Jr:
Now, just a second. Tomorrow morning at ten-
thirty the English are coming in on their securi-
ties, and I would like to have you (Bell) here
and White and you (Cochran). That is all that
sits with me on England, isn't it?
Bell:
I think that is all that has been in so far.
White:
You wouldn't want to have one of the men in the
SEC?
47
- 8 -
M.M.Jr:
Yes. I an having Frank and Purcell.
:
Oh, you are.
R.C.Jr:
Yes, Frank and Purcell.
Cochran:
And Clark just accepted. He will be here.
R.H.Jr:
Good. Now, there is, and we seem to have for-
gotten it, & committee that is supposedly between
the State Department and the Treasury and in
which you (Bell) represented me on this thing.
You remember when we were over there, we said
we would appoint a committee. Now, as you
remember, who was it up to to call that meet-
ing.
Fell:
Hull.
S.M.Jr:
Was it up to Hull?
Bell:
He went out of the room, and you said, "Bell
is at your disposal, and we will wait until he
hears from you, so he said, "All right, I will
get in touch with you in the next few days."
Also at the last Cabinet meeting I attended,
the President said that Mr. Hull "has the
Secretary's memorandum and he is supposed to
get in touch with you in the next two or three
days. Mr. Hull said again, "I will call you
in the next few days."
Then that is all right.
Bell:
That is the last I have heard of it.
Jr:
Now, why is Philip Young here? How does he
come into this thing? In this thing, there are
B. number of agencies - let's put it in this way.
I am a exporter. Let's say we put on exchange
control. I want to sell & thousand dollars
export stuff, and the thing we have got to en-
visage - while you (Bell) are busy, if somebody
could take this who isn't overworked - it is
an administrative matter - that this exporter
Regraded Unclassified
- 9 -
48
could make an application, let's say to Foreign
Funds, if that would be the place, and also all
the other things so that when he got a license
he wouldn't have to go to a half dozen agencies
in Washington, see. Now, I think what we ought
to do is, let's take the initiative so that this
exporter - I mean, after all, if he has got to
go here, if he has got to go to Colonel Maxwell,
if he has got to go to Joe Green - where else?
Young:
If it is a new order that has to be placed, it
clears through my office, and we, in turn, clear
it with Defense and War and Navy and State.
H.M.Jr:
Well, Harold, you are always quiet, so you never
seen busy, although I know you are busy. This
is EL strictly administrative matter. I mean
the machinery. You see what I mean. I wish
you would take on this thing, you see. You
have been studying Pehle's setup. Now study Ree Pres the
be set up so that this exporter, when he applies
the thing that Young can give you. How can it to of
for the funds, can get the whole works, 80 that 12-23
he doesn't - the poor fellow would wear himself
out, so by the time he gets through, he would
say, "Well, the hell with it, I would rather not
sell it," see. It is administrative machinery,
which you are a past master at.
White:
I think there is a way of doing it.
H.M.Jr:
Well, but I mean the question of the setup, and
all that, and all you other fellows are mixed
up with Argentine and China and God knows what
else, so I think, Phil, if you and Harold could
get together, you see, and pour out your heart
to him and tell him the troubles about the
Priorties Committee, and McReynolds is in on
this too, but Mac tells me, when I ask him,
that he can't find out what Don Nelson is doing
because Don Nelson won't let him see the forms
that he wants the President to sign, you see.
White:
I think that would be a remarkable development,
49
- 10 -
if you could head that into one hand because
that is one of the difficulties they are hav-
ing in all the other countries, is that they
are segregated, and there is a lot of red tape.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I mean Mac tells me that, and he says,
"Well, I will go down the hall and see Don Nelson
and find out what he is doing." Well, that was
a week ago, but it is your old pal Mac. You
know Mac when he doesn't want to do something,
that is, you know him just as well as I do.
But I would like to - I don't say that it all
should be headed up in the Treasury, but I do
say that a manufacturer shouldn't have to go to
three different places to get an export license
and B. permit for the money because they won't
stand for it.
White:
The policy cannot head up here. It shouldn't.
The administration absolutely would have to--
H.M.Jr:
Now, I am coming to that. I am glad you men-
tioned it. The question of the machinery, I
think, ought to be here. Now, as to policy,
that is something else.
White:
That is right.
H.N.Jr:
And what I think, the question of - the way I
look at it, whether a man should or shouldn't,
the high policy, I think, should be settled by
State, Treasury, and Commerce, possibly War and
Navy. But there ought to be those five Depart-
ments.
Bell:
Leaving out the Defense Commission?
White:
They don't need them, but they will get their
foot in.
H.M.Jr:
But anyway, I am just thinking out loud, and as
I say, somebody has got to carry this through
administratively, but I think certainly State,
Regraded Unclassified
- 11 -
50
Treasury, War, Navy, Commerce--
I am not at all sure you want Mar and Navy on it,
Young:
except in an advisory capacity.
E.I.Jr:
Well, after all, how are you going to tell
whether a machine tool should leave the country
if the Navy says they need it.
White:
They have got to be on it.
E...Jr:
Oh, sure they have.
I think one person from the National Defense.
Now supposing a man is going to sit on Pri-
orities. He will say, "Well, I need this
machine tool." Well, it is like the case you
(Young) cited me the other day. They wanted
to buy some boxcars - I may not have it exactly
right - from South Africa and they wanted to
place the order in a factory that is now making
tanks. Now, should South Africa be permitted to
get an export license and be permitted to place
the order with a company who is making tenks?
Now the question is the Priorities, and I think
it would be Nelson who is the administrative
head of the Priorities Board. That is the way
I feel as of today.
White:
How about the Department of Justice in view of
the activities of the FBI and so on?
H.M.Jr:
No. They are legal advisors.
Now I am just throwing this out, you see. I
am beginning to get in to the thing, just begin-
ning. How does it sound to you, Ed?
Foley:
All right.
H.M.Jr:
Would that be two things: administrative
machinery in one spot, and then a board which
would sit once & week and fix the high policies
as to what should or shouldn't go out.
Regraded Unclassified
51
- 12 -
Foley:
Yes. There are so many Departments involved in
it you have to have an inter-departmental board,
as far as policy is concerned.
H.M.Jr:
And that would really be a board of economic
warfare.
Foley:
That is right, and if you had the administration
here where the policy that was determined would
be carried out and not sabotaged--
White:
And another thing the administration would break
down if the administration has to determine the
policy alone.
H.M.Jr:
Well, I wouldn't take the responsibility, Harry.
White:
No, I don't think you should, but if you can
segregate the two, the better job the policy
board does, the simpler the administration,
and it can be very effectively done, I think,
and done with much less red tape than elsewhere.
H.M.Jr:
And not done by personal hunches the way it is
now. I mean the best example is in the room
here, Mr. Hull tells me that somebody, he doesn't
know who, has given the Greeks their word of
honor that we are going to give them 15 Curtiss
P-40's, and the English are going to give them
15. I said, "Well, who gave them that word?"
He said, "I don't know, somebody did." And
everybody else tries to scramble around and make
good on it, and the British say positively that
the Curtiss P-40 can't be flown by a Greek
because he doesn't know how to fly it, and in
the second place there is no field where they
can land it, because they need an absolutely
perfect landing field. Otherwise, it is a
beautiful idea.
White:
I think that policy committee would have to be
of Cabinet rank, Mr. Secretary.
H.M.Jr:
Oh, definitely.
Regraded Unclassified
- 13 -
52
White:
They could have subcommittees to deal with
any technical material.
H.M.Jr:
How do you like that, just pulling it out of
the air? I dreamed it. Did you dream it?
White:
I think that is a perfect plan and an essential
plan.
H.M.Jr:
Did you dream it, Harry?
White:
No, I didn't dream much last night. (Laughter)
(Discussion off the record)
H.M.Jr:
Philip, you have given a lot of thought to this.
Does this at all fall into what you have been
groping for?
Young:
Yes, sir, it does. You will find an ardent
supporter for that scheme in Berle. He and
I have talked about exactly the same sort of a
plan, of a coordinating committee at the top
with the administration centralized, which he
is very enthusiastic about and also very anxious
that the administration be carried on in the
Treasury.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, but I mean this would fall into - I haven't
given you a chance to pour out your heart on this,
but would this be along the lines that you have
been thinking?
Young:
Yes, exactly, because, at the present time, you
have four clearances that a foreign supplier
has to go through. Joe Green, technically under
the neutrality act; Maxwell, in the interest of
defense, representating the President; my office
for the placement of an order before even a con-
tract can be signed, and frozen funds where you
run into it at the moment or everywhere if ex-
change control is put on. Our difficulty is in
keeping control over foreign orders which may
come into the category of strategic items or
war supplies, the boundary line being very
Regraded Unclassified
- 14 -
53
shadowy. Where they come through the hands of
import firms and agents over whom you have no
control, because the original setup for our
office was to deal directly with the foreign
government, and you have all of these purchases
in instances where you don't have purchasing
missions or accredited representatives coming
through all sorts of different ways.
H.M.Jr:
Harold, you see there are these four agencies,
and I think the argument for the Treasury doing
it is - after all we have Customs, which can be
used to reverse - I mean they could be used to
supervise stuff going out as well as coming in.
We have Coast Guard to stop the boat from leaving
if we don't want it to. We have complete con-
trol of all ports now through the port captains.
We have - we issue a license before a ship can
sail through our ship control. We issue the
licenses for the money, so the machinery, the
policing and all that, I think, belongs here.
Graves:
Is this contingent upon the extension of the
foreign funds control to the uncovered areas,
or is it a separate proposition in your mind?
H.M.Jr:
No, what I would do - what I am thinking of,
if I was going to do this for the President,
I would lay the whole thing before him so he
could do it all at once, freeze the funds,
set up this thing, and the whole thing would
be explained.
Graves:
But they do hang together?
H.M.Jr:
Definitely.
Bell:
But this other thing was in the mill before the
extension of foreign funds came up. You have
been talking about this with Philip, how it
could be separated and still work.
H.M.Jr:
Yes, but if I am going to do this, why not let's
do a good job for the President, and also it
Regraded Unclassified
- 15 -
54
kind of takes the curse off the foreign funds
business. It doesn't stick out like a sore
thumb.
Bull:
I think if a decision were made not to go any
further on freezing foreign funds, you still
might want to do this.
E.C.Jr:
That is right.
Bell:
In order to get the loose ends together.
M.M.Jr:
I didn't understand, but I think this is defi-
nitely something which needs a smooth running
machine, and Harold is the fellow to do it.
White:
Isn't there an additional reason why it should
be in the Treasury Department, Mr. Secretary?
The State Department after all is the important
Department that shapes foreign policy.
H.M.Jr:
Right.
White:
And it seems to me that there should be & seg-
regation between the shaping of policy which
corresponds to legislation, the legislative
branch of the Government, and the administration
branch of the Government, those who execute the
policy. In that way you get both a counter-check
and the division of labor lends for efficiency;
and, I think, for that reason alone - and those
are the only two Departments who could possibly
handle it. For that reason alone, it should be
here.
I.M.Jr:
Harold, what I would like you to do - I didn't
mean to shut you off.
White:
No, I an through.
H.M.Jr:
Do you like the way I am approaching this now?
Bell:
Very much.
Regraded Unclassified
- 16 -
55
H.H.Jr:
What I would like you to do is, anybody that
you (Graves) don't know, and I think the person
whose work you likely know the least about is
Young. Get that. I would get hold of McReynolds
not later than tomorrow and give him a sketch
of this thing 50 that he doesn't go off on some
angle before it is too late, and then tell him
that we want to work with him on this, you see.
Get to Mac not later than tomorrow.
Graves:
Right.
H.M.Jr:
And tell him quite frankly just what we have in
mind.
White:
Would you want this to get out before you inform
the President.
H.M.Jr:
Well, McReynolds is administrative assistant to
the President. Any orders have to flow through
him anyway.
White:
That is the channel?
H.M.Jr:
Yes. Administrative orders have to be set up
by McReynolds for the President.
White:
But you weren't thinking of McReynolds taking it
up with the Council of Defense first.
H.M.Jr:
In his capacity as administrative assistant, as
a man who draws up these orders, isn't that right?
Graves:
That is right.
H.M.Jr:
And is a Treasury employee on leave--
Bell:
He has already discussed one phase of it with
Don Nelson.
H.M.Jr:
I know, but the thing is all sixes and sevens.
Now, if it could be done in a nice adminis-
trative package, the whole thing would have an
appeal to the President, and he would say, "Well,
Regraded Unclassified
56
- 17 -
this makes sense." What do you think, Wiley?
Wiley:
Sounds all right to me.
M.M.Jr:
Nothing in here but what it would be much easier
for you to work. Well, Harold, get your teeth
into this thing. Is anybody, from an administre-
tive standpoint, unhappy about this?
Cochran:
Just the one thing. You would consult with State
and Commerce on this business of extending the
freezing before you tried to put it in--
II..Jr:
Oh--
Cochran:
That is my only reservation.
.....Jr:
They way I would do it now, if I were going to
do it, I would consult with Mr. Hull after we
have the whole package rather than a piece of
it.
Cochran:
But give him 8. chance to give his O.K. before
it goes to the President.
M.M.Jr:
Oh, sure, but I don't want to - I wasn't happy
to walk over just on this thing, but the way
I Bill talking and thinking, it secms to me that
that is something that might appeal to Mr. Hull
and to anybody else who is interested. I mean,
on this basis, after we go along 8. little Tur-
ther - you see, I will keep pushing it.
White:
There is one consideration that is not quite
clear, Mr. Secretary. Luch of what you are
speaking of in the exchange would not apply to
present controls, SO that it really has point
only if there is some extension because the
kind of problems that come bafore Philip and
the other groups do not apply to most of the
countries with which we freeze the funds, so
that the kind of problems that they would con-
tend with, it seems to ne, depends largely
upon the prior assumption that it is zoin to
Regraded Unclassified
- 18 -
57
be extended into other areas. Otherwise, the
organization doesn't have much point with the
kind of problems that are confronting it now.
H.N.Jr:
But this puts the whole thing together. It is
a vast, important problem, and the President can
see it and whereas a man withdraws from taking
action because he is afraid of the administra-
tive end of it, he will say, "I can do this.
This is all right. This will work."
O.K., gents, I hope you all have a nice after-
noon.
NOTROUTS or AXIS JUNDS
58
TRANSFIRS TO SOUTH AMERICA. It is reported that since September soss
$4,600,000 of German funds have bom transferred to South American banks,
and that approximately $2,300,000 has returned from Argentina and Pera to
the account of the Reichabank in Too York. During: the - period there vas
transferred from Italian assomia in the United States approximately
$13,000,000 to South incrios, of which $10,000,000 vest to the Italian
Roberty in Brasil from the Italian Foreign Imlange Central Tunis in You Terk
and in addition, $4,500,000 MM and in ask by courier. As & result of
recent return transfers of Less than $1,000,000 the net amount of Italian
funds transferred to latin America since September anomis to more then
$16,000,000. Recent information indicates that the Bank of leasil expects
to reseive $10,000,000 for credit to a Jupenese assess M part of the
Japanese program designed to centralise dollar enclungs operations of the
Toknhama Specie Bank with the Tank of Brasil.
GERMAN runns. The flow of Gurna funds in this country appears principally
to have been to the accounts of Swedish banks here, $1,500,000 being trans-
forred to such assocate from Gream abcounts since November 25. About
$1,350,000 is known to have born transferred to Swine accounts here, while
$750,000 has returned from Buies to Garman accounts. Cash withdrawale from
German consular accounts since December 1 have anounted to $850,000.
of this amount $650,000 was vithirawn W the Censul General in New York,
who paid $530,000 to cover interest payments n German bonds. The remining
$120,000 is apparently still in the consulate. The Bernan Tubseay in
Vashington recently reseived $200,000 w draft from the Reichobank, Berlin,
and obtained this amount in notes of $20 to $1,000 demoninations. There is
- indication that eash deposite are being mão by the Relahsbank by way
of South America, National City Bank having resently reseived $180,000 w
this mothod.
ITALIAN runds. Transfers of Italian funds, excluding those to South America,
have been principally to Spanish, Swedish, and American assomite and treasfers
from Sundish to Italian assomis have been noted. It has also boen recently
reported that the Italian Attache at Tokyo has carried $800,000 is American
currency from Shanghai to Japan. Further reporte indicate that substantial
Italian Government funds have been converted into eash which is being kept
on diplomatic premises.
JAPANESE FUNDS. Japanese Institute, Inc., a Japanase cultural organization,
is known to have been reseiving its principal Income from the Japancee Consul
General in New York. The various Infence consular officers throughout the
World are apparently being supplied with funds from the Japanese consuler
accounts with the Bank of America.
Regraded Unclassified
2
C
59
0
P
Y
December 9, 1940
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Hawkey
Subject: Gold shipped here by and for
account of the Bank of Portugal.
More than $70 million in gold has arrived here from Portugal
since the beginning of July, 1940, shipped by and for account of the
Bank of Portugal. Since all of the gold was earmarked upon arrival
in New York, that Bank's gold balance here rose from $30.1 million
as of July 3 to $109.8 million at the clost of December 5. (About
$6.0 million of this increase resulted from the purchase of gold
from the U. S. Stabilization Fund.)
On October 10, I wrote you a memorandum in which comparison was
made between the Bank's gold in New York and the asset item
"Encaisse-or" (gold coin and bullion) on the Bank's own weekly
statement. At that time, the most recent statement available was
dated August 21, and it could not be asserted definitely that the
Bank's gold in New York was of B. greater value than its "Encaisse-or."
We have now received the Bank's statement as of October 2,
listing an "Encaisse-or" of $69.1 million. On the same date, its
gold balance in New York amounted to $70.5 million and since October
2, the Bank of Portugal has shipped another $33.3 million in gold
to New York. (All of this has arrived: there is no gold in transit
at present.) We have no "encaisse-or" figure available for dates
subsequent to October 2, but since this item has moved upward less
than $2.0 million in the past six years, it is very likely that
little or no change has taken place since early October.
The foregoing information is tabulated below (in millions of
dollars):
Imports for
Gold bal-
"Encaisse-
acct. of Bk.
ance here
or" 3/
Period-1940
of Port. 1/
(At end of each period)
$30.1 (July 3)
$68.8 (July 3)
July 4 - 31
$ 7.1
37.8
68.9
Aug. 1 - Sept. 4
16.7
55.3
68.9
Sept. 5 - Oct. 2
15.2
70.5
69.1
Oct. 3 - 31
21.1
97.6
(69.1) Carried
Regraded Unclassified
60
- 2 -
Nov. 1 - Dec. 5
12.2
109.8
(69.1) Forward
All from Portugal, except $1.4 million from England in July.
During October, the Bank of Portugal also purchased $6.0 million
in gold from the U. S. Fund.
3/ According to 1931 law, the Bank values its gold at .066567 fine
grams per escudo; conversion of escudo value into dollars hence
made at the rate of $.0748 per escudo.
The apparent conclusion is that the Bank of Portugal has sent
to the United States at least $33.3 million of gold not shown in
its "Encaisse-or". Since only $14.6 million of Bank of Portugal
gold arrived here during the first half of 1940 (of which $2.1
million came from Portugal and about $12.5 million from England),
it may be further concluded that most of the "extra" gold was shipped
in the past five months.
This "extra" gold may be any of the following:
1) The Bank of Portugal's own gold. In addition to the gold
listed under "Incaisse-or", there is a reason to believe
that the Bank carries some gold in its asset item "Dispon-
ibilittesor a l'etranger et autres reserves" (liquid gold
exchange assets abroad and other reserves). Here is some
evidence: in the week ended March 20, 1940, the Bank purchased
slightly less than $5.0 million in gold from the U. S. Fund
in order to strengthen its gold reserves. In that week, its
"Incaisse-or" changed not even 8 fraction of one escudo.
"Disponibilities, etc.", however, rose $4.9 million (using the
rate of $.0749)
About a year ago, the largest amount of gold that could
have been included under "Disponsibilities, etc". was $22.0
million. In the Bank's statement for December 30, 1939, this
item was valued at 536.3 million escudos. Examination of the
Bank's annual report for 1939 reveals that 242.2 million
escudos of the above represented the Bank's holdings of the
Government of Portugal's 3% sterling obligations. Therefore,
the maximum amount of gold that could have been included under
this item was 294.1 million escudos worth, or $22.0 million.
(The Bank's holdings of dollars were negligible at that time.)
2) Gold held by the Portuguese Treasury. The Federal Reserve
Regraded Unclassified
-3-
61
Bulletin, in its table "Gold Reserves of Central Banks and
Governments", uses only the Bank's "Incaisse-or" figure,
converted at $.0748. But the Portuguese Bank's annual report
for 1939 shows a table of the Treasury's liquid assets at the
end of November, 1939, wherein appeared 430.2 million escudos
worth of gold in bars, equivalent to $32.2 million.
For all we know, the Bank of Portugal may have exchanged
its holdings of Portuguese Government sterling bonds for
Treasury gold, shipping the latter to New York.
3) Gold of some foreign bank or government, in the shipment and
earmarking of which the Bank of Portugal acted really as
intermediary. Unless we receive further evidence that 8
third party's interest was involved, it would seem inad-
visable to question the Bank of Portugal for what appear to
be shipments of "extra" gold. The information presented under
the preceding two points suggests that Portugal does own gold
beyond that shown in the "Encaisse-or" asset item of the
Portuguese Bank statement. Regarding the markings on gold
bars already shipped here, from Portugal, I think you will
agree that these cannot be offered as proof of ownership, since
many Continental assay marks constitute good delivery in
Europe's gold markets.
#The dollar funds used in this purchase were remitted to the
Federal by various banks in New York. Indication that the
Bank of Portugal acquired such dollars during that same week
is given in the Bank's statement, wherein Portuguese bank
deposits at the Bank of Portugal rose 100 million escudos, or
slightly more than $4. million.
Regraded Unclassified
62
Regraded ev Unclassified
A partial list of corporations of subversive activity 07 of
censealing assets subject to freesing:
As Japanase. Mr. White has estimated that our assets in Japan are
around $200,000,000. Obviously our bargaining position with regard to
Japan my term an the concealment of substantial assets by Japanese is
the United States.
1. Tekeheme Specie Bank. This Bank has breaches in New York, Hawaii
and Sep Francisco, is controlled by the Japanese government, and has at-
ready been found to have filed false reports consealing about $100,000,000
in assets from American banking authorities.
a. Mitoubishi Bank, Led., New York.
8. Missui Bank, Ltd., Now York.
4. Bank of Chosen, lieu York.
8. Sendtome Bank, Ltd., New Yerk.
6. Bank of Taisan, Ltd., New York.
7. Eyede Wire Insurance 00., Ltd., New York.
a. Meiji Fire Insurance Go., Ltd., New York.
9. Mippen Pire Insurance Go., Ltd., Homolulu.
20. Tokyo Marine and Fire Insurance Do., Ltd., Nov York.
11. Iwai and Company, Led., New York (impart and export).
12. Marimure Brothers, Inc., New York (impert).
19. Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., New York (impert and export).
16. Tenancial of Company, Ltd., Osaka, Japen (dealore is are goods
with then Customs has had difficulties).
63
- 2 -
15. Nagoya Seite Kaisha, Ltd., New York (chineware).
16. Mitsui and Company, Ltd., New York (trading in commodities).
17. Nissho Company, Ltd., New York (import and export).
18. Fuso Marine and Pire Insurance Co., Ltd., New York.
19. Temacho and Company, Ltd., Beattle (import and export).
(All of the above have been incorporated in Japan, but are doing
business in the United States. The 1939 tax returns in many of the above
cases show alleged locass.)
20. Among the large accounts being monitored by FBI is Shows Teache
Kaisha, which in New York City shows balances in excess of $500,000.
In addition there are Japamese banks in Hawaii (two or three) and the
Philippines which are apparently viewed with suspicion by FBI.
B. Gorman. German controlled corporations which are more or less nb-
ject to suspicion include the following:
1. German Dye Trust. This consists of a group of corporations,
including General Analine and Film Corporation and subsidiaries some of which
are as follows:
Agfa Ansee.
Agfa Raw Film Corporation.
Osalid Corporation.
Winthrey Chemical Company (80 per cent).
American Magnesium Corporation (80 per east).
Regraded Unclassified
64
- 3 -
This group was described as far back at the last way (Alien Prop-
crty Custodian report, 1919) as follows:
"The relation between the German Government and the
great German chemical houses was # clese that represents-
tives of the industry were naturally almost direct repre-
sentatives of the government and their work in this country
gave them unequalled opportunities for examining our 100
dustries from within : After the war began the
industry become a center net only of espionage but of
propaganda and of direct governmental activity. The number
of striking instemees of this development is ⑉ greet that
only a few can be detailed, but these appear sufficiently
striking . . ","
The FBI is watching the Dye Trust activities, especially since
two persons posing M aspirin salemen in its employ 1020 found actually to
be engaged in subversive or at least dubious activities in the Testern Hende-
phere, including the carriage of secret codes (the liochne at Welff casse).
s. Chemical Marketing Company at Come Gold and Silver Befining
Institute (Dr. Kerbese end associates) are undoubtodly engaged in activities
close to espiemage ascording to the Dies Committee report.
5. Ura Film. This 10 a propaganda agency at 10 being used in
connection with the Agfa Assee for taking pictures of military objectives
in the Western Hemisphere in the guise of producing "educational filme"
for consumption in Germany.
4. German Shipping at Tourist Agencies (HAPAD, North German
Lloyd, German Railroads Information).
a. German Money Forwarding Agencies (Robert Hants and Company,
New York and Chicago: Same Utesh and Company, See Yesh: Carl Marks and Date
pasty, New York; etc.)
Regraded Unclassified
65
- 4 -
6. Dures Plastics and Chemical Company, North Tonovanda, New York.
FBI is interested in this company.
7. Pilot Reinsurance Company, 70 Pine Street, New York. Forty-six
per cent of the stock 18 owned by non-resident German aliens worth $1,240,000.
s. Allgemeine Klektricitats Gesellschaft, Berlin.
C. Italy. Italian banks represent the chief subject of interest with
regard to Italy. They are controlled by the Italian Exchange Institute and
their transections as reported to us have been multifarious and mysterious.
They include the following:
1. Banes Commerciale Italians, New York agency (a foreign or
poration)
a. Credite Italians, New York agency,
5. The subsidiaries of the Italian Exchange Institute, such as
the Bance di Napoli Trust Company, Nov York and Chicago, and the Bease -
merciale Italiana branches. The you has been observing these banks. The
resident alien president of the Benes di Mapoli, Chicago, w recently die-
charged by the Italian Archange Institute for not being sufficiently pro-
Fascist.
4. The General Insurance Company, Led., Trieste. This company 10
being watched by British Intalligence at 10 engaged is mysterious financial
transactions in the United States through at individual and Hernth, resid-
ing in the Hotel Pennsylvania, New Yerk.
Regraded Unclassified
66
- 8 -
B. Do Mobile Cigar Company, Brooklyn, New York, is Italiam wa-
twolled; paid dividends to non-resident Italians in 1939 of about $88,000 with
a stock value of $1,546,000.
D. Switserland. The largest amount of payments to non-resident aliens
in non-frosen Continental Europe today 10 in Swiss names. It is believed
that the largest portion of this is Geman (for comple, I. 0. Farben).
The Electrolux Corporation 10 a suspect company. Thirty-seven
per cont of the total outstanding stock 10 represented by dividends to
non-resident aliens with Swine addresses. The FBI has been watching the
Suede, Arel Weaner Grean (owner of the yesht SOUTHERN CROSS), of this our
poration very closely. The company has 331 brench offices manufacturing
and selling THERE excepers etc.
Other Swies companies that might bear emmination are Hoffman-
LaReche, Inc., of Matley, New Jersey, paying dividends to Swice names above-
ing a stock value of over $5,000,000 Sendes Chemical Works, New York City,
paying dividends to a company in Basle, Suitserland, showing stock worth
about $1,500,000; Syar Distributing Company of Nashville, Teansses, paying
dividends to one Adalyh Geneg, Durich, with stock valued at $1,314,000; ore.
SK:von - 12/12/40 - - 5
Regraded Unclassified
4
67
There are undoubtedly types of reprehensible activity not made oriminal
by any statute and which 4. regine of foreign exchange control would probably
not affect in any direct way. For example, the employment by the Glenn Martin
plant of substantial members of persons suspected of being Mest sympathisers;
against this FBI has apparently been unable to do enything today and in the
absence of action by the plant itself nothing further of a remedial nature
can apparently be expected. A twilight sone existe with regard to American
enterprises and funds used for pro-Axis purposes-en example, perhaps, 10 the
alleged fortune of Whitehead, deceased operater of the Cose Cola bostling
business.
The following are some transactions which have already taken place over
which the Treasury would have & ascaure of control in the event of the insti-
tusion of a foreign exchange centrol regise.
1. Une of American dollar balances (frequently in surrency) in 1745
actions involving alleged repatriation of German securities held in this
country. It has been estimated by Mr. White's division that during the month
of October and the first two vocks of November $15,000,000 in eash alone was
spent repurchasing $75,000,000 par value of German bonds as a misimm 0811-
mate, amounting to about 60 per cent of all German dollar bonds held is the
United States. Under a regine of fereign exchange control we would know more
about the precise purpose of such transactions (the British have intercepted
ovidence that this has to do with German preparation for an appearment pro-
(7th in the United States at the continuence of the fraudulent bankruptcy
program involving a cheap depletion of United States bargaining power by
vay of off-sets). It also appears from FBI reports that German refuges
Regraded Unclassified
63
- 1 -
in this country are being used in acas of these transactions (for example,
Jakeb Goldschmidt, A.E.B. Corporation) and that in this connection these
transactions are being used to cover up the salting essy of funds for
other purposes, possibly subversive (for example, FBI's discovery of
Margaret Goyl, a stooge for Hermann Kollmar, and the Transfer Trues Limited's
activities in Mexico City).
1. The Rueckwanderer mark system involves the probable dispoiling of
the life sevings of large numbers of gullible Germans in this country for
verious ends (the Chase National Bank alone from July through October handled
$1,160,000 of this kind). Today nothing 18 being done to stop this (although
" have turned the matter over to the FBI) but under & system of foreign
exchange control this fraud upon residents of this country could be promptly
stopped. Related to this is the feed package recket also indulged in by the
Russians.
8. Aria powers are reseiving reyalties on American patents and sopyrights
in substantial - but are refusing to make any payments except in blocked
accounts to imericans in similar eircumstances. Under the proposed regime
this might premptly become a natier for negotiation.
4. amounts of surrency are being shuttled between this and
other countries for activities largely subversive. The amount of money ear-
ried by Italian couriers to South American 18, as any realist know, sufficient
to purchase the allegiance of persons of the highest importance in these cour-
tries, sad the American dollar is undoubtedly being used as the surrency of
payment for activities against our interests throughout the world. The pro-
Regraded Unclassified
69
- $ -
posse regine could prevent cash from being paid out of bank accounts to such
diplomate and could be used for diplomatic demarches to prevent importation
or exportation abuses.
5. Payment and receipt of remittences from Seviet sources, undoubtodly
for Communist purposes, are me entirely lewful and have taken place in -
stential amounts. The proposed regine would provent this.
6. Payments by consulates, embassies, serporations, end individuals
falling under the inhibitions of foreign exchange control could be serutinized.
Today the Chemical Marketing Company and other organizations of the kind No
forred to in the Dies Committee White Paper" would be subjected to class
serutiny.
7. Transfers of credits emounting to flight of And credits to Latin
America to be used undoubtedly, however, within the United States by gradual
repatriation in currency or disguised credit transactions are me teking place.
The Italians, for instance, are reported to have in this name? built up a
balance in Rie of m less than $10,000,000. The Japanese end Germans are
doing the same, The purpose of these activities is to place beyond our ⑉
trol all these runde. In view, however, of the feet that dollar creation
sources remain in the United States a regine of foreign change centrol,
such as is propesed, would provent a continuance of this practice; and 1%
might over smable us to centrol the repatriation, bewever disguised.
SK:ven - 12/12/40 - - 5
Regraded Unclassified
7
70
EXCHANGE CONTROL
Arswing
72
Desember 12, 1940
Mr. thite
Mr. Dee
subject: Treatment of American property interests by Cernany, Japan, Canada
and Italy
4.
1. American of brench plants in Commany have not been per-
mitted to control the management or personnel of these plants.
2. American of direct investments in Germany have not been
permitted to collect dividends - their direct investments.
3. incrison - of bended investment have not been permitted to
receive the full interest and amartination - these investasets,
nore than half of which have been is complete defealt. Probably
nore than $700 million of clear less has been taken by terrican
bandhalders.
he American long-term investors have been discriminated against in
favor of investors from countries politically related to Germany
or free countries which had sufficient control over international
transactions to be able to retaliste.
5. American private citizens who vare suarded over 8600 million by
the Ittmed Claims Commission have not been permitted to sellect
on these claims from Cerreny.
6. American owers of short-torm claims on Germany have been per-
nitted to withdraw them only over a 10-year poried and have suffered
considerable leases en three claims.
Our total claims - dermany, shirt-term and long-torm, excluding war
debta, are about $350 million.
The total claims of Commany en the United States are less than $100 million.
(Both of there totals the areas nov occupied by Dermany.)
3. Iss
1. The - is the exercise of their foreign amazonge centrol
and collateral regulations have canced esuaiderable damage to
interests is the For East.
(a) Lim
(1) American assete have been from. st the discretion
of the Japanese Government, is met CADGE American
business have been allowed to withdraw their earnings.
Regraded Unclassified
73
- 2 -
Division of Monutary
Research
(2) The Japanese Deverment, through its foreign trade
controls, has aliminated all importe of American
except these vitally necessary u their
we effort.
(3) American enterprises in Japan are discriminated
against and pressure is brought to curtail their
activities.
(b) In Manchmria
(1) The Japanese system of foreign exchange centrol and
state nonopolies has practically climinated American
enterprise from the field.
(2) The foreign exchange centrol is administered to
discourage importe from the United States and
other non-Japaness controlled countries.
(e) In North China
(1) As the Japanese tighten their hold upon Morth
China similar regulations directed against
Americans have become increasingly severe.
2. American investments in Japan have a neminal value of & quarter
of & billion dollars. Since these are fromes their astual value
is deubtful. While enaller, the Japanese investment of $1.50 att-
lien in the United States 18 crucially important to Japam M 10
represents about half of Japan's foreign exchange reserves.
(There is appended a longer discussion of the injurious effects of the
Japanese exchange control.)
c. Italy
Italian exchange centrel has been more lenient 02 American industrialists
and investors than that of Germany.
1. The Italians have serviced the greater part of their U.S.
dollar bends.
2. Short-term assets have been withdrawable with little diffi-
only. However, the total of these assets has been mall.
3. Regular resittances of dividends and profits to the United States
has been profitable since 1935, but there have been & number
of special examptions.
(Total Averican heldings in Italy are under $140 million. Italian
holdings in this country are 690 million.)
Regraded Unclassified
74
Division of Monstary
- 3
Research
D. Canada
Canadian exchange central is mash less hersh with respect to
the United States than the centrols of the Ande powers. but the
following restrictions may be noticed:
1. Balances hold prior to the was cannot be withirem by
incrisons at the official rate.
2. withdrawal of profits required 30 days' notice before
a permit is issued,
3. Importe from the United States in excess of 825 require
6 permit. Certain categories of goods are prehibited
and others restricted.
4. Proceeds from the sale of securities held prior to the
war may not be withdrawn at the official rate.
5. Insurance companies mut declare their heldings of
foreign exchange.
6. American companies must nake a monthly report of
operations and submit to periodis emaminations.
In this commestion, it is only fair to list the activities which
can be engaged is by American property - in Canada and which
would net be permitted under the Avis type of exchange control.
Americans can withdraw interest and dividents on Canadian investants.
Brench plants can conduct business freely with parent company in the
United States. American investors can withdraw DEV funds in foreign
exchange. incrican residents in Canada on held and dispose of foreign
currency and securities. Returning Americans may withdraw foreign
exchange which they brought in, and goods up to 8100. Americans
may sell foreign or demostic securities to the United States. American
balances my be used freely within Canada. Comittments by insurance
companies to pay in foreign exchange are being honored as respects
Americans. United States life insurance companies are permitted to
de business as usual.
(There is appended a lenger report on the organisation of the
Canadian exchange control system.)
VFC:esh
12/12/40
Regraded Unclassified
Germany
Division of Monetary
Research
to
Iff. lite
December 11, 1940
1900
Mr. Used
Dubject Cermac Exchange Control and American Interests.
jumary
1. The Germans have for many years exercised an exchange control vis-a-via
the United States which has cost this country and its nationals hundreds of
millions of dollars. They are now using this central to damage this nation not
only in its external relations but also in its internal affairs. Mitherto, the
mjor damage has been effected through German control exercised over American-
owned assets in Germany and other areas: more recently the use of the foreign
exchange control over Dersan-owned dollar assets in the United States has been
the souree of injury. Specifically the effects of the German Exchange Control
as it has been exercised with respect to the United States are as follows
2. The greatest lesses inflicted on American property interests by Germany
have been borne by those Americans who, during the 1920's, invested liberally
in the reconstruction of German industry, both through the purchase of long-term
German dollar bonde and through the establishment of modern branch plants in
Germany.
3. Under the liast Regime, United States holdings of Derman dollar bonde
have been reduced from a face value of approximately $1,100 million to & face
value of approximately 875 million. Considerably more than half of this redue-
tion, probably over 6700 million, represents a elear loss by the American
bondbolders.
4. When the National Socialists came into power in Germany, American
branch plants in that country had an estimated value of over $260 million. There
has been very little repatriation of this investment, tut st has gradually become
almost valueless for practical purposes. Since the widdle of 1933, transfer of
dividends has been permitted only intermittently and only to a few favored -
cerns. The American parent company, in most cases, receives no dividends, has
no control over management and personnel, and 1s not permitted to receive informe-
tion concerning the details of operations. Ownership has been reduced to the
thinnest legal fietion.
5- At the end of 1930, Americans held about 0925 million of short-term
claims on Germany. Today the value of our outstanding short-term claims is
less than 050 million. This reduction was not achieved thout considerable
losses to the American creditors, though the short-term ereditors fared sush
better than the owners of Cerman dollar bonds or the owners of direct invest-
sente in Germany.
6. About 61,275 million is the Derman Government's indebtedness to the
Government of the United States. Over $600 million of this represents awards
of the Mixed Claims Commission to American private citizens. These totals are
exclusive of the debts to the United States Government of other countries which
Germany has occupied and amount to the Reich.
Regraded Unclassified
77
Division of Monetary
- 2 -
Research
Regraded Unclassified
9. The National Socialist Covernment has discriminated against American
long-term investors ever since 1933. Several other countries, who either had
closs political time with Germany or were in a position to retalists by taking
over German assets of by eliminating - - of importe from Germany, was
able to get specially favorable cottlements. The United States was unable to
secure equal treatment for American creditors. lione of the former American lease
has been serviced in full and nore than half have been in complete default. Tes
virtually all Dateh and Juice leans, and the English Dame and Young loans, wore
serviced in full up to the authoresk of mr.
8. Since 1933, when the last Government defaulted en transfers of bend
interest and amertisation, ostensibly because dollars were scaree, Germany has
repurchased approximately & billion dellars face value of United States-bald
German dellar bonds, at a cost of between $200 and 6250 million. Dellars, of
which there 4 seareity when 10 - & question of meeting legitimate oblign-
tions, apparently became plentiful when there w an opportunity to repurchase
there came obligations at the low prices which were the direct result of Derman
Government policy.
9. Since September, 1940, the Insi Government, with avonued political unde,
has accelerated the repatriation program by repurshases of a face momt of
approximately 675 million of United States-hold German dollar banda. the purpose
of these repurchases, all avowed by German agents, is to strengthen the position
of Germany at the Peese Conference by subling her to min a cheep gesture of
agreeing to service all her international obligations in full. German control
over United States preperty, is all the area today under her jurisdiction, is
also regarded as - instrument of M eventual all-rease settlement with the
United States. The withdrewal of all German liquid caseta from this country,
or their consealment in the accounts of other sountries, serve the - purpose.
10. In recent months, German officials in the United Dates have carried
- a large part of their financial transactions in eash, presenably to prevent
the detection of Improper disbursements or to build up secret in care
German balances are blocked. In tide way, the unrestprecated freedom wideh W
afford to the use of German dollar balances enables the German Government to
finance activities directed against our national interests, without perious
danger of detection.
11. The Germane are in a position to utilise every losphele and every
licensed area in our our foreign funds control insefar of our foreign funds
control ⑉ be persuaded to release French or other funds to Latin America,
to Switnerland, to Seeden and other countries. The Gersons are given the
opportunity through intermediaries in the case of Latin America and through
commie and politival ocereien in the case of countries adjacent to Commany
to sequire the dollars which w free.
12. German-controlled direct investments in to United States constitute
8 formidable source of direct influence by the Gurman Government over certain
American industries. Im addition, the widespread influence of German-ocutrolled
78
Division of Monetary
I
- 3 -
capital, and certain German individuals, in - domestically controlled indus-
tries makes possible the exertien of German influence in quarters not super-
ficially apparent. Germany also controls many industrial processes in the
United States, - of which are vital to National Defense, through patent
holdings and licenses.
13. German investments and the activities of German nationals in the
United States are strictly centrolled by the Mast Government. is long as the
United States Government fails to establish its em system of central over
German assets, it permits the Masi Government a the hand here. The alternatives
are not freedom versus control but German control versus American centrol.
00 tmg
12/11/40
Regraded Unclassified
79
Division of Numbery
- & -
Research
Carger receive and sectrol.
Persign exchange centrol - first adopted in Germany ea July 16, 1931,
as 8 result of the covere financial crisis of that year. Prom that date on,
the commonic life of Germany and the position of the foreign crediter has been
subject to increasingly rigerous government central. Long before the outbreak
of war, the Cerses Government had assend complete eastrol over international
transections of all kindes without the permission of the proper authorities,
DE treasfere abroad of payments for importe, for foreign dobt service, for
prefits, rente, # reyalties, or cepital withdressal might be made. The regula-
time governing such permission were complex, the use which might be made of
any Reichemarks belonging to, or accordag no, foreigners being dependent upon
the specific origin of these balances.
Permission to transfer Reichmark funds or claims into foreign currently is
granted or withheld according to the commonde, political and strategie policies
of the Germen Government. For exemple, substantial amo of foreign exclunge
have been paid to certain countries with when Germany either was in a poor
bargaining position, or found 10 desirable to maintain very good relations. In
the case of the United states, elmest the only transfers permitted were payments
for current importations into Gernery from the United States, and even here a
large propartion of our total experts to Commany could eally be name by scoopting
various forms of blocked balances.
German restrictions on international emital transporting.
The system of regulations which the German Government our up to control
cepital asvanents was repidly expended after 1993 to ester every conseivable
transaction and plug every loak wherely capital might essape the country. the
German authorities are erned with valimited authority and the regulations have
been adopted with great vigue be take account of new developments is
commis position. Additions, subtractions, and exceptions to the rules are
froquent, and a complete description of the regins at any time would be our of
date before it could be compiled. the following description 10 intended only
to illustrate the scops end nothed of the German regulations; any specific vales
or examples sentioned may have been experseded.
ifter June 1933, the Gestann Government required that interest, dividends,
capital payments, and rests resulting from foreign is Commany -
be paid in Reichmarke into the Conversion office for Gereen Persign Date to
the credit of the foreign crediter. Standstill agreement debte and Income from
empital sequired after 1931 with free foreign exchange were emeryted from this
requirement. The Conversion Office Lossed to foreign creditors men-interest
bearing Reichanark certificates w interest-bearing bonds in the currenty of the
original claim. Alternatively, the anomis paid into the Conversion office could
be transferred to Mested accounts in the foreign exchange besin, there they could
be drown a for cortain limited purposes. Copital papaymento could be made only
into special blocked secumber which could be expended for certain spostfied
limited purposs.
Regraded Unclassified
80
- 5 -
Division of Mometary
Research
Regraded Unclassified
is a result of the severe restrictions - transfer payments, 4 large
number of blocked mark accounts were opened in the German banke authorised to
accept and associate. German debtate is meet cases were permitted to discharge
their obligations to foreigners by payments into these accounts, may of which
are still held, shile others have been used chiefly for investment in certain
securities and real estate in Certify or for payment for German experts. Elocked
marks could also be sold to other foreignare, but the was of such asquired marks
wro even more restricted than the uses of the original assounts, and -
quently they could be sold only at a heavy discount.
In addition to the rigorous regulation of financial transastions, the
German Government also bas imposed direct restrictions since the outbreak of
war en the expert of commedities from Germany. These restrictions are a further
obstasle to the liquidation of American assore in Germany.
Discrimination U.S. holders of German dellar bendy.
Since 1933 the National Socialist Government has discriminated against
American leng-term creditors. Up until I'me of that year Germany had ml is
full the interest and amortisation charges - her foreign bonds. not a July 1,
1933, Gerasey premiented a law relieving German debitere of the obligation to pay
is foreign surrencies and requiring them to pay their fored.go obligations in
reichemarks into the conversion office. lines that time, - of the former
German dollar bondshhave been fully serviced is this country and nare than half
have been is complete default.
Yes the Detah and Indian creditors were able to collect virtually the
whole of the interest due these they 0970 able to reach auch as agreement
because of Owner's favorable balance of trade with Holland and Switeerland.
This VAI clearly & discrimination against the incriom creditors. And is 1934
the British Deverment was able to obtain fall service a British heldings of
the Dame and Terms leans) they vers able to reash such an agreement by PASSA
of & Law expewering the British Government to take retalistery action against
German trade. The United States, however, had & strong favorable balance of
trade with and emeoquently ⑉ net able to bring effective presenze
on the German Government with respect to these leans. The have been
servicing about 75 persont of the payments due - the American haldings of
those leas. This procedure also slearly discriminated against the American
wediters.
Furthermore, although the Need Government defmulted a transfers of bed
interest and martisation, ortensibly because dellars 05/1 peareo, -
has reperchased approximately - billism dellars fase talse of UnitedStates-
held German dellar bands at a sect of between $200 and $250 million.
81
Division of Nome tary
- 6 -
Research
This repatriation of Carmen dollar bonde was stimulated by special
measures undertaken by the Certer Government. After 1933 default by German
debiers and official restrictions on service transfers staresd caused the price
of German bonds held abroad to fall severely. On the German market prices
received relatively high. The German Government book advantage of this differ-
ential to inetitute - system of "supplementary exports". by this wethod German
exportere sould buy dollar bonds with part of the proceeds of their exports,
and then could register them for sale at the higher prices prevailing is Gernany,
Those, dollars, which were scaree when 11 was I question of meeting legitimate
obligations, wore plentiful when 1% was a question of saking American beadhelders
indirectly may for German exports.
Fince 1940, however, Wasi Government has accelerated the repatriation
program for avoved political ends. It has repurchased 8 face amount of
approximately $75 million of United States-held German dellar bands at a cools
of about 820 million. Two German agents alone, acting privately for the German
Government have received $15 million since October 10 for the express purpose
of making these repurchases. The purpose of these repurchases, M avound by
these Cereas agents, 10 to strangthen the position of Germany at the Posce
Conference by enabling her to nate a geoture of agreeing to service all wher
international obligations in full. Here again dollars which were scares when
10 one 4. question of meeting legitimate obligations became plentiful when 11
was e question of realizing German political ends.
Injury to American-owned direct investments in Cerumar.
The value of American direct invostments in Gerenay has been estimated by
the Department of Commorce at about $264 million as of the end of 1933. "
present the book value of these investments is about $225 million. However,
this figure of 8225 million is deubly fletitions. On the - hand, these
investments are at the newst practically valualess to their medinal imerican
owners because they yield no transferable interest or dividends. On the other
hand, the back value of American direct investments under German centrol has new
been more than doubled by the extension of Gorman control over the larger part
of Continental Europe.
Already American sepital and managing personnel are being eliminated from
enterprises in all the occupied area-from Pranos to Rusends.
Resent experience in humanie still comes fresh to the mind. In that
country, ae Feen as the Germans sequired complete economic emiral, with the
advent of General inteneses to power, American-owned subsidiaries began to
pass into Garman bands. For instance, the director-gemeral of the American-
owned Societa Amendum Roman de Telefons, a $90 millice subsidiary of the
International Telephone and Telegraph Company, was permaded be agree be s
demand of the Irem Guard for a reorganisation of the Telefona's directorship.
The Irea Ceard thereupen named a special commissear to supervise the telephone
Regraded Unclassified
82
Regraded Unclassified
Mvisism of Honetary
- 7 -
Research
company's activities. On Ostober 11, 1940, the commissar took over centrol of
the company, and it was announced that Iron Ouard understrudies would be solected
to take over all the nost important executive posts. Also, on December 4, 2940,
a decree announced the expropriation of all the orude eil and gaseline lines,
together with pumping stations and tank farms, of the Rousno-Americans, & company
owned by the Standard 011 Company of New Jersey. Payment for the exprepriated
property will be made in bends to be mortized in 25 years and carrying interest
at , percent. Similarly the International Business Machine advidiary in
Rumania was confronted with the alternative either to accept a commisser or to
replace American managers by Germans, and to relinquich part of their share-
heldings to German interests.
Short-term investments and the standstill agreements.
During the late 1920's American short-term capital named in large volume
to Europe, principally to Germany. In 1930, American short-term claims an
Germany totalled about $925 million.
The severe financial crisis of the number of 1931 convinced Germany's
foreign commercial creditors that any attempt at general liquidation of their
comercial credits to Cermany would lead to # collepse of German industry.
A Standstill Agreement was reached between a condittee of the foreign bankers
and a consittes representing the Reichabank and the German backers. the
foreign benkers agreed to maintain the existing volume of short-tom credits
which had already been extended to German firms. In return the German banks
provided certain guarantees of the regular payment of interest and agreed to
certain previsione which permitted the gradual reduction of the extetending
credits. The Agreement bas been renewed each year since 1932.
About $486 million of American boat leans WN covered by the first
Standstill Agreement. Be estimates are at hand for the volues at that time
of short-term credite not covered by the agreement, but they probably were
several hundred millions.
The arount (in marks) due the incrican bankers under the Agreement has
been steadily reduced since 1931. This reduction has been the result of three
factors
1. Cansellation of unceed credit lines.
2. Repayments through the sale of Travel marks.
3. Develuation of the dellar.
by March 1939 the movent outstanding The mly 065 million. In Suptember
1934 the agreement was emeelled, but - December 9, 1939, - of the heries
beaks reached a - agreement covering about 846 million of credits. Per the
post three years, credito not covered by the Standstill Agreement have been &
mall and shrinking frestion of all Incrican short-torm credits to Germany.
at the end of 1938, the Agreement covered $71 million out of a total of about
090 million. Our latest Treasury figures show a total of only about 845 millies
is U.S. short-taym claims ⑉ Commany.
83
6
Division of lionotary
Baccareb
Internevernentel
debt.
The mounts ared the United States Devernment by the Derman Devertment
represent the cost of the American Army of Decupation and the amade of
the Mixed Claims Commission. On June 30, 1940, the total value of these
dobts, including principle and accumulated interest, VISA 81,264 million.
The last payments, of about $1,250 thousand, - these debta were
received in 1934. This brought the total paid to about 434 million.
Since 1934 Sermany has been in complete default.
To these debts of the Ourman Deverment wast now be added the debie
oved to the Government of the United States w the countries which Commany
has occupted.
Doe of Cornen Dollar Recources for Inproper Activities in the Prited States
A common tochnique currently being used by Germany to finance improper
activities in the United States is the cocuralation of large cash balances
which can be disbursed fee various subversive perposes without leaving
traces behind.
According to reports from the Federal Puress of Investigation, bills
traced recently by serial numbers from the account of the Germen consulate
la les York City are Incm to have been received by firms and organizations
supported of being engaged in propagands activities.
That this device of using eash assorate for undersover purpose is
emealy being reserted to is attested by the fellowing exempless
(2) on Desember 4, 1940, the German Schesey withdraw $200,000
in each from its account. All of this was to bills of $1,000
:
demonination or smaller.
(2) In the last for menths, the German Commiste General in Bes York
occured - $1,000,000 in cash. & detober 14, 11 withdrew
$400,000 in eash; on November 19, $30,000; as November 25,
$20,000; - December 2, $650,000.
(3) Frite Wiedeman, when be assumed the Ownewlate in
Sm Francisco, opened - account with a local bank W depositing,
reportedly, 05 million.
Detran October 2, 1940, and the middle of November, it has been
submited that Gerean bank funds in this country have dropped from appread-
mately $13,200,000 to $7,700,000. The freeden of notion which these
transastions represent is hardly resiprocated by Generary N for no incricen
funds is Nasi-hold territory are concerned.
Mission
12/11/60
Regraded Unclassified
R1
Division of Monetary
- 9 -
Research
German astempte to circumstant our formign funds control.
The Cermane have ant up various devices whereby they attempt to
circument the foreign funds control which we have established with regard
to the compted countries. in recent senths, they have affected important
trade and remittance transactions, in which nationals of the countries sub-
joot to licensing have an interest, through interesdieries in Latin invoice,
siberia, Adtserland, Portugal and Spain. For example, the Surich branch of
an Alentian bank has cabled 6 liew York bank stating that they can effect
payments syst: of considerable amounts against dollars in New York, both in
uncompied and in the occupted French Lerritory. This ties up with the
announcement of the German Consul-Osneral in San Francisco that resitioness
could be made to France and other countries whose funds have been blocked by
transfers through this ties York bank. Again, & New York fire has been
cooperating with a Fresich fire in the occupied sone in oveding our foreign
funds control by facilitating payments for perfumes in Mexico and Switserland.
In another case, an exte controlled benie in the Argentine odvertises that
18 has established a regular payments service for France. Although there is
nothing irregular in transfers from this bank to France, yet the purpose of
these transfers to clear. Cne can effectively evade the centrols by remitting
Funds to agents in the Argentine who, in their tarn, regit these funds to
France.
German influence in imerican industry.
The direct investments of Cermany in the Enited States, clus the direct
investments in the United States of those countries over which Oarmany has
montrol, pake Mast influence in some United States industries of considerable
importance. The General Aniline and yilm Corporation of you York is a good
example of a Berman-controlled firs which has AD important place in one of
the large industries of this country, vis., the chemical industry.
The extent of Corman influence en industries in this country ie greater,
however, than indicated nerely by the anount of derman-controlled direct
investments here. Yor example, General Aniline and Film Corporation (which
is indirectly owned by I. 0. Farben, the Cerman dye trust) has considerable
investments in Standard 011 of New Jersey, in sterling Products, Ins., and
10 E. I. du Pant de Nameurs and Co. Purthermors, many of the officers and
directore of General Aniline and Film are officers and directors of large
demestically-centrelled corporations. Idsel Ford, holds the position
of director in General Aniline and Film as well w the position of officer
and director in several other well-known demestic fine. The presence of such
interlocking directorates can hardly fail to eshance the magnitude of German
influence in American infustries.
In still another way, the presence of Kasi control in United States
industry manifests itself. In 1937, Germany hald 37 persont of all foreign
held United Itstes patents. Not only is this patent control important, but
it 1a important in - cases with respect to industrial processes vital to
national defense, among which - the following may be mentioned:
Regraded Unclassified
85
Division of Monetary
- 20 -
Research
(2) Patent control of Bausch and Lamb Optical Company has recently
kopt easential instruments from Army and Havy use;
(2) Magnosium, an sevential netal, 1a preduced in this country partly
under patents held by a partially Gorman-owned corporation)
Board as "strutogic", is produced by Consral Electric, with Krupp having
(3) Tungsten carbide, & material listed by the Army and Navy Manitions
the right, under contract, to limit the number of new licenses of
tungaten cartide patents.
The "freedou" of Nasi assets in this country.
à special circumstance which should be taken account of in the formulation
of our policy with respect to regulating OF not regulating the use of German
funds in tide country, 10 the pesuliar relationship which exists between the
lies: Government and its subjects. Unlike the situation in meet democratie
countries, the control over foreign assets held by German subjects 10, in offect,
held by the German Government. The idea of free and individual property
ownership has been eliminated in Namidom. the State has assumed full juris-
dietion and control over all funds and properties of its subjects, whether
the altus of these is at home or abroad. The private, individual ownership
of Gegzen investments and funds in the United States 10 convenient to the
German Government as a legal fiction, but the reality of the situation is that
they are the property of the Raich.
Hence, the absence of American control over the funds of German subjects
is tentamount to giving the Octuan Government & tree hand in whatever finan-
eial control it can obtain over industries in this country. It is impessible
unilaterally to maintain "free" rights where a bilateral relationship exists
and where the other party exercises control. The institution of Centrol
measures by the United States over Oerman funds in this country, therefore,
would not destroy 8. "freedom" which does not axist, bet would rather vest in
this Government a control now exercised by a foreign government.
Regraded Unclassified
86
Japan
87
Dashange Centrol and American Intereste
1. the depanses in the exercise of their foreign exchange centrol and
colleteral regulations have ocused great damage to American interests
is the Far East.
a.
the Japances imposed embange centrol on May 1, 1933.
This brought the resittence of - from Japan ro United
States from American investments in Japan under Japanese
control with resulting damage to American interests in
several instances. As early as Nevember, 1934, for example,
10 - reported by Mr. Grow that the Concral Motors Company
subsidiary in Japan wes net permitted to export funds no-
sulting from the sale of some of its sharee.
since 1937 the Japansee centrol has become increasingly
stringent to the extent that incrison funds in Japan are -
completely freem. it present, only transactions amouting
to less than 100 you a year (623.00) are exempt from the
control.
The Japance Government is - organizing a complete
control of all inports and asperts. Iven under the partial
centrals in endstence before, the depansee ware able arti-
trustly to discriminate against American exporters to Japan.
The Japanase have eliminated all importe from the United
States except these vitally moonessy for their war effort.
American enterprises in Japan are being forced out of
instruct. After Long years of profitable existence, the
American-emed Japan Advertiser has been received foreed to
discontines.
b.
the system of foreign exchange control
is Mansteria has discriminated effectively against jacrican
business. The estensible purpose of the embange control was
plainly stated se being " ourtail imports from
comtrice other then Japan".
the papper foreign enshange centrol 10
linked with the Japanases centrol and in prestice surve only
purposes. Under all transactions in
currenation, other then the you, including transcriptions in
United States dollars, are mbject to rigerous administrative
Prepared by Mr. A. N. Issurek
Regraded Unclassified
88
Division of Memotary
- 2 -
Research
control. time all other currenales than the you are regarded
all foreign exchange and the purpose of the control is to
restrict the we of foreign enchange, 18 is obview that
constant discrimination against Americans and in favor of
Japances exists.
Implementing the foreign enchange centrol are & vide
variety of puppet state nonspelies dominated by Japanese and
excluding insuriems from fertile fields of industry. American
- have been foreed to abandon industry after injustry
to the Japanese. For mumple, the petrolem
nemopely was organized to beenes the sole importer into
Manchuria of prestically all petroleum products. American
companies were forced to discontime their Mansharian business
at great loss.
the Kwantung Any enforees discrimination by the
Government against the purchase of American motor trusks in
favor of Japanses-assembled products.
the Government's Law of Ostober, 1937
resulted in the withdrawal of practically all American notion
picture companies from the Manchurian murket.
6. North China
The Japanese paypet government in Borth Grina has sixilarly
premigated a fevel.gn auchange centrol which is increasingly
injuriess to American business. the puppot Federal Receive Bank
of North China has been placed in charge of all foreign contrange
transestions. Since the value of the Borth China year to
efficially first - a partly with the you, while its astual
foreign enchange value in terms of other currension 10 much
lover, a produm is placed - importe from Jepan w against
the United States.
the Japanese are instituting a system of trade nanapelies
in North China which already has caused considerable damage to
American interests in this area.
the Impense military and nevel authorities in North China
engage in posstices which discriminate against Americans.
seale marling dependes various
providess - are enter
the compled Chinsee ports without the payment of - w
part fees.
Regraded Unclassified
89
Division of Memotary
- , -
I
Regraded Unclassified
2. Under present American assots under the control of Japan
have statemer value the Jupenson wish to not upon them.
having Larestments in Japan have no protection against the arbitrery
actions of the Japanazo Government. Freesing of Japannee assets in
the United states is essential to provide the necessary protection
ass to American property.
Americans have a quarter of a billion dollars invested in Japan of
which over one-third is represented in short-term funds which have
been from by the Japanese. on the other side of the lodger, the
Japanese have about $100 million in short-torm funis and about
$50 million in direct investments in the United States.
From the viexpeint of relative importance, however, the Jaganese
funds in this country represent almost mis of Japan's known foreign
enchange reserves shoress, inviow funds is Japan represent only a
negligible portion of our foreign exchange receives.
3. Yes effective defense, centrol of Japanese reserves in the United
states is measurery.
a. Exchange centrol is the neet flerible and poverful nothed
of controlling international economic transactions. At
the present time, the extatending feet about the commis
relations between Japan and the United States is that the
Japanese are supplying their var - with materials and
machines from the U. s. their me - with enshange
control M a compenses part, has already emard -
damage to the commis interests of the U. 8d in the For
Sect. Rechange control would enable the U. s. to place
into operation my desired curb on the supply of materials
acress the Pasific. This ourb might be nevely a gradual
alouing down. It adght be drastic on seme articles and
loss on others. Whatever the peljey was, 11 could be
quickly enforced. The exchange control could be med -
a supplament to diplematic negotiations and bargaining.
Not only because Jupensos policy has already conced great
damage to the United States, but also because the dominent
orientation of Japanese foreign policy - to be against
the United States, W should sut of elementary self-interest
take stops to provent the strengthening and culargment of
Japanase my interests.
be It is corcential to have the dollar reserves available to
$ I 1 yes I a A
boxis in New York, is bee appeared that Japan was libely
to enhaust ber foreign enchange received. This false
plature has meenmged the viempoint that no setion by the
United States w necessary sizes Auren would automatically
be forced to curtail her war offert du to lask of foreign
I
30
Division of limetary
- 4 -
I
Regraded Unclassified
0. Ankassedor Grow has recommend that Japancee funds in the
United states be blooked to esciet his in covering the
liquidation of from American funds in Japan. This to
regards as particularly urgent at the present time as be
has caught eigne that inficate the depenses will -
withdraw all available funds on of the United States.
4. It is essential for national security that control be maintained
over Japanese expenditures in the United States.
a. the Japanase efficials in the United states statein a class
repervision over all of their nationals in the United States,
the recent registration of all Japaness recidents with the
depansee consule being a good instance. the Japanese foreign
exchange control has required registration of all Japanese
foreign assets and these are, therefore, also at the disposal
of the Jepanese state. 10 is obview that all Japanese
assets, consume and nationals in the United States man
operate for Japanese state ends. The existence of such 6
foreign centrol reaching incrison borders and
emercising its influmes on people and concerns resident
in the United States is a direct threat to the security of
the American nation. In self-defunce 14 10 vitally necessary
that such foreign control be neutralised by the importion
of an ineriesn centrol reclaiming the severei.go rights of
the United States over all within our boundaries.
b. The Japanese are medistaining an extensive explemage network
in the United States. For proof, 10 is nersly measury to
recall the - recent 08000 of the apprehension of - income-
paid agents, Farneworth and the Philippine
Secute officer recently convicted.
the Japaneee have recently started a - school for explanage
agents to be sent to the Philippines. Unquestionaly, the
United States has many graduation of - of the older
depense any schools,
The F.B.I. reperted that - agreement for cooperation and
interchange of information has already been reached between
the German and Japanane explanage organisations in the
United States.
The Japanese naturiously attempt to influence public opinion
in the United States by paying large - for noutnal services
to influential people (Consural O'hyan being a case in point).
Unile control over Japanese funds would not stop Japanese
emplanage and attempts at helbery, both of these Japaname
practices would understatly be severely crippled.
31
- 5 -
Division of Necetary
I
So The Japanese have engaged in merch financial transmetions in the
United States.
for a period of over two years (July 27, 1938 to September 4, 1940),
the New York office of the seal-official Tekehana Specie Bank -
coaled accounts held for the Bank of Japan, the Japanese Government,
and the pappet Federal Reserve Bank of North China. n its highest
point on April 10, 1940, the secret account held for Japan assurated
to $111,000,000 while $3,000,000 was held for puppet North China.
For the last two years, the Tekshown Specie Bank of See York bought
and sold American securities and these transactions were nbb reported.
These faste were discovered by the lieur York Federal Reserve Bank
almost by pure chance. & thoreagh investigation lasting ovveral
seaths proved necessary to secure the complete story. It is
entirely pessible that the Japanese have other Midden associate
in the United States which only a complete census of Japanese
funds would reveal.
AMK/Jm
12/12/40
Regraded Unclassified
32
Canada
at
93
December 12, 1940
m. white
Miss sistler and Mr. adder
subjects Canadian Foreign Issurance Central
I Codumil 1 and I I I 1 a
Deprember 15, 1939. The Bank of Cameda - appointed technical advisor
to the Beard ml authorised to mt M its agent or benker. The heard w
given the prove w regulate all foreign enthange transportions
betwom residents of Canada at the outside world and take over the No
of the Exchange 7ml areated in 1935.
1. Objectives of Persion Reshanges Central
a. to insure that the foreign exchange secraing from experts will
be available to the Heard to purchase assential imports and
most other Canadian conditments abroad.
b. To provent the flight of capital is erder to Canadian
foreign resources and to prevent disorgamisation of
security markets.
6. to stabilise the rates of enshange between the Canadian dollar
and the unjer foreign currencies.
d. To insure that commercial and financial transactions with the
British Empire take place in Empire survencion.
the boste principle underlying the orders and regulations of the
Consition Foreign Surbange Deard is that no transastions between Canada
and non-residente of Canada involving foreign exchange or financial
dealings shall be effected without sending under the supervision of the
Foreign Control hard. All foreign exchange received by residents
of Conada is required to be cold se, and all purchases of foreign exchange
are required to be made from, an authorised dealer. The energenci.es of
the Beard are directed tomal obtaining and conserving all large an -
of United states dollare as pessible becomes the United States is the ⑉
country with which Geneta has a large debdt is 14a balance of international
payments,
2.
a. Besidents of Conada my not bay or sell foreign enshange encept
Manugh the Reard or its agents and at unlieve rates proseribed
w the Deard. Possits are required both for exports and for
imports. All inports or experts of goods and services - be
at 8 fair yel.ec.
Regraded Unclassified
B1
Division of Honetary
- 2 -
I
b. Residente my not dispase of foreign assets to non-residents
except for payment in foreign enchange, nor transfer Canadian
dollars to non-residents except with the Board's permission.
C. headdents were required to deelare their holdings of securities
and foreign exchange all of September 15, 1939.
d. Residents were required to sell all foreign evehange in their
pessession as of April 30 by June 1 under the Foreign Enchange
Acquisition Order of April 30, 1940.
e. The Seard designates to the Authorized Dealers the buying and
selling rates for foreign exchange. Since the inception of
central, they have been as follows:
U. 3. dollars, buying rate
108 premism
U. 5. dollars, solling rate
115 premium
Founds sterling, buying rate
4.43
Pounds sterling, selling rate
4.47
3. Mechanica of Operation
a. Licensing armite. Every curtoms office and post office WM made
a licensing agency. No importe can be cleared and delivered to
the importers without & Foreign isshange Control Board permit.
Likewise, no exports can be cleared from Canada without & Foreign
Exchange Control permit. Unless exports are made under a general
export license or a special export-import license, the permit must
be signed by the Collector of Customs and Incise at the Customs
Frontier , art of Madet before the carge is cleared. If the export
is made under & general license, the permit must be subsitted
within six days of clearance. If the export is made under .
special export-import license DD permit is submitted to the
Collector of Customs and Excise, but the operator is required to
make a monthly return to the Foreign Exchange Control Board and
heard examiners have the authority to examine bis books and
reserds in order to verify hão reports. The use of the Contons
Division and Post office was a natural and obvious step is My
system of control over goods entering or leaving Conada.
b. Authorized Dealers. Every chartered bank in Canada vas made all
authorised dealer by the Board) the Bank of Canada corres 40 &
rechnical advisor. The fact that there are only ten chartered
banks and that Canada has a breash banking system, facilitated
the establishment of the system of authorized dealers for the
collection and payment of foreign exchange.
4. tra License
a. Importe. No export license or peridt to required in the following
i
Regraded Unclassified
95
Division of Hometary
- , -
Research
(1) For export of goods having a value net exceeding 825 where
payment is reseived in foreign surrencies.
(2) For goode passing through Canada "in transit for exports
without entry at Customs.
(3) Goods taken out by a non-resident tourist, not conselling
$100 in value per person.
(4) Personal effects taken out by travellers.
b. Importe. No licenses for the import of goods are required in the
following 01:00:
(1) For the import of goods having the value not exceeding 625
where payment is made in foreign currency.
(2) For goods passing through Canada "in transit for export"
without entry at Customs.
(3) Goods to a total value not exceeding $200 imported by my
person in any calender month.
(4) Personal effects belonging to and necessary for any person
entering Canada.
0. Insurance
1. No permit is required for my payment in Canadian dollars to,
or to the order of, a nen-resident by any life insurance
company authorised so do business in any part of Canada,
where such payment is made by the company in persuance of an
insurance policy, munity, or other contract of & sinilar
nature. This prevision extends to any insurance policy,
anmity, or other similar contract entered into prior to
September 16, 1939.
2. No interference 10 nade with the maintenance of payments in
foreign exchange by insurance companies - the obligation
of the company is to naise payment in foreign anchange. Life
insurance companies authorized to do business is my part of
Canada and in my country outside Canada are authorized to
continue the contact of their business in accordance with
their normal procedure.
Regraded Unclassified
Division of Nonwtary
36
- 4 -
Hosearch
5. offeness and Fesalties
It 10 an offence under the Foreign Enchange Centrel Order to make a
false statement is my application; to deselve or mislead the Board or an
authorised dealer or a Collecter of Customs and Insise or any other person
conserned is the administration of the provisions of the order) to fail
to comply with the conditions of any liemse or pendit or to violate my
prevision of the Order or any Regulation of the Board.
Everyone guilty of an offense is liable to a fine up to $2,000 or to
imprisement up to one year or to both fine and imprisement, and in
addition, If any person, contrusy to the provisions of the Order, importe
or attempte to import into Canada any goods or other property or buys or
attempts to buy any foreign exchange, such goods and foreign exchange are
liable to forfeiture.
6. Personnel and Origination
Organisation arrungements for foreign exchange control bad born care-
fully worked out in Canada in advance. This enabled drabange control to
be established an the morning of September 16 with a sinimm of inconvenience
and dialesation to business.
as soon as exchange control THE established, the Beard called together
a group of experienced - from banks, financial institutions, chartered
accountant firms, investment dealers, trust companies, insurance companies
and various government departments. Has with vide professional and
industrial experience took charge of the section of the Deard for which
they were best qualified.
The Fereign Eashange Central Board consists of the following members
Chairess, Oraham Towers, Governor of the Bank of Canada
Dr. 1. c. Clark, Deputy Minister of Vinance
B. Fortier, Chief Inspector Past office Department
B. 4. Robertoon, First Secretary, Department of Enternal Affeirs
2. D. Soully, Comissioner of Customs
L. D. Wilgress, Director of Commercial Intelligance
There are three branch offices, at Tennessey, Turento and
employing forty people.
The balk of Canadian foreign enchange transactions originate in
Mentral and Torento but mort of the centrol work is dome in ottens.
The Board is composed of the fellowing sections:
(a) deals with experts seld
for payment in Canadian dellare, issuing special
permite for this purpose. Three thousand such pendite
have been issued. This costion explays ten people.
Regraded Unclassified
Division of Monetary
97
- 5 -
Research
(b) The Central File Dection employe twenty-two people.
(e) The Commercial Section is concerned with the transactions
of companies which operate under special export-import
licenses and report on a monthly or periodic banis instead
of using forms for each individual transaction. This sytem
is employed for companies having a large volume of transas-
Mone and was adopted in order to relieve them of the
burden of the routine which would have been necessary if
individual form for seeh transaction had been required.
Up to the and of June 1940 a total of 4,500 such organiss-
tions had been granted permite of this kind. The work of this
section is divided into five groups as follows:
(1) Examiners - dealing with foreign currency bank ascounts
(2) Investigation of records of the special permit holders
(3) Orain trade
(4) Approvals of interest end dividents paid by such
companies, especially as they affect non-residente
(5) General
The Consercial Section also has supervision ever the
Montreal and Torunto branches of the Board. The number
of persons employed 10 108.
The problem of controlling and supervising the foreign
trude and foreign exchange activities of the larger cor-
porations and compandes engaging in numerous international
transactions might at first sight have appeared exceedingly
sumbersome, if not untractable. but the device of special
livenses and periodic examination by the Commercial Section
which - substituted for seruting of individual transactions
has apparently provided a satisfactory solution of the
problem and contributed to the efficient functioning of
the exchange control system.
(d) The Traffic Section mintains limison with various govern-
mest departments such as the Post Office Department, the
Department of National Revenue, Board of Transport Commissioners,
National Narbere Heard and the Certedian of Enesy Property.
It employe 12 persons,
(o) The Inforcement Seation cooperates with other government
agencies in safereing foreign exchange centrol for which
11 has the prine responsibility. It has a staff of 17.
Regraded Unclassified
38
Division of Memory
- 6 -
I
Regraded Unclassified
(f) The Foreign Exchange Dention maintains contacts with the
authorized dealers and settles foreign exchange policy.
It has a staff of 47.
(g) The General Seation has a staff of 23 people.
(b) The Insurance section has 4 staff of 5 persons.
(1) The Intellicence Costion handles problems of public relations.
There are 4 people employed.
(3) The Vatching Seation (Exemining Section) examines, matches
and disposes of copies of forms. the device of matching the
"Deslaration of Goods Exported" Form provides an excellent
- for assuring that the Board will receive the foreign
exchange assering from exports. While the "Application for
License to Import" Form is also estabed with the "Application
for Foreign Exchange" Fern, the natching process here is net
so important, as the Board retains asro foreign exchange if
an application for license to import 10 not followed through
with an application for foreign exchange. It also recerds
information supplied by residents # their holdings of foreign
eashange and securities. It has a staff of 115.
(k) The Mail Section employe 14 people.
(1) The employe 2 people.
(m) The Descrities partion exportises all transactions in foreign
securities a the part of residents. It employs 11 people.
(a) The Secretary Section employe 20 people.
(e) The Statistical SeeMem analyzes and classifies the forms
involving foreign asshange transactions and representing
transfers of Canadian dellars to the assounts of neo-residents.
(p) employe 5 people.
(a) The Tecentry Seation deals with the Fereign Insurance
Acquisition Order of May 40 1940. A staff of 24 people so
employed.
All in all the Canadian Foreign Enchange Centrol Deard employe a total
of 509 people. The 509 people ware recruited w follows:
on lean from Bank of Canada
20
- - . Civil Service
6
- - - entoide time
33
Tesporary employees
490
99
Division of Memotory
- 7 -
I
Expenses of the Foreign Exchange leard for a normal year, after
elininating special organisational expenses or items of a mm-reverring
nature, are expected to total about 03.1 million. this amount will be
recounted for as follows:
(In thousands)
Salaries
5758
(average salary so about
$1400 por -
Stationery and printing
150
Rentals
53
Telegrame and telephone
52
Traveling expenses
50
Sundries
37
7. The Board and Leonomic Relations
Canadian international transactions total 64 billion to $5 billion per
year of which almost half 10 accounted for by foreign trade. Two countries -
the United Kingdom and the United States - dominste the international trans-
setion of Canada. More than half of all Canada's international transactions
are confucted with the United States and almost one-third with the United
Kingdom. Therefore, the problem of foreign exchange centrol largely resolves
itself into the supervision and centrol of transactions with these two countries.
In the case of England the problem is further simplified through the intimate
eseperation of the Canadian Toreign Exchange Control Board with the British
Enchange Centrol and the exchange controls of storling area countries. is
Canada's belance of payments is favorable with England and the starling area,
and unfaverable with the United States, and as sterling is not age freely
convertible into D. 3. dollars, the mainttask of the Board 10 to conserve
Canadian holdings of U. 3. dollars.
The Beard is notivated by two decisive fusters:
a. The desire to less at small, and to acquire M large, -
anount of U. 0. dollars as possible.
(1) There has been a tread in the direction of tightening
up regulations to prevent Loss of foreign enchange
on service and trade items.
(1) Traveling by Canadians in the United States has
been drestically restricted and assisage ter
travel 10 new granted in linited - only
for business, educational, official, medical,
and scientifie purpose.
Regraded Unclassified
Division of Denetary
100
- 8 -
Issuarch
(11) Restrictions on the imports of goods not urgently
needed for Canada's var effort have recently been
imposed. The impart of certain catagorias of
goods from the United States has been entirely
probibited and of others restricted, these
restrictions and probibitions are in addition
to the 10 percent far Tax on imports.
(2) Positive amouragement is given to U. D. tearist
expenditures in Canada, and to the investment of
U. 5. dollars in Dev Consition enterprises. New
capital invested in Canada can be withdrawn at a
later date is foreign exchange.
b. The desire to preserve amicable political and economic rela-
tions with the United States.
(1) & reciprocal agreement between Canada and the United
States me reached on June 18, 1940 providing for
reciprocal exemption from vertain aspects of the 02-
change control regulations for American residents in
Canada and far Canadian residents in the United States.
American citizens resident in Canada are exempted from
the Foreign Exchange Control Order of September 15, 1939,
from the Foreign Exchange Acquisition Order of April 30,
1940, and from any future orders respecting the acquisi-
tien and disposition of foreign currency and foreign
securities held by such individual Americans. This
exemption does not apply to corporations nor to foreign
auchange reselved in connection with exports from of
imports Late Canada of other than exempted property.
(2) In the case of transactions between parent and sub-
sidiary companies, a special license only is required
and individual transactions are net subject w 5 crutiny, but
there is periodic assissation of company books. Meet
of the companies involved are American companies with
affiliates in Canada and Canadian companies with affiliates
in the United States. Benever, the Deard doss net approve
applications for foreign exchange which would reduce the
"capital employed* in Canadian subsidiaries.
(3) while applications for lisenses for foreign exchange to
pay interest and dividends to non-resident investors
must be made thirty days in advance, M obstruction
is placed in the may of payment of interest and dividends
to American investors. Furthermore, the Deard sells
foreign exchange for payment of services mah as
insurance preduces, agents' commissions, malandag,
freights, case, patent rights, traveling expenses, ere.
A large part of these payments of foreign eashange as
service Items goos to the United states.
Regraded Unclassified
101
Division of Nonstary
- 9 -
I
(4) Foreign holders of Canadian balances are allowed to -
then freely within Cenada itself. (This in sharp
contrast with the United States Fereign Fund Control.)
The desire to accomodate American interests and to preserve U. s.
dollar exchange cannot always be easily resemeiled and the difficulties in
the way night even increase with the ortension of Canada's var offort.
a. -
a. Canada
(1) Experts constitute from 15 person's to 20 pareent of the
national income.
(2) The value of the items on service account in the balance
of international payments 10 relatively high.
(3) The intimesy of comments relations with the United States
both on trade, service, and capital account and the extent
of the common land frestiers with the United States make
administration and enformement complex.
(4) The former triangle or relationships between the
United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom has born
broker. Canada compequently has to make me provisions both
to neet its mounting unfeverable balance of international
payments with the United States and to utilise its -
lation of starling belonces.
(5) Canadian embange central started from I erstek as for as
trained personnel and administrative presedent end experience
in Canada in related aphere were emerged.
;
The
and without imposing - strain
and as the functioning of the Consdian -
(1) the of foreign trade has not been disturbed by
the functioning of the enchange control system. The
exporter sells me foreign exchange to the Authorized
Dealer, who happeno to be the bank with which be had
always examinated Me business.
(2) Payments of interest and dividents to foreigners - be
use - application for 4 license thirty days in
(9) Insurance ompunies are allowed to earry a their foreign
operations without distructors. life insurance empenies
are emported to report their not foreign asshange position
e 4 quarterly busis.
Regraded Unclassified
102
Division of Monetary
- 10 -
I
(6) intercourse with the United States MI allowed
to contitue unhampared except for
(1) Nestrictions on certain categories of non-essential
importe.
(11) Prohibition of Canadian pleasure expenditure in the
U.S.
(5) Dealange are freely permitted between Canadian companies and
their foreign affiliates.
(6) The Board is & useful instrument to facilitate the repatria-
tion of British-hold Conadian securities. The repatriation
of these securities is the seens by which Canada's favorable
balance with the U. K. 10 being liquidated. The Board
supervised and carried through the orderly repatriation of
$200 million of Brittsh-held Canadian securities in the
first year of Mar.
(7) The imposition and enforcement of enchange control relued no
difficult edministrative and personnel problems. The
properation for the introduction of the enchange central
system were carried through expeditionaly and secretly and
the system went into effect without unformable reparenceions
⑉ the Canadian enonomy. Trained and competent personnel.
w recruited from the Civil Service, banks and industry, ao
that exporienced - vere in leage positions from the very
beginning. The use of existing facilities and institutions
contributed to the efficiency of the control system. timpli-
fisation and standardisation of roatine reduced the adminio-
trative complexities and the volume of work. the Deard has
been able to edequately cope with the different tacks and
problems arising from a variety of the transactions and of
the types of corporations and individuals it had to doal
with. The administering exchange control in Canada has been
negligible and runs at the rate of about $1.1 aillien per
I
TNX:SA:esh
12/12/40
Regraded Unclassified
103
Italy
Regraded Unclassified
101
Regraded Unclassified
December 12, 1940
Secretary Morgenthan
MP. white
Subject: Italian treatment of American property interests.
American owners of enterprises and investments in Italy have
been treated moderately well in comparison with the treatment
accorded them in Cormany.
1. The Italians have serviced by far the greater part
of their United States-hold dollar bonds.
2. There has been relatively little difficulty in with-
drawing short-term American assets in Italy though
Americans have never hold any considerable short-torm
funds in that country in recent years for fear of
blocking.
3. Regular remittance of dividends free the operations
of American branch plants in Italy has not been permitted
since 1935. On the other hand the Italian Exchange
Centrel has granted a considerable mober of exemptions
and special permissions.
Total American holdings in Italy are under 8140 million. Short-
term American assets in Italy are now only about 3,300,000.
American holdings of Italian dollar bonds are new less than
870 million; the lew quotations on these securities indicate
that Americans have been accepting leases in order to repatriate
their funds. American direct investments in Italy are less
than 870 million.
Total Italian holdings in this country are about #90 million.
These holdings in the United States include about 019 million
in short-term funds, about 437 million in security holdings,
and about 034 million is direct investments.
In recent months the Italians have even outdons the Germans in
turning their accere in this country into United States Govern-
ment bonds, each and accounts held in the names of Latin
American countries. Obvieusly, the Italians desired to son-
seal the exact nature of the transactions in which they were
engaging and feared that their assets in this country would
be subjected to licensing control.
00:rel
12/12/40
105
Remittance
Data
Regraded Unclassified
106
December 12, 2940
M. N. D. White
6. 4. Saly
Subjects Personal Remittences to Generary, Italy and Japan.
Little information is new available on 1940 resittances to the
Ando yours.
The Department of Commiree estimate for 1939 were:
Japan $6 millies (84 personal, $2 institutional)
Italy 20 million (of which $13.5 was through Itale-U.S. banks,
which report once yearly.)
Germany 7.5 - 10 million
Reparts - only too courses of resittances are available before the
end of the year. A table is attached showing Pestal Money Orders to the
three countries during the first eleven months of 1940. Nothing specially
significant - to be indicated.
The American Express resittences of marks and lire are also shown
in a table attached. Seen increase in the rate of sending marks in recent
months is explained as due to resitiances through New York to Chinese
and Japanese students in Borlin, who fernerly obtained their funds through
Ansterden.
I
12/12/48
Regraded Unclassified
107
Festal Money Orders - 1940
Germany
Italy
dease
January/March
$14,272
8253,940
$123,900
April/June
5,885
183,736
106,200
July/September
3,604
90,000
99,700
October
-
1,100
105,000
73,600
November
3,000
$27,860
$632,776
$403,000
liste: November Nermally includes a pre-Christmass increase.
Treasury Department,
Division of Nonetary Research,
December 12, 1949.
GAE:dla
2/12/40
Regraded Unclassified
108
Postal Money Orders - 1940
Germanz
Italy
danan
Jemary/March
514,272
$253,940
$123,500
April/June
5,885
183,736
106,200
July/September
3,604
90,000
99,700
October
$
1,100
105,000
73,600
November
3,000
$27,860
6432,776
$403,000
Notes November Normally includes e pro-Christmas increase.
Treasury Department,
Division of Hometary Research,
December 12, 1940.
GABedla
1/12/40,
Regraded Unclassified
109
American Express Company Resittances
In thousands of dellare
dan./July
Aug./Hov.
Total Jan./Nev.
to Germay
Reg'd., sife, and
support marks
15 - 15.64
362
332
$
Travel marks
16 - 16.64
R
137
233
Free marks (noney
orders) (404)
MIL
Total to Cornamy.......
494
620
1,014
To Italy
Esigrant live (4.054)
622
463
1,285
Internal live
(sinee Sept. only)
3.94
0
334
334
Free live 5.074
100
216
Total to Italy
1,002
8
1,835
20 Japan - no data
freesury Department, Division of Memotary Research.
Dec. 12, 1940
GAE:ion
12/12/40
Regraded Unclassified
American Express Company Hamittances of Marks and Lire
Reg. Warks
oift & Support Mke.
Travelmarks
Tree Marks
Emigrant Tire
Internal Lire
Pree Lire
N.O.only
M.O.only
1940
Jan.
293,841.
27,400.
24,463.
1,845,717.
-
588,117.
Feb.
323,694.
20,272.
17,920.
3,023,399.
575,397.
Mar.
414,678.
22,579.
26,001.
4,164,513.
...
826,469.
Apr.
337,261.
18,353.
26,242.
2,854,760.
---
492,027.
May
354,888.
13,114.
3,280,487.
...
30,427.
595,292.
June
367,365.
148,495.
13,722.
2,468,528.
258,206.
18,996.
2,656,858.
...
221,839.
July
324,533.
212,402.
Aug.
378,386.
253,056.
28,053.
3,493,781.
- -
411,716.
Sept.
345,057.
213,724.
14,853.
2,892,598.
1,620,743.
96,138.
Oct.
506,213.
219,494.
44,592.
2,313,685.
3,135,523.
140,176.
Nov.
801,504.
124,298.
39,375.
2,729,059.
3,814,407.
59,890.
Total- 4,447,420.
1,284,494.
267,421.
31,723,345.
8,570,673.
4,264,267.
c .1560
9 .1660
e .4005
0.0405
@.0390
0.0507
Dollar
Equiv. $691,797.
$213,226.
$107,102.
81,284,795.
$334,256.
$216,198.
Treasury Department, Division of Monetery Research
December 12, 1940.
graded Unclassified
111
Foreign Funds in
the United States
112
Funds in the United States of Jersey,
Italy, Japan, Rumania and Hungery
(In Millions of Dollars)
Total of
I
Germanya Italys Japane Humaniss
Items
I
Date
old - earmark
-
-
-
27.1
-
27.1
12/4/40
ficial funds:
n Bew York Fede Ass. Bank
oh
-
-
2
-
sb
12/4/40
as other Here York banks
.5
.1
-
1
,
66
11/27/40
Private funds
V
4.8
w
In Bes Zerk Fed. lies. Dist.
6.8
18.2
115.8
24.9
170.5
11/27/40
In other districts
.3
6
4.2
?
?
501
11/13/40
Issu States securities
15.
37.
?
?
2
52.
10/31/40
and other investments
84.
the
1
?
?
118,
12/31/39
Total
107
89.9
120
52.2
4.8
373.9
- Suptember 25, 1940. Deposite only.
Treasury Department, Division of Neastary Desearch
December 12, 1940.
Regraded Unclassified
113
BRITISH air COMMISSION
1785 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE
WASHINGTON. D. c.
TELEPHONE HOBART 9000
PLEASE QUOTE
December 12, 1940
REFERENCE NO.
The Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.
Washington
D. C.
My dear Mr. Morgenthau:
I have just received the following cablegram from
Lord Beaverbrook:
"Please tell Morgenthau I have interviewed
today Group Captain Sorley who is in charge of
Boscombe Down, the experimental station. He
says Curtiss P40 is a straight-forward job.
Flies easily. Allison engine has proved to be
reliable. It's performance is equivalent to
Spitfire which is very fine according to our
views. Speed equal to Spitfire in actual exper-
ience. Altitude comparison shows good results.
"If desired by Morgenthau, immediate facil-
ities will be given for United States Observers
at Boscombe Down to study Curtiss P40 perform-
ance compared with British types."
If there is anything further you would like us to
do in this connection, please let us know.
Yours sincerely,
in
Morris W. when Wilson
v
MT
Regraded Unclassified
114
December 12, 1940
X
My dear Cordell:
In view of our conversation, Tuesday
at your apartment, I an sending you herewi th
in strietest confidence copy of a report by
Mr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-
spection trip of West Coast airplane manu-
facturing plants. This report points out
the many weaknesses in the present program
and the opportunity for increasing production.
If this kind of material interests you,
I shall be glad to send you additional reports
as they 60M9 to my desk.
Yours sincerely,
Honorable Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State.
Regraded Unclassified
115
December 12, 1940
My dear Cordell:
In view of our conversation, Tuesday
at your apartment, I an sending you herewith
in strictest confidence copy of a report by
Mr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-
spection trip of West Coast airplane -
facturing plants.
This report points out
the many weaknesses in the present program
and the opportunity for increasing production.
If this kind of material interests you,
I shall be glad to send you additional reports
as they come to my desk.
Yours sincerely,
Henorable Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State.
Regraded Unclassified
116
December 12, 1940
My dear Cordell:
In view of our conversation, Tuesday
at your apartment, I an sending you herewi th
in strictest confidence copy of a report by
Mr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-
spection trip of West Coast airplane -
facturing plants.
This report points out
the many weaknesses in the present program
and the opportunity for increasing production.
If this kind of material interests you,
I shall be glad to send you additional reports
as they come to my desk.
Yours sincerely,
Honorable Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State.
Regraded Unclassified
117
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON
December 12, 1940
Dear Henry:
Thank you very much for your note of
December twelfth and the enclosure, which I
am very glad to have. I should indeed appre-
ciate receiving any supplementary information
along the same line.
Sincerely yours,
Correcthes
The Honorable
Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Secretary of the Treasury.
113
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Washington
FOR RELEASE, MORNING NEWSPAPERS,
Press Service
Thursday, December 12, 1940.
No. 22-83
12/11/40
Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau announced last
night that the subscription books for the current offering of
3/4 percent Treasury notes of Series B-1945, National Defense
Series, closed at the close of business Wednesday, December 11.
Subscriptions addressed to a Federal Reserve Bank, or
Branch, or to the Treasury Department, and placed in the mail
before 12 o'clock midnight Wednesday, December 11, will be
considered 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 Saturday, December 14.
00000
Regraded Unclassified
119
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 12, 1940
stortly CORPIDENTIAL
TO
Secretury Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Klaus
FBI reports:
December 3. The usual report regarding Hans Thomsen states, among other
Thomsen's reiteration that Oumansky on instructions from his with superiors
things, Thomsen fully advised with regard to every move Oumansky makes
United keeps States officials; that Thomsen believes Russia will exercise pressure of
OF Bulgaris ut the expense of Greece and Turkey; that Weygend is cooperating
Bulgaria for Hitler in exchange for an outlet to the Aegean in favor
100 cent with the Vichy government and is more anti-British than Petain; the
Creeks; that landslides and not sabotage were the causes of recent railroad
that per Italy will land sufficient troops in two months in Albanie to beat
damage in Norway; and that Germany had already extended feelers for peace
with the cooperation of continental powers, including Russia.
December 5. Memorandum on the activities of Wythe Williams, radio com-
mentator of the Mutual Broadcasting System and editor of the Greenwich "Time,"
charges him with being guilty of deliberate distortion of facts concerning
national defense broadcasts over the Mutual Broadcasting System; it appears
that Williams has been called before grand juries to compel him to give ovi-
dence concerning his broadcasts after refusal to cooperate with FBI
December 9. Transmits a copy of a letter from the president of the
General Mercury Corporation, Dallas, Texas, who requests Government protection
around the Big Bend mercury district of Texas in order to safeguard American
mercury mines; he says similar measures were taken in 1914-1918.
State Department reports:
December 7. American Consulate General at Shanghai says the Italian Com-
mercial Attache at Tokyo carried $800,000 in American currency B. few days be-
fore from Shanghai to Tokyo; the currency was obtained in Shanghai.
Regraded Unclassified
JOHN EDGAR HOOVER
DIRECTOR
7
Federal Bureau of Investigation
United Stutes Department of Justice
120
Washington, D. C.
December 12, 1940
any
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
BY SPECIAL MESSENGER
The Honorable
The Secretary of the Treasury
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Secretary:
As of possible further interest to you, I
am transmitting herewith a copy of a memorandum containing
information to supplement the data sent with my letter
of November 6, 1940 concerning Fritz Mandl, alias Frederick
Mandl.
Sincerely yours,
2a. Hower
Enclosure
Recd few 12-16-40 - skrid - 12/16- degisted for dieg
121
Regraded Unclassified
December 7, 1940
MEMORANDUM
A highly confidential informant has advised Frits
Mandl, alias Frederick Mandl is alleged to have said that:
1. He was convinced of 4 Masi vistery
and British collapse.
2. He was arrenging his affaire accordingly
and was now on excellent terms with the
Masis who permitted him to set twelve
millions out of Germany.
3. He was using Schicht, formerly the Unilever
representative in Germany as his "go-betmoun"
with the Ramis and was also in close toush
with Matteresse in See Paule.
4. He was in contact in New York with Brown
"Chairm or Vise-Chairman of Resington"
and with Frank Altechull, who is busily
engaged in buying German bends) that both
of these nen were of his opinion as to the
outcome of the war.
5. He wanted to get & share of the $500,000,000.00
lean to South American countries. (Informant
stated it was believed at one time if Mandl
was successful in this he would use it for buy-
ing up supplies and plantations for Germany,
but, it has since been heard that he has recently
retired from Washington very disgramtled after
a conversation on this point with the Treasury
Department).
6. Be was in close touch with Dester Moriali,
the Italian Consul in Baltimers who was previously
122
- 2 -
press attachs at the Italian Legation
at Vienna.
The source of the above information reports that Mandl
is MW staying at the Waldorf Towers, New York city: that he is
either & eitisen of Argentina or Paraguay and has & large industrial
plant, Cometa, outside of Buence Aires and is also the amer of
large rise plantations and centrols the Mihanovich Shipping Line at
Busace Aires.
The Princess Starhenberg is at present living M his
guest in that city.
Regraded Unclassified
123
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 12, 1940.
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
FROM
Mr. Have NA
Subject: Report on conversation with Mr. Cesar Corders Davila,
Executive Director, Puerto Rico Housing Authority.
In accordance with your instructions, Commander McKay made
en appointment for Mr. Davila and Colonel Manuel Font, Commissioner
of the Housing, Authority of San Juan, to see me at 3 o'clock
this afternoon. Mr. Davila explained that his colleague, Colonel
Font, WAS unable to come with him as he had gone to Baltimore this
morning.
Briefly, Mr. Davila's problem is this. The United States
Housing Authority "earmarked" $12 millions for slum clearance in
Puerto Rico. Later $2 millions were deducted from the $12 millions,
the reason being given by the United States Housing Authority that
the funds were needed for defense housing in the United States.
Kr. Davila said, however, that since the time of the deduction
a direct appropriation has been made for defense housing. He 1a
endeavoring, therefore, to have the $2 millions restored to the
funds "earmarked" for alum clearance in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Davila stated that Admiral Leahy said he had shown you
the Puerto Rican slums and that you therefore had firet-hand
information with regard to them and were aware of the needs.
It is Mr. Davila's hope that you will call Mr. Straus and put in
a word in behalf of having the $2 millions restored to the Puerto
Rican slum clearance fund.
Regraded Unclassified
124
JR
GRAY
Berlin
Dated December 12, 1940
Rec'd 7:15 p.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington,
5018, DECEMBER 12, & p.m.
My 4406, October 22, 2 p.m.
FOR TREASURY FROM WOODS IN THE ABSENCE OF H ATH AND
FOR DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION.
According to a statement published in WIRTSCHAFT and
STATISTIK the Reich's disclosed Indebtedness increased
during September by 3,179 million marks to a total of
69,721 million marks as compared with an increase of 3,631
million marks in August. However, whereas in August over
three fifths of the increase had been in the form of short
term indebtedness 2,336 million marks of the total
borrowed in September was on long term and only 843 million
marks on short term.
The major increases in long term debentures during
September were 1,383 million marks in the sixth series of
4% bonds (with 20 year maturity) and 955 million marks li
loans of which 623 million marks were 4% loans and 332
million
Regraded Unclassified
125
-2- #5018, December 12, 4 p.m., from Berlin.
million marks 42% loans (apparently an old issue since to
our knowledge new issues carrying 43% interest were
discontinued some months ago). Of the total increase in
short term borrowing during September 244 million marks was
in Treasury bills and certificates 307 million marks in
"other loans" (including the loan of the Reichkreditkassen
system to the Reich) and 306 million marks in the Reich's
operating credit at the Reichsbank offset in part by a
reduction of 14 million marks in tax certificates outstanding.
MORRIS
WWC
10 THE
TECHNICY varialvas
OFFICE of THE
DVD DEC 13 VVV " IS
IBEVENSA
BECEINED
126
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON
In reply refer to
EA 840.51 Frozen
Credits/985
December 12, 1940
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to
the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and encloses
copies of a paraphrase of telegram no. 782 of December 4,
1940 from the American Legation at Bucharest, regarding
Turkish and Rumanian negotiations for the exchange of
cotton for petroleum products.
Enclosure:
From Bucharest,
December 12, 1940.
Regraded Unclassified
127
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED
FROM: American Legation, Bucharest, Rumania.
DATE: December 4, 1940, 4 p.m.
NO. : 782.
Reference is made to Department's telegram no. 374
of Oct. 29, 8 p.m.
Yesterday this Legation was visited by an officer
of the National Bank, who showed me a telegram received
from the Chase Bank to the effect that the United States
Treasury was reconsidering the license in the amount of
$1,410,000 for Turkish cotton, which was issued on Oct. 29.
He asked if I knew anything about why this license was
being reconsidered. I replied that I knew nothing of this
matter: whereupon he requested that I make recommendations
to the Treasury that the license be issued. I told him
that he should make B representation through the Rumanian
Legation in the United States.
Edson has been notified by the Turkish Commercial
Attache here that negotiations between his Government
and Rumania involving the exchange of cotton for petroleum
products have reached a deadlock. He said that Rumania
insists that Turkey import petroleum products in the ratio
of 4 units of gasoline to one unit of kerosene, and Turkey
(which urgently needs kerosene) insists on 8. ratio of one
to one. Evidently Turkey insists that no cotton will be shipped
pending the granting of its request.
The
Regraded Unclassified
128
- 2 -
The desire of Rumania to export gasoline is due to
the shutting off of markets in the Mediterranean and the
oil-buying policy which Germany (which since last June
has been the sole buyer of any importance) has pursued
in recent months. In spite of the fact that Germany
has been buying more Rumanian gasoline than kerosene or
diesel oil, her gasoline purchases have been below the
ratio of kerosene and diesel oil provided by the Rumanian
crude oil. Moreover, Germany does not desire to step up
her imports of gasoline enough to equal the refining
ratio as she apparently has a greater need for kerosene
and diesel oil than for gasoline. This has resulted in
a shortage of kerosene and diesel oil, while gasoline
storage space has been completely filled up. Therefore,
the refineries are confronted with the question as to
whether they ought to keep up their refining operations
when there is a market for kerosene and diesel oil and
storage space for gasoline is already used up. This
situation (plus pressure by Germany) has forced Rumania
to attempt to make all her Balkan markets take gasoline,
in order that the problem of storage may be alleviated.
GUNTHER
EA:MSG
im
COPY
Regraded Unclassified
129
JT
GRAY
BERLIN
Dated December 12, 1940
Rec'd 3:10 p.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
5009, December 12, noon.
By decree of the Reich Minister of Finance goods
originating in the Netherlands are to be admitted free
of customs duties as from December 16, 1940. In Berlin
circles it is anticipated that the Staathalter in the
occupied Netherlands territory will issue a parallel
decree stipulating duty free entry of German goods.
MORRIS
CSB
Copy:emk
of
010 DEC 18 bit V S9
ABEVENSA DESTRIMENT
BECEINED
Regraded Unclassified
COPY
28254
130
PLAIN
Stockholm
Dated December 12, 1940
Rec'd 10:30 p.m.
Secretary of State,
Washington.
1099, Twelfth.
Government revenue for fiscal year 1941-1942 estimated by
Budget Bureau at 2076 million crowns or slightly higher than
current fiscal year. Riksbank December 7 million crowns metallic
reserve 663 foreign exchange 808 loans discounts 638 circulation
1375 check clearances November Stockholm 3296 Gothenberg 339.
Government price guaranty to forest owners for pulpwood fixed at
first class sulphite wood between 30 and 36 ore per floating
cubic foot, second class sulphite and first class sulphate wood
between 24 and 30 ore, second class sulphate wood between 22 and
28 ore. Price guaranty covers 30 million cubic meters. Press
reports Boliden Company copper production 12 thousand tons 1940
and further increase to 16 thousand tons expected with exploitation
of state-owned deposits. First recurrence foot and mouth disease
since July fifth reported from south Sweden. Industrial production
index up one point to 106 for October but current falling off in
imports of coal causing considerable anxiety. Negotiations looking
to renewal of basic wage agreement for industry for 1941 resumed,
Regraded Unclassified
131
I -2- 1099, December 12 from Stockholm.
it is too early to predict outcome but negotiations are proceeding
slowly. After lengthy debates Rikedag finally approved sales tax
effective January 1, 1941 on nearly all retail sales of 5 per cent
estimated to yield nearly 200 million crowns in one year also
approved appropriation 15 million crowns for erection shale oil
plant expected to yield 15 thousand metric tons of crude oil per
annum. Also appropriation nearly 32 million crowns for laying
down two light cruisers and undisclosed number of destroyers and
submarines. Bankrupticies November numbered 113.
INFORM TREASURY, AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE.
STERLING
NPL
10 THE
100HWOYF
oclictor 145
BIO DEC 11 bill s 12
BECEIVED
Copy:jpt
Regraded Unclassified
132
0-2/2657-220
RESTRICTED
M.I.D., W.D.
December 12, 1940.
No. 268
SITUATION REPORT
12:00 M.
This military situation report 18 issued by the Military
Intelligence Division, General Staff. In view of the occasional
inclusion of political information and of opinion it is classified
as Restricted.
I, Western Theater of War.
1. Air Force Operations.
During daylight of the 11th, the Germans made scattered
raids on southern England. Last night Birmingham was bombed rather
heavily and there were light attacks in southwest England and the
London area.
The R.A.F. last night operated normally against porte
in occupied territory and against inland docks and railroad yardo
in western Germany.
II. Greek Theater of War.
Increased Italian resistance has slowed down the Greek ad-
vance in the center and north. The Greeks are reported to have
pushed ahead on the southern front north of Argirocastro and Porto
Edda. Italian air activity appears to have been somewhat more ef-
fective.
III. Mediterranean and African Theaters of War.
The capture of Sidi-Barrani on the afternoon of December 11,
1940 is reported by the British. Cairo dispatches officially estimate
20,000 prisoners (probably mostly native) and huge quantities of war
materiel. Two Italian divisions, one native and one Blackshirt,
appear to be cut off from Graziani's main army. The British have
gained air superiority on this front and are exploiting it.
RESTRICTED
Regraded Unclassified
133
0-2/2657-220
RESTRICTED
M.I.D., W.D.
December 12, 1940.
No. 269
SITUATION REPORT
12:00 M.
This military situation report is issued by the Military
Intelligence Division, General Staff. In view of the occasional
inclusion of political information and of opinion it is classified
as Restricted.
I. Western Theater of War.
1. Air Force Operations.
The German Air Force during daylight on the 12th
operated normally over southern England. Last night bombing
activity was high. Sheffield was subjected to a. particularly
heavy attack. Smaller raids were made on various other points.
The R.A.F. last night cancelled all operations ex-
cept a small Coastal Command raid on Brest.
II. Greek Theater of War.
The capture of Porto Palermo on the coast road about
twenty miles north of Porto Edda has been announced officially
by the Greeks. It is believed that stiffening Italian resistance
and bad weather have slowed up the Greek advance, except along the
coast. Air activity apparently limited.
III. Mediterrenean and African Theaters of War.
In Egypt British forces are now following up the Italian
withdrawal toward Sollum.
RESTRICTED
Regraded Unclassified
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
134
OF NEW YORK
December 12, 1940.
Mrs. H. S. Klotz,
Secretary to Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
Treasury Department,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mrs. Klotz:
In accordance with the suggestion made by the Secretary
late this afternoon, I am enclosing copy of the notes which we
made of our interviews with the market here on Tuesday morning
with respect to the new issue of Defense Notes. He told me that
you would see that it got to him promptly in the morning, and
that it would not be subject to general distribution.
Sincerely yours,
Robert G. Rouse,
Vice President.
Enc.
Regraded Unclassified
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF NEW YORK
135
FFICE CORRESPONDENCE
DATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940
PILES
SUBJECT Recommendations by banks and dealers
which were interviewed by us this morning with
respect to the maturity and coupon on cash
Pre les house and & A. Miller
offering this week of $500 million taxable
Defense Notes.
c. Levy of Salomon Brothers and Hutzler
LIVE Teasury could seli any of the following notes:
1 year
- 1/4%
2 "
- 3/8%
3 "
- 1/2%
4 or 4 1/2 "
- 3/4%
5 "
- 7/8%
believed there WELB no question about a one year note at 1/4% or et five year note
..t. 7/82 being EL success and that & five year 7/8% note might even be sold by the
Pensury at 100 1/4 to yield 0.82% which would save the Treasury B. little money.
No also thought that a 3/4% coupon on a four and one-half year note would be
reasonable. He believed the market basis for a four to four and one-half year
note would be 0.60% to 0.65% and for B. five year note 0.70%. He mentioned that
Date estimate of the market basis for the five year note was lower than the tax
sulvalent murket basis for the 2 1/2% bonds of December 15, 1945, because of an
allowance he made for the high premium on the latter issue.
Messrs. Wills, Marckwald and Leeds of Discount Corporation:
They submitted the following statement of estimates covering a. one year,
2ND year, three year, four year or five year note:
1 Year Taxable Note Due December 1941
Coupon
.125%
.0833%
.05%
1/18
100.4
100.6
100.7
3/8%
100.8
100.9
100.10
Comparable with 0.0.0. 1% - 11-15-41 on .00% basis tax equiv.
.32%
U.S.H.A. 1 Year 1/ 4's on.04% basis tax equiv.
.12%
2 Year Taxable Note Due December 1942
Doubon
.275%
.225%
.175%
3/81
100.6
100.9
100.13
1/2
100.14
100.17
100.21
Comparable with - H.O.L.C. 2 1/4% 7/1/42-44 on .08% basis -tax equiv. .57)
R. 1. C. 1% 7/1/42 on .06% basis -tax equiv. -38%
3 Year Taxable Note Due December 1943
cupón
-425%
.375%
,325%
1/3
100.8
100.13
100.17
100.19
100.24
100.29
Comparable with - 3 1/4% October 15, 1943-45 on 265 besis - tax eouiv, 1.44
1 1/8% December 15, 1943
on .18% basis - tax equiv. .54%
Regraded Unclassified
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
135
OF NEW YORK
FICE CORRESPONDENCE
DATE TUESDAY, DECIMED 10,1940
FILES
SUBJECT:
1.9.Rouse and S.A.Miller
- 2 -
4 year Taxable Note Due December 1944
/
-55%
.50%
-45%
100.7
100.16
100.23
100.25
101.
101.6
Convirble with 4% December 15, 1944-54 on 14% basis - tex equiv. 2.78%
1% September 15,1944
on .38% basis - tax equiv. 70%
5 year Taxable Note Due December 1945
boron
.60%
65%
.70%
.75%
.80%
06
100.24
100.16
100.8
T/M
101.3
100.28
100.20
100.12
Comparisons:
3/15 Che March 15, 1945 at 101.6
- .47% basis - tax equiv.
.71%
3/44 il Sept. 15, 1945-47 "110.3
- .60% basis -
"
"
1.47%
1/2% " Dec. 15,1945
"109.13
- .60% besis -
n.
"
1.3%
1 1/2% June 1, 1945-47 at 103.5
- .78% basis -
If
er
1.25%
Comments:
A defense note would have no right value. Assuming one point premium
right velue on outstanding five year notes, you might, therefore, justifiably
edd .20% basis to the yield now obtainable on present 5 year tex exempt note.
-7.12 additional .20% basis would place 8. 5 year texable defense note on
approximately El 70% basis. To arrive at probable yielde for shorter
tabable defense notes, 8. straight line from .70% basis for 5 years
descensing to zero for December 140 (there being no right value) was drawn,
12765 the yields above were thereby indicated.
Prices derived from probable yield on taxable notes, based on current
mirket level.
Vills believed that there would be some resistance in the market to a
telable note and thought E. 3/4% coupon on & five year note would be too thin,
secondin to their estimate that such en issue would sell in the market on E basis
Details 0.00% and 0.70%. He also thought that a 3/45 note for four and one-half
SMITH rould be stretching it. He said the new note issue will be an experimental
or = the murket will be watching it closely. While it might be possible that
-- I'Lye year issue would be taken, 8. 7/8% five year note would be & greater
THE und would pave the way for future issues. He believed that some allowance
that Dy crüe for & possible increase in texes next year which would make vulnerable
note put out on the basis of present market levels. Owing to the "smoke"
Accountrying & long taxable note, his recommendation would be to put out & short
marry,
Regraded Unclassified
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
137
OF NEW YORK
OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
DATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940
CONFIDENTIAL FILES
SUBJECT
A.G. Rouse and S.A.Miller
3
Messrs. Morris and Schlioting of Bankers Trust Company
Submitted the following ostimates:
1 Year
2 Year
3 Year
4 Year
4 1/2 isar
5 Year
Coupon
1/4%
3/8%
1/2%
3/4%
3/4%
7/8%
Estimated
0.58%
0.66% = 101.
Worket
0.08 - 0.10 -
I
+50 .55%
0.60%
0.70% = 100.28
Rasis
Mr. Morris stated that his first choice would be B. five year 7/8% note
en he Telt 1% would be too generous and 3/4% too close. He thought, however, that
* four year 3/4% note might be stretched to four and one-half years. Mr. Schlicting
stated that he thought 8 five year 7/8% might be too rich and his first choice
would be a four and one-half year 3/43 which should "hit it on the добе". Mr. Morris
mid that a one year 1/4% note would be no problem and that the same would be true
for a two year 3/8% or & three year 1/2%. He said that he did not believe there
would be any resistance in the market to the innovation in the type of securities
being issued and there would not be too much selling of the tax-exempt issues
because as time goes on more banks will need the tax exemption. Both Mr. Morris
and Kr. Schlicting believed the total amount of subscriptions received for the
taxable note should compare favorably with the amount of subscriptions received
In the past for tax-exempt notes.
Messrs. Garner and Richmond of Guaranty Trust Company
Mr. Garner stated that short paper is attractive to them; however, the
evount of their taxable securities income is increasing and an increase in taxes
La probable mext year. He believed that the question of "Right" value was also
à factor in pricing a new note as it would make B. difference of about 1/4 of B point
in the price of & five year note. Both Mr. Garner and Mr. Richmond believed the
Treasury could sell & one year 1/4%, a four year, or possibly a four and one-
half year 3/4% or B. five year 7/8%. However, a. four and one-half year 3/4%
note looked thin to them although it would not be impossible for it to sell
in the market at a yield as low AE 0.58%. They believed it might be wiser
for the Treasury to add an extra 1/8% to the coupon in order to insure success
until the market can be tested for this kind of an issue. While they believed a
four and one-half year 3/4% note might be too thin, they also believed that
five year 7/86 note might be B. little rich and Mr. Garner said that it might
be desirable to put out a short issue to conform with present legislation
which provides for payment of the notes at maturity with taxes. If this were done,
Lt, would permit the Treasury to get away from cumbersome financing at an early
date provided it could obtain the necessary approval of Congress. In any event,
they would put out either a one year or a five year note as there appeared to
be little reason for doing anything in between. Although a one year 1/4% note
would not enjoy as wide distribution 88 B five year note, it would be taken
or the larger banks. They would subscribe for such an issue if for no other reason
Regraded Unclassified
EDERAL RESERVE BANK
138
OF NEW YORK
OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
DATE TUESDAY, DECEDED 10,1940
FILES
SUBJECT:
40,Rouse and S.A.Miller
to jut some deposits to work and to cover the cost of deposit insurance. They,
of course, would also take a four or four and one-half year 3/4% note or a five
year 7/8% note.
Mr. Green, Vice President of Chase National Bank
The Treasury could sell a one year 1/4%, a four and one-half year
3/4% or 8. five year 7/8% note. Based on the current market yield of 0.70% for
the HOLC 1 1/2s of 1945-47, 8. five year 3/4% taxable note would look too thin. He
also believed a four and one-half year 7/8% note would be safer than E. 3/4%
note as there undoubtedly will be a lot of market resistance to EL new taxable
issue. He believed, however, that the Treasury should sell B. short note in
enticipation of taxes, pending such time as the Treasury could put out a long bond.
no said be realized, of course, that B. short issue would wind up in E. few large
banks, which would not be as desirable as the wider distribution of & longer note.
/nother objection he saw to the one year maturity was that 1941 was pretty well
filled up with other maturing issues which might make it more desirable to put out
= two year maturity as there are relatively few issues maturing in 1942.
Messrs. Burgess and Kane of National City Bank
The bond market feels pretty much like the stock market in 1929, or
Las other words it is EL "hectic bull market". This should be taken into consideration
In new Treasury financing. Furthermore, if there is any question of the authorities
Deling with excess reserves in the near future, a five year 3/4% note issue at
this time might look very bad later. Therefore, they would recommend B. four
me one-half year 3/4% note or a five year 7/8% note, recognizing that either might
2 et little full. While there is something to be said in favor of a one year 1/45
note, such an issue would add more fuel to the fire in the keen demand for longer
naturities of short issues at a higher yield. Notwithstanding their recommende tion
of t. four and one-half or five year note, they believed it would be no problem
for the Treasury to sell a one year 1/4%, 8. two year 3/8%, B. three year 1/2% or
N. four year 5/8% note. Their preference, however, would be for 8 note maturing in
Wree years or longer. They also commented on the need for the Treasury to give
consideration to the earning requirements of investors as the return on investments
is getting much too small to provide a. livelihood.
Mr. Devine of 0. J. Devine and Company, Inc.
A five year 3/4% note would go very well and sell in the market on
EL 0.65% basis equivalent to E price of 100 1/2. However, others in his offics
think that a five year note should carry a 7/8% coupon. He also said the Treasury
could sell a one year 1/4%, a two year 3/8% & three year 1/2% and a four year 5/8%,
although his office thinks that the three and four year issues should carry a coupon
1/8% higher. Re believes that, under existing conditions, the question of paying
off maturing taxable notes with taxes in one year is merely something to talk
about and that, owing to the state of the market, the maturity should be made
If Long as possible, in this case five years.
Regraded Unclassified
LIKM 0.40
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF NEW YORK
139
FFICE CORRESPONDENCE
DATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940
CONFIDENTIAL FILES
SUBJECT:
Messrs. E.G.Rouse and S.A.Miller
ROM.
- 5 -
The above mentioned views of the banks and dealers were telephoned
to Undersecretary of the Treasury Bell shortly after 11:00 a.m. today.
Our recommendation was, briefly, that while most of the banks and
dealers recommend a 7/8% coupon on a five year note, our estimates indicate
that a five year 3/4% note should sell in the market to yield around 0.60%;
that we believed such an issue would be well received but that, for reasons stated
in the memorandum presented to the Treasury at the meeting on Monday, if the
Treasury decides to use the National Defense authorization we would prefer to see
it issue a one year 1/4% note, which is the shortest maturity that could be
made taxable.
SAM:FD
Regraded Unclassified
140
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATEDecember 12, 1940
TO Mr. D. 1. Bell
FROM W. H. Hadley
3/48 DEFENSE NOTES
Subscriptions by 25 Largest Commercial Banks and
5 Largest Savings Banks in the New York District
Maximum Allowable
Bank
(1/2 Cap, & Surplus)
Subscription
1.
Guaranty Trust
$130,000,000
$100,000,000
2.
Chase National
100,000,000
100,000,000
3.
National City
65,250,000
65,250,000
4,
First National
55,000,000
55,000,000
5.
Irving Trust
51,467,500
10,000,000
6,
Central Hanover
40,500,000
40,500,000
7.
Bankers Trust
37,500,000
37,500,000
8,
Manufacturers Trust
37,373,000
37,373,000
9.
Chemical Bank
35,000,000
35,000,000
10. Bank of Manhattan
20,000,000
20,000,000
11. J. P. Morgan, Inc.
20,000,000
20,000,000
12. New York Trust
18,750,000
18,750,000
13. Savings Bank Trust
16,248,000
16,000,000
14, Corn Exchange
15,000,000
5,000,000
15, United States Trust
14,000,000
5,000,000
Regraded Unclassified
141
Bank
Maximum Allowable
Subscription
16. City Bank Farmers
$ 10,000,000
$ 10,000,000
17. Marine Trust,Buffalo
7,500,000
7,500,000
18. Public National
7,000,000
7,000,000
19. Commercial National
7,000,000
7,000,000
20. Fidelity Union Trust, Newark
6,750,000
6,750,000
21. Brown Bros. Harriman
6,632,000
6,000,000
22. Brooklyn Trust Co.
6,337,500
6,337,500
23. Manufacturers & Traders Trust,
Buffalo
6,250,000
6,250,000
24. Marine Midland
5,000,000
5,000,000
25. Lincoln Alliance, Rochester
3,400,000
3,400,000
SAVINGS BANKS:
1.
Agency Bank, Montreal
37,500,000
25,000,000
2.
Bowery Savings Bank
22,100,000
22,000,000
3.
Immigrant Industrial
21,490,000
21,000,000
4.
Drydock Savings
12,700,000
10,000,000
5. Union Dime Savings
11,750,000
10,000,000
Note:
The above banks are listed in the order of the maximus allowable subscription
and not according to relative size of the banks.
Regraded Unclassified
142
December 18, 1940
Mr. D. 1. Bell
I. 1. Hadley
3/45 was NOTES
Subscriptions W 25 Lergest 0 oroial Banks at
5 Largest Savings is the Bee York Matriet
Maximum Allowable
look
(1/2 Can. & Purplus)
Aubscription
1.
Guaranty Trust
$130,000,000
$100,000,000
2.
Chase National
100,000,000
100,000,000
3.
National City
55,250,000
65,250,000
4.
First National
55,000,000
55,000,000
6.
Irving Trust
51,467,500
10,000,000
6.
Central Hanover
40,500,000
40,500,000
1.
Beakers Trust
37,500,000
37,500,000
8.
Nanufacturers Trust
37,373,000
37,373,000
9.
Chemical Bank
$5,000,000
36,000,000
10. Bank of Manhatten
20,000,000
20,000,000
11. J. P. Norgen, Inc.
20,000,000
20,000,000
12. Bew York trest
18,750,000
18,750,000
18. Savings Bank Trust
16,248,000
16,000,000
14. Gora Exchange
15,000,000
5,000,000
15. United States Trust
14,000,000
5,000,000
Regraded Unclassified
143
Maximum Allowable
task
Debecription
16. City Bank Farmers
$ 10,000,000
$ 10,000,000
17. Marine Trust,Buffalo
7,500,000
7,600,000
10. Public National
7,000,000
7,000,000
19. Commercial National
7,000,000
7,000,000
20. Fidelity Union Trust, Newark
6,750,000
6,750,000
2. Brown Bros. Harriman
6,632,000
6,000,000
22. Brooklyn Trust Co.
6,337,500
6,337,500
25. Nanufacturers & Traders Trust,
Buffale
6,260,000
6,250,000
24. Marine Midland
5,000,000
5,000,000
25. Lincoln Allience, Rechester
3,400,000
3,400,000
SAVINGS BANKS:
1.
Agency Bank, Mentreal
37,500,000
26,000,000
2. Bovery Savings Bank
22,100,000
32,000,000
8.
Immigrant Industrial
21,490,000
21,000,000
4.
Drydook Sevings
12,700,000
10,000,000
8. Union Dine Savings
11,750,000
10,000,000
Mate:
the above banks are listed in the order of the maximum allowable subscription
and not according to relative sise of the banks.
Regraded Unclassified
144
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO
December 12, 1940
Hon. D. W. Bell
Under Secretary of the Treasury
Treasury Department
Weshington, D. C.
Dear Dan:
In line with our telephone conversation I am setting
out below the subscriptions entered by the various banks men-
tioned to the current offering of Treasury notes:
Chicago
Continental Illinois National Bank &
Trust Company
$ 42,500,000
First National Bank
15,000,000 65m
City National Bank & Trust Company
3,500,000
Harris Trust & Savings Bank
2,500,000 - 14A M
Northern Trust Company
4,500,000
Detroit
Detroit Bank
$ 3,925,000
Manufacturers National Bank
3,000,000
National Bank of Detroit
12,875,000
Indianapolis
Indiana National Bank
$ 4,500,000
Milwaukee
First Wisconsin National Bank
$ 9,000,000
All of the above subscriptions are for the maximum
amounts permissible with the exception of the First National Bank of
Chicago, whose capital and surplus is $65,000,000, and the Harris
Trust & Savings Bank, whose capital and surplus is $14,000,000.
Enjoyed hearing from you and hope that this gives you
the desired information.
Very truly
al yours, Sihh
Alfred T. Sihler
B
Assistant Vice President
Regraded Unclassified
STANDARD FORM No. 14A
APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT
FROM
The White House 145
MARCH 10. 1926
Mashington
TELEGRAM
OFFICIAL BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RATES
DEC. 28, 1940
VIA NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS.
CLEAR
TO: THE PRESIDENT.
FROM: HENTOS MORGENTHAU, Jr.
I an pleased to inform you that first public offering of fully
taxable notes has been a great cussess.
(Copy for Mrs. Klotz as requested by Secretary Morganthau.)
Regraded Unclassified
COPY 2
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
140
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
DATE December 12, 1940
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Hase all
Subject: Employment in the Aviation Manufacturing Industry
1. Employment in the aviation manufacturing industry has
multiplied more than four times in the last twenty months
and has doubled in the last nine months. In November 1940,
manufacturers of airplanes employed approximately 120,700
factory workers, and manufacturers of airplane engines
approximately 34,300 factory workers,s total of approx-
imately 155,000 for the entire industry. Included in these
figures are the employees of manufacturers of parts for
airplanes and airplane engines.
2, For the industry as a whole employment rose by approx-
imately 7,100 factory workers in November. The largest
increase in employment -- approximately 2,150 factory
workers -- occurred at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.
Consolidated Aircraft Corporation added 1,300 factory
workers to its rolls during the month, raising its total
employment to 12,355. In January of this year Consolidated
employed only 2,837 factory workers.
3. The increase in employment during November was not
experienced by all plants in the industry, however, there
being important decreases at two of the large plants. At
the United Aircraft Corporation employment decreased by
800 during the month. At the Boeing Aircraft plant in
Seattle there was 8. decrease of 1,040 factory workers.
Boeing reported that this decrease in employment Was due
to "between contracts and laok of materials".
4. Two charte are attached to this memorandum. The first
shows total employment in the industry and the employment
of selected companies since January 1937. The attached
tables give the figures plotted on the chart. The second
chart presents total employment in the industry by
geographic areas for December 1938, December 1939, and
November 1940.
Attachments
Regraded Unclassified
Employment in Aviation Manufacturing Industry
(Airplanes and Airplane Engines)
147
1937-1940
:
:
:
:
: 1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Airplanes
January
22,100
23,700
25,251
58,000
February
60,500
March
24,100
24,200
27,875
64,500
April
67,000
May
73,000
June
25,200
22,800
35,973
80,000
July
90,000
August
97,448
September
23,400
22,050
41,425
105,362
October
115,241
November
120,650
December
23,800
24,450
52,800
Airplane Engines
January
5,500
6,500
6,989
13,900
February
15,800
March
6,000
6,600
7,825
17,300
April
18,600
May
20,800
June
6,600
6,900
8,727
22,900
July
25,400
August
27,019
September
6,400
6,772
9,289
28,981
October
32,633
November
34,314
December
6,600
6,847
12,600
Total Industry -- Airplanes and Airplane Engines
January
27,600
30,200
32,240
71,900
February
76,300
March
30,100
30,800
35,700
81,800
April
85,600
May
93,800
June
31,800
29,700
44,700
102,900
July
115,400
August
124,467
September
29,800
28,822
50,714
134,343
October
147,874
November
154,964
December
30,400
31,297
65,400
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Division of Research and Statistics.
148
Employment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations
1937-1940
:
:
:
:
:
1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Bell Aircraft Corp.
January
615
222
654
859
February
865
March
850
290
912
896
April
840
May
873
June
808
440
1,410
1,192
July
1,480
August
1,963
September
718
235
703
2,413
October
3,355
November
3,449
December
213
606
799
Boeing Aircraft Co. - Seattle
January
1,834
1,493
2,380
5,137
February
4,942
March
1,726
1,700
2,749
4,759
April
4,198
May
5,190
June
1,249
1,736
2,989
5,882
July
6,571
August
6,926
September
1,109
1,798
3,985
6,940
October
6,391
November
5,351
December
1,380
2,285
4,749
Consolidated Aircraft Corp.
January
3,169
2,540
968
2,837
February
3,477
March
3,246
2,518
819
3,807
April
4,349
May
5,040
June
3,099
2,104
832
5,821
July
6,743
August
7,836
September
2,617
989
1,408
9,289
October
11,018
November
12,355
December
2,580
981
2,540
149
Employment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations
1937-1940
(continued)
:
:
:
:
: 1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Curtiss-Wright Corp. - Buffalo
January
1,241
2,211
3,802
4,380
February
4,744
March
1,500
2,347
2,939
5,016
April
5,213
May
5,698
June
1,933
2,310
2,848
6,314
July
6,531
August
6,597
September
2,202
2,736
1,562
6,824
October
7,682
November
7,889
December
2,007
3,491
3,447
Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc.
January
5,591
6,328
4,334
11,952
February
12,077
March
5,961
6,173
4,177
13,119
April
14,033
May
14,656
June
6,653
4,672
5,445
14,957
July
14,662
August
14,898
September
5,532
4,028
6,318
14,219
October
14,158
November
14,787
December
6,771
4,110
10,362
Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
January
910
1,577
2,305
5,157
February
4,768
March
1,094
1,594
3,509
4,362
April
4,400
May
5,016
June
1,338
1,797
5,699
5,591
July
6,599
August
7,296
September
1,383
1,997
5,324
7,582
October
8,517
November
10,675
December
1,428
2,123
5,156
150
Employment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations
1937-1940
(continued)
:
:
:
:
:
1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Glenn L. Martin Co.
January
1,364
1,814
2,905
10,984
February
9,407
March
1,716
1,892
4,092
9,133
April
9,010
May
9,357
June
2,044
2,134
6,029
9,133
July
9,513
August
11,200
September
2,032
2,341
10,070
10,019
October
11,414
November
12,950
December
1,818
2,777
11,174
North American Aviation, Inc.
January
829
1,713
2,223
4,049
February
4,324
March
889
1,935
2,457
4,154
April
4,371
May
4,336
June
841
2,400
3,125
4,782
July
4,918
August
4,916
September
1,272
2,685
2,992
5,111
October
5,828
November
6,054
December
566
2,530
3,795
United Aircraft Corp.
(excluding Pratt & Whitney)
January
2,350
2,245
1,826
2,757
February
3,051
March
2,444
2,16g
1,766
3,468
April
3,735
May
3,912
June
2,497
1,972
1,952
4,282
July
4,823
August
5,016
September
2,439
1,880
2,123
5,445
October
6,010
November
5,251
December
2,338
1,774
2,588
151
Employment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations
1937-1940
(continued)
:
:
:
:
: 1937
:
1938
: 1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Vultee Aircraft, Ino.
January
364
742
February
938
March
440
959
April
1,008
May
1,334
June
560
533
2,127
July
2,618
August
2,857
September
430
288
3,531
October
3,652
November
3,749
December
334
662
Regraded Unclassified
152
Employment of Selected Airplane Engine Corporations
1937-1940
:
:
:
:
:
1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Allison Engineering Co.
January
218
262
454
1,114
February
1,261
March
229
297
466
1,610
April
1,958
May
2,766
June
238
339
558
3,254
July
3,917
August
4,595
September
238
382
642
5,282
October
6,280
November
6,295
December
266
439
901
Continental Motors Corp.
(Airplane Engine Division)
January
151
153
134
288
February
344
March
153
152
138
358
April
368
May
378
June
162
144
171
388
July
398
August
382
September
135
146
203
567
October
732
November
855
December
152
142
243
Lycoming Division of Aviation Manufacturing Corp.
January
849
729
519
581
February
638
March
889
704
521
657
April
711
May
765
June
901
549
573
819
July
873
August
970
September
756
514
644
1,080
October
1,459
November
1,320
December
762
506
689
153
Employment of Selected Airplane Engine Corporations
1937-1940
(continued)
:
:
:
:
:
1937
:
1938
:
1939
:
1940
:
:
:
:
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
January
1,931
2,567
2,264
5,642
February
6,549
March
2,119
2,489
2,659
7,158
April
7,541
May
7,765
June
2,384
2,555
3,066
8,504
July
9,121
August
9,449
September
2,471
2,384
3,394
9,406
October
9,794
November
10,377
December
2,61g
2,227
5,022
Wright Aeronautical Corp.
January
2,254
2,607
3,398
5,411
February
6,081
March
2,515
2,705
3,771
6,537
April
6,984
May
7,882
June
2,800
2,930
3,997
8,682
July
9,491
August
10,151
September
2,690
3,184
4,026
10,726
October
11,240
November
11,950
December
2,608
3,374
5,141
Regraded Unclassifie
EMPLOYMENT IN THE AVIATION MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, BY REGIONS
/
Factory Wage Earners
-
⑈
MINN
una
5
**
;
S DAE
are
WYO
Nov, - 1030-2000 Pacific 61,500
-
with
New
IRANS
COMM
:
PTAM
NEAR
-
(Lk.
MICH
IND
OHIO
DEG
-
-
MO
1
EANS
Mount
n
Central and Southern
e
Dec 1938- 2,300
: $ *
Allia
Dec. 1939- 400
Del
Nov 1940
000
-
N.MES
Nov. Dec
1940-71.5000
ST
SELA
TEXAS
TEHR-
ARE
"
BA-
CALIF
-
N
LA.
PCA
Total U.S.
DAL IV38 - 21,300
Dec. 1939-65400
Nov. 1940-155000
including Parts Companies
14 all 15th Secretary of the Transary
Regraded Unclassified
-
at
1
-
155
EMPLOYMENT IN AVIATION MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
STRICTLY COMMENTIAL
Factory Wage Earners
1937
1938
1989
1940
1941
.
N
a
M
a
*
9.
M
a
-
M
J
.
N
4
M
a
J
E
#
J
$
$
M
E
,
EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYEES
Thousands
Thousands
Total Industry (Aircraft and Enginee)
140
140
120
120
100
100
80
80
60
60
40
40
20
20
0
o
.
-
,
M
M
J
.
M
,
M
a
J
a
N
J
M
M
7
#
N
4
M
M
J
.
N
J
M
M
J
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Companies
Selected Airplane Engine Companies
EMPLOYEES
EMPLOYEES
Thousands
Thousands
The Deuglas Aircraft Ca.
Stann L.Martie Ca.
Wright Carp.
01
15.0
15.0
H t
12.5
125
11
10,0
10.0
#:
7,5
7.6
"
5.0
0.0
"
2.5
25
"
a
a
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
15.0
17.5
D
Boxing Amount Ca
Prast and Whitney Aircraft
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
0,5
12.5
16.0
Consolidated Aircraft Corp.
10.0
12.5
:
1.1
7.5
19.0
5.0
9.0
7.5
+
7.5
2.5
5.0
e
o
z.a
HERT
res
-
1939
1948
1941
1937
1938
1959
1140
1941
12.5
Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Curtim Wright Corp.
a
I 1 the I
1987
1938
1921
1140
1991
--
19.0
12.5
Allison Engineering Ca.
1.5
7.5
16.0
se
s.e
7.5
LS
2.5
5.8
e
a
25
1937
1938
-6.6
1930
1945
1941
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
10.0
United Aircraft Corp.
Nerth Americas Aviation, Inc.
a
I I I I
1987
1988
1939
1940
1941
7.5
7.5
76
Lycoming Devision of
delation Manufacturing Corp
1.0
5.0
:
1.5
2.5
1.5
e
B
a
1937
1938
1039
1940
1941
1437
1938
1939
1948
1941
1981
1934
1948
1141
5.0
5.0
so
- Carp
Vultae Aircraft Corp.
Certinatial leurs
I 5 I
2.5
2.5
25
e
D
a
1997
1938
1929
1940
1941
1937
1434
1939
1940
I
1987
-
1981
-
1441
Regraded Unclassified
December 12, 1940
156
RECENT MOVEMENTS IF AXIS FUNDS
RUSTIN TO SOUTH AMERICA. It 16 reported that since September some $4,600,000
of Germen funds have been transferred to South American banks, and that approxi-
mtely $2,300,000 has returned from Argentina and Peru to the account of the
Reichsbank In New York. During the same period there was transferred from Italian
accounts in the United States approximately $13,000,000 to South America, of which
$10,000,000 went to the Italian Embassy in Brazil from the Italian Foreign Exchange
Costrol Funds in New York and in addition, $4,500,000 was sent in cash by courier.
la 4. result of recent return transfers of less than $1,000,000 the net amount of
Itelian funds transferred to Latin America since September amounts to more than
$16,000,000. Recent information indicates that the Bank of Brazil expects to re-
caste $10,000,000 for credit to a Japanese account as part of the Japanese program
designed to centralize dollar exchange operations of the Yokohama Specio Bank with
the Bank of Brasil.
GERRAN FUNDS. The flow of German funds in this country appears principally to have
been to the accounts of Swedish banks here, $1,500,000 being transferred to such ac-
counts from German accounts since November 25. About $1,350,000 is known to have
been transferred to Swiss accounts here, while $750,000 has returned from Swiss to
Servez accounts. Cash withdrawals from German consular accounts since December 1
have ascunted to $850,000. Of this amount $650,000 was withdrawn by the Consul
(enoral is liev York, who paid $530,000 to cover interest payments on German bonds.
The remining $120,000 is apparently still in the consulate. The German Embassy
is Tashington recently received $200,000 by draft from the Reichsbank, Berlin, and
ortained this amount in notes of $20 to $1,000 denominations. There is some indi-
caties that cash deposits are being made by the Reichsbank by way of South America,
National City Bank having recently received $180,000 by this method.
ITALIAN FUNDS. Transfers of Italian funds, excluding those to South America, have
been principally to Spanish, Swedish, and American accounts and transfers from
to Italian accounts have been noted. It has also been recently reported
that the Italian Attache at Tokyo has carried $800,000 in American currency from
Shanghai to Japan. Further reports indicate that substantial Italian Government
funds have been converted into cash which is being kept on diplomatic premises.
PUNDS. Japanese Institute, Inc., a Japanese oultural organization, is
cons to have been receiving its principal income from the Japanese Consul General
to lien look, The various Japanese consular officers throughout the World are ap-
parently being supplied with funds from the Japanese consular accounts with the
Bank of Imerica.
PORTUGUESE GOLD. Since October 2, 1940, $33,000,000 in gold has arrived here from
Partugal and been sarrarked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for account of
the Bank of Portugal. It is not clear that this WELS actually the Bank of Portugal's
XII gold, since on October 2 the amount of gold under earmark in New York for that
benk's account amounted to $70,000,000, about equal to the Bank of Portugal's gold
Date and bullion reserves as shown in its bank statement. A detailed statement with
regard to gold imports from Portugal in comparison with the gold reserves of Portugal
is outsined in the menorandum of December 9, 5 copy of which is attached.
Regraded Unclassified
157
December 9, 1940
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Hawkey
Subject: Gold shipped here by and for account
of the Bank of Portugal.
More than $70 million in gold has arrived here from Portugal since the
beginning of July, 1940, shipped by and for account of the Bank of Portugal. Since
all of the gold was earmarked upon arrival in New York, that Bank's gold balance here
rose from $30.1 million as of July 3 to $109.8 million at the close of December 5.
(About $6.0 million of this increase resulted from the purchase of gold from the
U. 8. Stabilization Fund.)
On October 10, I wrote you B. memorandum in which comparison was made between
the Bank's gold in New York and the asset item "Encaisse-or" (gold coin and bullion)
on the Bank's own weekly statement. At that time, the most recent statement available
was dated August 21, and it could not be asserted definitely that the Bank's gold in
New York was of B. greater value than its "Encaisse-or".
(
Tie have now received the Bank's statement as of October 2, listing an "Encaisse-
or" of $69.1 million. On the same date, its gold balance in New York amounted to
$70.5 million and since October 2, the Bank of Portugal has shipped another $33.3
million in gold to New York. (All of this has arrived; there 10 no gold in transit
at present.) We have no "Encaisse-or" figure available for dates subsequent to
October 2, but since this item has moved upward less than $2.0 million in the past
six years, it is very likely that little or no change has taken place since early
October.
The foregoing information is tabulated below (in millions of dollars):
Period-
Imports
Gold bal-
"Encaisse-
1940
for account of
ance here
or" 3/
Bk. of Port. 1/
(At end of each period)
$30.1 (July 3)
$68.8 (July 3)
July 4 - 31
r 7.1
37.8
68.9
Aug. 1 - Sept. 4
16.7
55.3
68.9
Sept. 5 - Oct. 2
15.2
70.5
69.1
Oct. 3 - 31
21.1
97.6 2/
(69.1) Carried
Nov. 1- - Dec. 5
12.2
109.8
(69.1) Forward
All from Portugal, except $1.4 million from England in July.
Regraded Unclassified
- 2 -
158
During October, the Bank of Portugal also purchased $6.0 million in gold
from the U. S. Fund.
According to 1931 law, the Bank values its gold at .066567 fine grams per
escudo; conversion of escudo value into dollars hence made at the rate of
$.0748 per escudo.
The apparent conclusion is that the Bank of Portugal has sent to the United
States at least $33.3 million of gold not shown in its "Encaisse-or". Since only
$14.6 million of Bank of Portugal gold arrived here during the first half of 1940
(of which $2.1 million came from Portugal and about $12.5 million from England), it
may be further concluded that most of the "extra" gold was shipped in the past five
months.
This "extra" gold may be any of the following:
i) The Bank of Portugal's own gold. In addition to the gold listed under
"Encalsse-or", there 1s reason to believe that the Bank carries some
gold in its asset item "Disponibilites or a l'etranger et autres reserves"
(liquid gold exchange assets abroad and other reserves). Here is some
evidence; in the week ended March 20, 1940, the Bank purchased alightly
less than $5.0 million in gold from the U. S. Fund in order to strengthen
its gold reserves. In that week, its "Encaisse-or" changed not oven a
fraction of one escudo. "Disponibilites, etc.", however, rose $4.9
million (using the rate of $.0748).*
About e. year ago, the largest amount of gold that could have been
included under "Disponibilites, etc". was $22.0 million. In the Bank's
statement for December 30, 1949, this item was valued at 536.3 million
escudos. Examination of the Bank's annual report for 1939 reveals that
242.2 million escudos of the above represented the Bank's holdings of
the Government of Portugal's 3% sterling obligations. Therefore, the
maximum amount of gold that could have been included under this item
was 294.1 million escudos worth, or $22.0 million. (The Bank's holdings
of dollars were negligible at that time.)
2) Gold held by the Portuguese Treasury. The Federal Reserve Bulletin, in
its table "Gold Reserves of Central Banks and Governments", uses only the
Bank's "Encaisse-or" figure, converted at $.0748. But the Portuguese
Bank's annual report for 1939 shows a table of the Treasury's liquid
asseta at the end of November, 1939, wherein appeared 430.2 million
escudos worth of gold in bars, equivalent to $32.2 million.
For all we know, the Bank of Portugal may have exchanged its
holdings of Portuguese Government sterling bonds for Treasury gold,
shipping the latter to New York.
* The dollar funds used in this purchase were remitted to the Federal
by various banks in New York. Indication that the Bank of Portugal
acquired such dollars during that same week is given in the Bank's
statement, wherein Portuguese bank deposits at the Bank of Portugal
rose 100 million escudos, or slightly more than $4. million.
Regraded Unclassified
159
-3-
3) Gold of some foreign bank or government, in the shipment and earmarking
of which the Bank of Portugal acted really 8.8 intermediary. Unless we
receive further evidence that a third party's interest was involved, it
would seem inadvisable to question the Bank of Portugal for what appear
to be shipments of "extra" gold. The information presented under the
preceding two points suggests that Portugal does own gold beyond that
shown in the "Encaisse-or" asset item of the Portuguese Bank statement.
Regarding the markings on gold bars already shipped here, from Portugal,
I think you will agree that these cannot be offered as proof of owner-
ship, since many Continental assay marks constitute good delivery in
Europe's gold markets.
Regraded Unclassified
160
MEMORANDUM
December 12, 1940.
TO:
The Secretary
FROM: Mr. Sullivan
I attach hereto summaries of various
newspaper articles on taxation.
T-S
Γ
Regraded Unclassified
161
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 9, 1940
TO yr. Sullivan
FROM Mr. Blough
The following items of interest relating to taxes appeared in
the newspapers of December 9, 1940:
1. New York Times, page 1, column 3
An article entitled "Labor laws, taxes, handicap program, Navy
report says" reports that Rear Admiral Ray Spear, Chief of the Bureau
of Supplies and Accounts, in his annual report for the year ended
June 30. 1940, cites certain Federal laws as hampering naval expansion
efforts. Contractors are mentioned as being loath to undertake
expension of plant facilities "due to the restrictions on the
employment of surplus and plant expansion in the form of & limitation
on the profit and the excess profit taxes. It is reported that
ninety-nine contracts having a money value of $33,577.165 showed
excess profite amounting to $3,704,220 while contracts of $20,344,135
showed losses. Accordingly, it is indicated that profit limiting
provisions such as those under the Vinson-Trammel Act are not needed.
It is noted that the Act of June 28, 1940, amending the Vinson-Tramel
Act did much to expedite the defense program but came too late to
affect fiscal year 1940 procurement.
2. New York Herald Tribune, page 21, column 1
An article entitled "Treasury due to press tax exempt fight"
reports that Mr. Foley's speech last Friday is the beginning of
another administration move to end tax-exempt securities. The author
says that a constitutional amendment 1s the "best and possibly only
means of effecting this reform."
3. The Wall Street Journal, page 2, column 1
According to the article entitled "Defense notes expected to be
announced today." the new defense notes soon to be issued may be subject
to Federal income taxes.
RB
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
162
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 9, 1940
TO Mr. Sullivan
FROM Mr. Blough
The following items of interest relating to taxes appeared in
the newspapers of December 5-7, 1940:
December 5, 1940
1. Journal of Commerce, December 5, 1940, page 3, column 4
An article entitled "Eccles urges need of Congress action on
British credite" reports a speech by Mr. Eccles before the National
Industrial Conference Board. Mr. Eccles recommended that steps
should be taken to close the gap between income and outgo, but that
taxes should not be raised to a point that would close the gap
entirely before reaching the condition of full production and
employment. Other recommendations, including restoration of the
principle of undistributed profits taxation, were also made.
2. Journal of Commerce, December 5, 1940, page 7. column 7
An article entitled "State barrier taxes, U. S. tariffs scored"
reports Professor Medlar of Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts,
as condemning taxes which act as trade barriers including national
protective tariffs because they increase the consumers' bill for the
benefit of special interest groups. Chain store taxes were also
condemned as harmful to free enterprise.
3. New York Herald Tribune, December 5, 1940, page 41, column 6
An article entitled "Rigid economy drive is urged on taxpayers"
reports an address by A. Vedder McGee of the Taxpayers' Federation, Inc.,
to the effect that New York State taxpayers should insist upon rigid
economy in state and local budgets. Otherwise, state and local taxes
combined with increased taxation needs for national defense may lead
to confiscatory taxation.
December 6, 1940
1, New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 14, column 1
An article entitled "35 billion outlay seen for defense" reports
an estimate prepared by the Department of Agriculture to the effect
Regraded Unclassified
- 2 -
163
that the national defense program as now rojected will involve
an expenditure of about 35 billion dollars in the next five years.
The article is based on a report entitled "The impact of war and
the defense program on agriculture" which indicates that if all the
expenditures were to be cared for by increased taxation and decreased
spending for other purposes, the effects on our domestic economy
would be relatively small.
2. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 14, column 2
An article entitled "Flexible tax plan urged by Anderson" reports
the study made public by the T.N.E.C., "Taxation, Recovery and Defense"
by Dr. Dewey Anderson. The report advocates, among other things, a
value added tax and a flexible tax system easily adaptable to meet
changing conditions.
3. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 25, column 7
It is reported by the American Automobile Association that gasoline
taxes will yield $1,160,000,000 this year or $130,000,000 more than in
1939. Of this increase, approximately $55,000,000, or 42 percent, is
accounted for by the increase in the Federal gasoline tax rate which
became effective last July 1.
4. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 37, column 1
It is reported that the Fortnightly Review of Fuller, Rodney and
Company states that defense spending and accompanying deficits will make
e. new tax law inevitable.
5. Journal of Commerce, December 6, 1940, page 13, column 3
An article entitled "Repeal of state margarine taxes urged by
Janssen" reports the recommendation of the President of the National
Association of Margarine Manufacturers with respect to the tax on
cleomargarine.
6. Wall Street Journal, December 6, 1940, page 3, column 2
An article entitled "Marked uptrend in recent years cause heavy
excess profits levy" reports the profit position of the chemical industry.
The article indicates that chemicals have had a marked upward trend in
earnings in recent years, which has been accelerated by the present peak
volume of operations. This will, it is reported, result in most instances
in heavy excess profits tar liability.
Regraded Unclassified
164
- 3 -
7. New York Herald Tribune, December 6, 1940, page 21, column 7
An article entitled "Super-tax is proposed on large land holdings"
reports the recommendation by the National Catholic Welfare Council
to the House Migration Committee for super-tax on large land holdings
as a step in solving the problem of destitute migratory workers.
December 7, 1940
1. New York Times, December 7, 1940, page 3, column 5
An article entitled "Canada passes bills to reduce luxuries" reports
that Canada has passed a 25 percent excise tax on large categories of
Canadian lurury manifactures and suspends imports from the United States
of virtually all similar articles until after the war as a measure of
exchange economy.
2. New York Times, December 7, 1940, page 32, column 5
An article entitled "Tax exempts' end linked to defense" reports an
address by Mr. Foley, General Counsel of the Treasury, that the further
Issuance of tax-exempt securities interferes with the effectiveness of
the defense program. He urged municipalities to cooperate in ending the
issuance of tax-exempt securities so that their securities would not have
preference over Federal issues.
3. New York Herald Tribune, December 7, 1940, page 1, column 3
An article entitled "Tax framers turn to levy on small incomes" reports
that as a result of the President's decision against resorting to a
mamifacturers' sales tax, the possibilities of increased income taxes
on the lower and middle income brackets are receiving the attention of
congressional and governmental experts.
4. Wall Street Journal, December 7, 1940, page 2, column 2
An article entitled "Anderson urges broad revision of tax structure"
reports that Professor Benjamin M. Anderson of the University of California
and former Chase National Bank economist, has recommended tax revision in
the form of broadening the income tax base by a lowering of exemptions.
As a spur to private capital flow, he also recommends that the rates of
tax in higher brackets be reduced.
RB
Regraded Unclassified
165
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 9, 1940
Mr. Sullivan
TO
Mr. Blough
FROM
The following items of interest relating to corporation taxes and their
effect on corporation profits appeared in the newspapers of the week beginning
December 2, 1940 1/1
1. New York Herald Tribune, December 2, 1940, page 1, column 3.
An article entitled "Increase to 30 percent in Corporation Taxes Fore-
cast" revorts Senator George as stating that the corporation income tax rate
might be boosted as high as 30 percent before the national defense program
is paid for. He indicated that increase in the corporation tax to that rate
night possibly harm business to some extent, but added that there appears to
be no alternative.
2. Fall Street Journal, December 3, 1940, page 3. column 2.
An article entitled "Invested Capital Base to be Used by Most Companies
for 1940 Year" reports that the majority of concerns in the paper industry
will elect to use the invested capital base for the 1940 excess profits tax.
It 1a reported that, because the paper industry as a whole, earned much less
than 8 nercent on invested capital over the past four years, most companies
in the industry probably will elect to make their 1940 tax returns on the
invested cavital base.
The outbreak of the European War in September produced a record-breaking
demand for both paper and pulp. In 1939, 11 companies had earnings equal to
only 5. percent of invested capital. Earnings for this year will probably
range from 5 percent upward to as much as 27 percent. A majority of the
comunies in the paper industry are expected to have to pay out part of their
1940 earnings in excess profits taxes.
3. Wall Street Journal, December 4, 1940, page 3, column 1.
An article entitled "More Firms Study Capital Revisions as Tax Benefits"
discusses the tax saving possibilities of retiring existing preferred stock
issues and replacing that amount of capital with bonds or debenture issues.
Such a change would result in reducing the income tax but might increase the
excess profits tax. General Motors, for example, has outstanding 1,8 million
shares of preferred stock callable at $120 per share. If this issue were
replaced by bonds, it is estimated that, with no saving of interest, the total
tax liability of the corporation would be reduced by $2.2 million.
1/ This supplements my memorandum of December 5. 1940, commenting on similar
Items in the New York Times of December 1, 1940.
Regraded Unclassified
166
- 2 -
4. The New York Times, December 8, 1940, Section 3, page 1, column 3.
An article entitled "Makers of Machinery Show Rise of 72 Percent in
Profits in Year" discusses the earnings of 73 concerns of machinery parts
and equipment for factory construction, mining, road building and automo-
tive and aircraft production during the first nine months of 1940 as com-
pared with the similar period in 1939. It is stated that the increase of
72.1 percent would have been even greater were it not for the heavier tax
schedules under the second Revenue Act of 1940. The generally declining
trend of profits in the third quarter of 1940 is attributed to the effect
of taking from that quarter's earnings all the taxes applicable to the
first nine months of the year including, in many instances, provisions for
excess profits taxes.
RB
Regraded Unclassified
167
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 7. 1940
TO
Mr. Schwars
FROM
Mr. 31ough
RB
The National Industrial Conference Board's study on corporation
profits and taxes published in its Economic Record of November 23,
1940, together with the press release and an Associated Press item
relating thereto, have been reviewed.
The study is misleading in many respects. The main points which
should be noted are the following:
1. Exaggerated increases in Federal income tax
for 1940 as compared to increases in net in-
come are shown.
2. Tax recerve data are used instead of tax
collection or tax limbility data.
3. Combined date for net income and deficit
corporations are used instead of separate
data.
4. Portions of the analysis relate to certain
selected corporations without any indication
as to the criteria used in the selection.
5. No distinction is made between direct and in-
direct or shiftable and nonshiftable taxes
in analyzing the tax burden.
6. Federal income taxes are not clearly dis-
tinguished from state and local taxes.
1. Increased Federal income 1940 over 1939 in relation
to increased income
The study reports that for the 116 companies analyzed, net income
for the first nine months of 1940 increased 48 percent as against a.
tax increase of 131 percent. This increase exceeds the maximum
increase possible for the Federal income tax of any one of the 116
companies. If a corporation's net income in 1940 increased 48 percent
over 1939, the maximum possible increase in Federal income tex would
have amounted to 97 percent, not 131 percent. The exaggerated tax
Regraded Unclassified
168
- 2 -
increases reported by the National Industrial Conference Board are
obviously not correct for any one company. Their results are pro-
bably due to the erroneous and misleading use of data discussed below.
The sttached tables indicate the maximum possible percentage increase
in tax for certain increases in 1940 net income over 1939.
2. Use of tax reserve data
The amounts of income taxes reported for 1940 in the study are
corporate tax reserves, that is, estimates by the corporation of what
the tex liability for 1940 will be. Since these figures are estimates,
they may, of course, contain a large margin of error.
3. Grouping of net income and deficit corporations
It is reported that increased corporate income taxes (exclusive
of excess profits taxes) absorb 37 cents out of every dollar gained in
earnings during the first nine months of 1940. Other statements are
also made showing 8. disproportionate rise in income taxes over BB
against income.
Assuming an accurate estimate of tax liability, the relations
indicated are meaningless because profitable and deficit corporations
are grouped. Grouping of this type may yield fantastic results. For
example: In an industrial group in 1939 the profitable corporations,
let us say, showed net income of $1,000,000 on which was paid an
income tax of $200,000. The deficit corporations reported deficits of
$500,000. On the basis of the Conference Board. type of analysis. this
industrial group would show for the year a net income of $500,000 and
income taxes amounting to $200,000. In 1940, let us say, the profit-
able corporations become twice 28 profitable and with no increase in
rates pay twice as much tax, that 1s, $400,000. The deficit corpore-
tions, let us say, report a deficit of $1,450,000. The picture,
according to the Record for this group in 1940, would show a net
income of $550,000. and income taxes amounting to $400,000. That is,
It would be argued that while profits for the industrial group
increased only $50,000 or 10 percent, texes increased from $200,000
to $400,000 or 100 percent; that, in 1940, taxes took almost 75 per-
cent of the net income of the industrial group and that the tax
increase absorbed four times the increase in profits. Further comment
is not necessary on this type of fallacious reasoning.
4. Selection of corporations
It is stated that in a tabulation of 20 companies Federal govern-
went taxes would take 72 cents out of every dollar of increased income.
No indication is given, however, of how profitable these 20 corporations
Regraded Unclassified
169
- 3 -
are. If, for example, by selection, corporations which had been
earning 40 or 50 percent on their invested capital were chosen, no
serious inequity would result even if the fact stated were true.
5. Inclusion in tax burden of shiftable taxes recaptured
through price adjustments
Considerable importance is attached to the finding that in some
instances "Stockholders
......
have a smaller amount available for
dividends than that allowed for Federal taxes." The implication
there is that taxes amount to more than 50 percent of net earnings
of the corporation. Obviously these data, if they relate, as they
properly should, to net income corporations only, contain taxes
other than income taxes. The bulk of Federal taxes paid by corpora-
tions are not borne by them since they may be included as a cost item
and recaptured through price ijustments by the corporation. These
taxes should be considered in the same manner as any other cost and
have no more effect on amounts available for dividends than do other
costs. Since these taxes may be recaptured in price, they give no
indication to what extent taxes have detracted from amounts which
would otherwise be available for dividend payments.
6. Identification of Federal with Federal, state and local
income taxes
The statistics themselves do not indicate whether the reserves
are on behalf of Federal income taxes exclusively or also contain
amounts for state income taxes, franchise taxes based on income, etc.
The implication is, however, that the percentage increases are in no
small part attributable to the increased Federal income tax rate,
since no mention is made of taxes other than the Federal income and
excess profits taxes.
170
Table 1
Federal corporation income taxes, Revenue Acts of 1939 and 1940 1/
and amount of net income remaining after income tax, for
selected amounts of net income
Net
income
:
Income tax
:
Income re- : Income tax
:
Income re-
before : Revenue Act :maining after: Revenue Act :maining after
income taxes
:
of 1939 1/
: income tax
:
of 1940 1/
: income tax
$1.00
$ .18
$ .82
$ .24
$ .76
1.25
.225
1.025
.30
.95
1.14
1.50
.27
1.23
.36
1.75
.315
1.435
.42
1.33
2.00
.36
1.64
.48
1.52
.90
.162
.738
.216
.684
-75
.135
.615
.18
-57
.50
.09
.41
.12
.38
1/
Computed at the rate of 18 percent for 1939 and 24 percent for 1940.
Does not include excess profits tax.
171
Table 2
Comparison of percent increase and net income 1940 over 1939 with
percent increase in Federal income tax 1/ and percent increase
of net income after Federal income tax
Increase in net :
Increase in
:
Increase in net
income before :
Federal
:
income after
Federal income taxes:
income taxes
: Federal income taxes
100%
166.7%
85.4%
75
133.3
62.2
50
100.0
39.0
25
66.7
15.9
0
33.3
(Decrease)
7.3
(Decrease) 10
20.0
(Decrease)
16.6
(Decrease)
25
0
(Decrease)
30.5
(Decrease)
50
(Decrease)
33.3
(Decrease)
53.7
Computed at the rate of 18 percent for 1939 and 24 percent
for 1940. Does not include excess profits tax.
Regraded Unclassified
172
December 12, 1941
My dear Mr. Stimson:
I an forwarding herewith, a memorandum (see 12/9)
from Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles
for Canada. This seems very important to me,
and I would like to have your advice and help.
May I hear from you at an early date?
Very sincerely,
(Signed) H. Morganthau, Jr.
Honorable Henry L. Stimson,
Secretary of War
Ence:
Memo and attachment.
By Memenger 11°7
Regraded Unclassified
173
December 12, 1941
My dear Mr. Stimson:
I an forwarding herewith, a memorandum
from Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles
and would like to have your advice and help.
for I Canada. This seens very important to me,
May I hear from you at an early date?
Very sincerely,
(Signed) H. Morganthau, Jr.
Secretary of War
Honorable Henry L. Stimson,
By Measenger
Regraded Unclassified
174
December 12, 1941
My dear Mr. Stimson:
I am forwarding herewith, a memorandum
from Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles
for Canada. This seens very important to me,
and I would like to have your advice and help.
May I hear from you at an early date?
Very sincerely,
(Stgned) H. Morgesthau, Jr.
Honorable Henry L. Stimson,
Secretary of War
By Messengué
Regraded Unclassified
December 12th, 1940.
175
SICRET,
CANADA'S FOPEIGN EXCHANGE POSITION
I. Forecast of future payments to be made by Canada which require
gold or U. S. dollars.
4. For vurchases from the United States by the Canadian Govern-
ment or any of its agencies.
For the second year of war (September 1, 1940-August
31, 1941), Canadian purchases for wer purposes in the United
States are estimated at $325,000,000. (Can.) and for the nine
conths' period from December 1, 1940, to August 31, 1941,
they are estimated st approximately $275,000,000. (Can.).
These figures include estimates of purchases made or to be
made by government agencies and contractors who have war con-
tracts from the Canadian Government or war contracts placed
in Canada for account of the British Government. The industrial
relations of Canada and the United States are 60 close that
there is some United States content in nearly all Canedian
manufactured products and consequently it is exceedingly
difficult to made any precise estimate of aggregate Canadian
war purchases in the United States, including those used in-
directly as well as directly for wer purposes. It is believed,
however, that the figures given above are underestimates rather
then overestimates.
1. War purchases classified by major commodity items and by
periods.
An examination of commitments (1) made or to be made by
Canadian Government agencies or by contractors to such agencies
Regraded Unclassified
-2-
176
has resulted in the segregation of most of the estimated
expenditures by major items, as follows:
Dec. 1/40 to Sept. 1/41 to Mar.1/42 to
Aug. 31/41
Feb.28/42
Aug.31/42
(In millions of Canadian dollars)
Iron & Steel (pri-
mary castings &
forgings, scrap
& ore)
$65.9
$45.2
$45.2
Machine Tools
29.3
7.2(2)
nil
Other capital
advances
5.9
14.8
17.6
Aircraft (includ-
ing engines and
other parts)
55.0
23.5(3)
16.5(3)
Petroleum & products,
direct & indirect
22.2
14.9
14.9
Non-ferrous raw
materials, mechan-
ical transport
components & mis-
cellaneous
58.2
59.4
70.8
Total, segregated
$236.5
$165.0
$165.0
Of which
for Canadian
Govt. orders
$176.0
$123.7
$123.7
for British
Govt. orders
60.5
41.3
41.3
Estimate of in-
direct purchases,
unnegregated
38.5
?
?
Grand Total
$275.0
$165.04
$165.01
N.B. (1) While this breakdown has been based on commitments,
it is believed to give a reasonably accurate estimate
of the payments or expenditures required during the
periods covered.
(2) If skilled labour can be made available, this amount
may increase in each case to, say $25,000,000.
Regraded Unclassified
-3-
177
(3) This amount may be lower than required if the
war continues for a longer period and present
plans have to be extended.
2.
Projected monthly payments through August, 1941.
The following breakdown by months, while necessarily
somewhat arbitrary, represents the best estimate that can
be made at this time:
1940 - September
$ 15,000,000.
October
17,000,000.
November
18,000,000.
December
19,000,000.
1941 - January
21,000,000.
February
25,000,000.
March
29,000,000.
April
31,000,000.
May
36,000,000.
June
40,000,000.
July
38,000,000.
August
36,000,000.
Total
$325,000,000.(can.)
3.
Segregation as between unpaid balance on orders already
placed and orders being negotiated.
This information is not available, and in view of the
nature of many of the purchases, particularly the indirect
purchases by contractors, it would be exceedingly difficult to
obtain figures that were at all reliable.
4.
Estimate of payments required on Capital Account.
The estimate of commitments or payments on Capital Account
Regraded Unclassified
-4-
178
is included under the second and third items of the table in
Section 1 above; that is to say, it is covered by the amounts
shown for purchases of "machine tools" and for "other capital
advances". It is possible that some small portion of the amounts
shown for iron and steel purchases should also be regarded as
capital.
B.
For merchandise imports from the United States other than those
included in the above government orders, through August, 1941.
For the second year of war, these are estimated at
$550,000,000. (Can.). The breakdown by months necessarily
somewhat arbitrary in character, is as follows:
1940 - September
$ 48,000,000.
October
57,000,000.
November
57,000,000.
December
44,000,000.
1941 - January
39,000,000.
February
37,000,000.
March
45,000,000.
April
43,000,000.
May
48,000,000.
June
46,000,000.
July
42,000,000.
August
44,000,000.
Total
$550,000,000. (Can.)
C.
For invisible imports from the United States.
For the second year of war, invisible imports from the
United States are estimated as follows:
-5-
179
Interest
$ 95,000,000.
Dividends
160,000,000. (1)
Tourist and travel expenditures
in United States
25,000,000
Freight and miscellaneous (Net)
55,000,000.
$335,000,000. (Can.)
(1) The estimato of dividends payable includes those
of wholly-owned subsidiary companies, and 1s there-
fore higher than estimates previously published by
the Dominion Bureau of Statistics.
(2) This compares with a figure of $55,000,000. for the
celendar year 1940.
It should also be noted that during the second year of
war Canadian obligations, payable either solely or optionally
in U. S. dollars, mature in the amount of $70,000,000. In-
cluded in this total is & $20,000,000. Dominion of Canada
1-1/4% note issue due May 1, 1941, which it is believed is
held largely or wholly by banks. Based on the experience of
the recent past, slightly over 70 per cent. of the amount of
such issues are held by residents of the United States. If
this percentage continues to be applicable, and if no refunding
is possible, fifty to fifty-five million dollars would be re-
quired to meet these maturities.
These maturities (Approximate net amounts) may be allocated
by months as follows:
1940 - September
$ 1,000,000.
October
1,000,000.
November
3,000,000.
December
2,000,000.
1941 - January
2,000,000.
February
1,000,000.
-6-
March
$ 1,000,000.
180
April
1,000,000.
May
23,000,000.
Juno
3,000,000.
July
15,000,000.
August
2,000,000.
Total $55,000,000.
D.
For imports (visible and invisible) from other areas with
which Canada has an adverse balance which must be settled
in gold or U. S. dollars.
Estimate of Imports for second year of war.
Merchandise imports
$45,000,000.
Immigrant remittances and other
invisible debit items
10,000,000.
$55,000,000. (Can.)
Regraded Unclassified
-7-
181
II.
Forecast of Canadian dollar (U.S.) receipts during the second year
of war.
A.
For merchandise exports to the United States
Estimate of merchandise exports
other than gold.
$450,000,000.
(This includes silver at
$9,000,000.)
Estimate of export of non-
monetary gold.
212,000,000.
Total
$662,000,000. (Can.)
B.
For invisible items with the United States
Estimate of invisible credit items in transactions with
the United States.
Intorest & dividends receivable $30,000,000.
Tourist receipts
150,000,000.
(1)
Total
$180,000,000. (Can.)
(1) This includes an estimate of $25,000,000. for tourist
expenditures from Canadian dollar accounts. It may also
be noted that it assumes a. substantial increase in tourist
receipts as compared with the calendar year 1940. The
best estimate of U.S. tourist expenditures in Canada during
1940 runs from $100,000,000. to $110,000,000. of which per-
haps $20,000,000. to $25,000,000. was made from Canadian
dollar accounts.
(For attempt at monthly breakdown, see Table I attached hereto,
and for general summary of Canada's balance of payments with
U.S., see Appendix B.)
C.
For exports (visible and invisible) to other areas which will
be paid for in U.S. dollars or gold.
Estimate of exports end other credit items for second year
of war.
Merchandise exports
$50,000,000.
Dividends & other invisible credits
15,000,000.
$65,000,000. (Can.)
Regraded Unclassified
-8-
182
D. Estimated Canadian gold production during second year of
war.
Approximately 5% million ounces, valued at $211,750,000. (Can.).
(Included as exports under II.A. above)
E. Estimated Canadian silver production during second year of war.
22g million ounces, valued at approximately $9,000,000. (Can.).
(Included as exports under II.A. above)
-9-
III. Assets of Canada possibly convertible into dollar exchange.
183
A. Gold (as at Dec. 9, 1940)
....
$137,000,000. (U.S.)
B. Dollar balances
1. Official (as at Dec. 9. 1940)
Foreign Exchange Control Board -
Long .... $183,000,000.
Short
...
14,000,000.
Net
$167,000,000.
Minister of Finance
22,500,000.
$189,500,000.(U.S.)
2. Private (as at Sept. 30/40) about
(1)
30,000,000.
(held against import commitments)
Total Gold and Dollar balances (net)
$356,500,000.(U.S.)
NOTE. (1) The amount of gold shown under III.A. as an asset of
Canada is the amount of gold owned by the Government of
Canada and held in the Exchange Fund. In addition,
11,135,127 ounces of gold valued at $426,927,487. (can.)
was formerly held by the Bank of Canada for account of the
Bank of France and is now in the custody of the Custodian
of Enemy Property.
All gold reserves of the Bank of Canada were sold to the
Foreign Exchange Control Board under the terms of the Foreign
Exchange Acquisition Order.
(2) The U.S. dollar balances shown under III.B.1 as assets of
Canada as at December 9. 1940, do not include $101,885,000 (U.S.),
which was formerly in an account in the Bank of Canada in the
name of the French Republic and is now under the custody of the
Custodian of Enemy Property.
-10-
184
(1) Under the Foreign Exchange Acquisition Order (Order-in-
Council P.C.1735. dated April 30, 1940) residents of Canada
were required to sell to the Foreign Exchange Control Board
their holdings of foreign currency and balances, except
such amounts as could be demonstrated to be necessary for
the carrying on of normal business transactions. The figure
of $30,000,000. does not include foreign balances of banks
and insurance companies; any balances held by these institutions
surplus to the requirements of their foreign position was sold
to the Board under the above Order, and further surpluses
accumulating to their credit are subject to transfer on a
quarterly or half-yearly basis. An analysis of the foreign
position of Canadian banks and insurance companies is included
in Appendix A to this memorandum.)
0. Long-term investments in the United States
1. Securities
Under the Foreign Exchange Control Order (Order-in-
Council P.C.2716, dated September 16, 1940) all foreign
securities which, or any right, title or interest in or to
which, were in the possession, ownership or control of &
resident of Canada at the time the order came into effect
were required, unless the Board should otherwise direct,
to be declared forthwith to the Foreign Exchange Control
Board. Any non-resident of Canada becoming a resident
of Canada subsequent to September 15, 1939. was required
forthwith to make a similar declaration to the Board in
respect of foreign securities owned by him at the time of
-11-
185
his becoming a. resident. Citizens of the United States
resident in Canada have been exempted from the requirement
of making such declarations.
The figures shown below have been computed from the data
given on the declaration forms filed with the Board under the
above requirements, up to September 15, 1940, but do not
include the holdings of banks, insurance companies, trust
and loan companies, etc. Foreign securities held by these
financial institutions have been regarded as held against
their foreign liabilities but data in respect of them will
be found in Appendix A to this memorandum.
(a) Listed Stocks (Stocks listed on any recognized Stock
Exchange, with valuations based on market quotations as
at December 31, 1939, which are substantially higher than
existing market valued)
No. of issues
Valuation as at
held in excess
December 31/39,
of $500,000.
Industrial
$228,200,000.
92
Mines
10,000,000.
5
Rails
8,300,000.
5
Utilities
47,500,000.
15
Investment companies
7,100,000.
3
Insurance companies
7,700,000.
4
Banks and Trust Co's
4,000,000.
2
Total
$312,800,000.(U.S. 126
-12-
186
(b) Listed and Unlisted Bonds (Valued on basis
of market quotations as at December 31, 1939.)
Industrial
$14,400,000.
Rails
7,900,000.
Utilities
15,500,000.
U. S. Government
......
7,000,000.
State and Municipal
2,000,000.
Real Estate
1,300,000.
Total
$48,100,000.(U.S.)
(c) Unlisted Stocks
No attempt has been made to value holdings reported
in a large number of miscellaneous unlisted stocks -
some 3,500 items - a great many of which are believed
to be valueless or practically BO, On the basis of a
rough guess, total value is estimated for this purpose
at, say, $20,000,000. to
.....
$40,000,000.(U.S.)
Aggregate value of all securities (on above bases)
$380,900,000. to $400,900,000.
N.B.(1) Sales of the above securities made by their
holders from dates of declaration up to December 9.
1940, total $35,000,000., and there have been maturities
of approximately $2,500,000., leaving a total holding as
at December 9. 1940, estimated on the bases of valuation
indicated at approximately $343,400,000. to $363,400,000.
From this total should be deducted brokers' loans of
$10,000,000., leaving a net balance of roughly $333,000,000.
to $353,000,000.
o0o
o0o
o0o
Regraded Unclassified
-13-
187
General note. The figures given above as representing
holdings of U. S. securities by Canadian residents (with
the exceptions noted) are as indicated the result of the
compilation of declarations made to the Foreign Exchange
Control Board on Form M. It may be that certain residents
have not filled out this return or have not disclosed all
their holdings, but as such offences under the Foreign
Exchange Control Order are subject to substantial penalties,
it is not believed that the error in the figures due to
failure to report can be of significant proportions.
2. Direct Investments
There is no estimate available of the real value of
Canadian direct investments in the United States. The
nominal book value, according to balance sheets at
December 31, 1938, as estimated by the Dominion Bureau of
Statistics (which is probably substantially in excess of
real or market value) is as follows:
Type of Industry
Merchandising, sales, etc.
$6,800,000.
Manufacturing
93,000,000.
Mining
10,600,000.
Petroleum products
9,900,000.
Utilities, transportation and
miscellaneous
206,800,000.
Total
-14-
188
These figures can be broken down by class of
investment as follows:
Total Bonds Stocks Other
(Millions of dollars)
Incorporated subsidiaries
wholly owned
$ 93.5 $41.5
$20.0
$32.0
Incorporated subsidiaries
partly owned
5.7
2.6
0.7
2.4
Branches or agencies
0.1
0.1
Unincorporated operations
10.1
10.1
Companies in which Canad-
ians have a majority
interest
8.2
8.2
Railway investment in
wholly owned subsidiaries 133.7
67.4
63.3
3.0
Railway investment in part-
ly owned subsidiaries
72.1
35.1
36.9
0.1
Advances & other forms
3-7
-
3,3
0.4
$327.1$154.8 $124.2
$48.1
N.B.(1) Many subsidiaries represent holdings in source
of raw materials.
(2) Railway investment which is taken at par or
other nominal valuation includes:
Soo Line
$36,000,000.
Spokane & International
4,000,000.
Duluth South Shore
30,000,000.
Grand Trunk Western
86,000,000.
Central Vermont
41,000,000.
$184,000,000.
It is obvious that these figures in no way represent
real or marketable values.
Regraded Unclassified
- 15 -
189
D. Long-term investments in Latin America
1. Securities
Estimate based on data compiled from
declarations on Form M, with market valuations
as at December 9. 1940.
Government Bonds Market Value Par Value
Argentina
-
$2,600,000.
$3,600,000.
Brazil
2,000,000.
15,000,000.
Other
....
1,800,000.
12,700,000.
(U.S.)
Total
....
$6,400.000/ $31,300,000.
Other securities - believed to be negligible
in amount.
2. Direct Investments
There is no estimate available of the real
value of Canadian direct investments in Letin
America. The nominal or book value, as at December
31, 1938, is estimated by the Dominion Bureau of
Statistics at $175,600,000.(U.S.) This estimate
includes the following items:
Bolivian Power
$6,000,000.
Monterey Railway
6,000,000.
Venezuela Electric
3,800,000.
Porto Rico Light & Power
....
3,100,000.
Massey-Harris (Buenos Aires)
:
3,000,000.
Brazilian Traction &c.
....
75,000,000.
International Petroleum
...
70,000,000.
$166,900,000.(U.S.)
Regraded Unclassified
- 16 -
E. Long-term investments elsewhere
190
1. Australasia
Par Value
Australian Covernment bonds
payable in U.S. dollars
...
$4,400,000.
Australian Government bonds
payable in sterling
.....
1,900,000.
New Zealand Government bonds
payable in sterling
.....
300,000.
Total bonds
$6,600,000. (Can.)
Direct investments at nominal
book value
$13,700,000. (Can.)
These include
Ford of Canada $8,700,000.
Massey-Harris 3,900,000.
$12,600,000.
(Can.)
Total nominal value of in-
vestments in Australasia
$20,300,000.(can.)
2. Africa
Par Value
South African Government
bonds
$ 600,000.
Direct investments at nominal
book value
5,900,000.
These include
Ford of Canada $3,300,000.
Massey-Harris 2,600,000.
$5,900,000.
Total nominal value of in-
vestments in Africa
....
$6,500,000. (Can.)
3. British Asia
Par Value
Bonds
$ 600,000.
Direct investments at nominal
value
5,500,000.
Total nominal value of in-
vestments in British Asia
$6,100,000. (Can.)
4. Non-British Asia
Par Value
Government bonds
$1,400,000.
Direct investments at nominal
value
500,000.
Total nominal value of invest-
ments in Non-British Asia
$1,900,000.(Can.)
- 17 -
191
5. United Kingdom
Securities - as at September
15, 1939, based on Form M
returns.
Government bonds at par value
$17,000,000.
Stocks and corporation bonds
15,000,000.
Total
$32,000,000. (Can.)
Direct investments, according to
Dominion Bureau of Statistics
$16,000,000. (Can.)
Total
$48,000,000. (Can.)
6. Europe (excluding United Kingdom)
Investment in Government bonds,
as indicated by Form M returns,
at par value
$ 5,500,000.
Investment in stocks, say ..
5,000,000.
Loans made at close of last
war by Dominion Government to
Governments of Greece and
Roumania, probably valueless
but par value
30,854,000.
Direct investments, according
to estimates of Dominion
Bureau of Statistics
...
8,000,000.
Total
$49,354,000.(0an.)
The direct investments include holdings by
the Massey-Harris Company in France and the
Falconbridge Nickel Company in Norway. They do
not include European holdings of the Aluminium
Company or the International Nickel Company, as
these two companies are controlled in the United
States.
-18-
192
IV. Forecast of Canada-United Kingdom balance of payments
for the second year of war.
A. On Merchandise Account
U. K.'s "warlike" expenditures in Canada $823,000,000.
U. K.'s other expenditures in Canada
338,000,000.
Total
...
.$1,161,000,000.(Can.)
Less U. K. exports to Canada
161,000,000.(can.)
Credit balance in Canada's favour
$1,000,000,000.(Can.)
B. On Service items
Net debits against Canada
Interest & dividends (net)
$62,000,000.
Expenditures of Canadian armed
forces in U. K.
75,000,000.(Revised)
Freight & miscellaneous services (net)
20,000,000.
Total debit against Canada
$157,000,000.
If we combine visible and invisible items, the
above estimates show a net total credit in Canada's
favour of $843,000,000. A summary of Canada's
balance of payments with the United Kingdom and
with the sterling area as a whole is given in
Appendix D.
-19-
193
V.
Proposed basis of settlement of the Canada-United Kingdom
balance of payments on Current Account.
Canada has undertaken to assist the United Kingdom
in meeting the latter's debit balance in her trans-
actions with Canada, to the maximum practicable extent
of Canada's capacity, by the repatriation of Canadian
securities held in the United Kingdom. The remainder
of the deficit will have to be met by the United King-
dom by the transfer of gold or cash.
During the first year of war, Canada agreed to
provide approximately $200,000,000. (Can.) in this way,
and did BO provide about $193,000,000. For the six
months' period, August 1, 1939. to January 31, 1940.
(1)
Canada agreed to provide $150,000,000.
and hoped
that in the succeeding six months' period it would
be possible to increase this amount somewhat, possibly
up to $200,000,000.
The normal process 1s that the Foreign Exchange
Control Board accumulates sterling until a suitable
opportunity occurs for the calling and redemption of
e Dominion Government direct or guaranteed issue pay-
able in London. In addition, there have been sales,
directly in the Canadian market, of British holdings
of Canadian provincial or municipal bonds or of
private corporate securities, but the narrowness of
the Canadian markets limits the amount of securities
that can be so absorbed.
Regraded Unclassified
-20-
134
It need not be emphasized that there are practical
limits to Canada's capacity to assist the United Kingdom
by the repatriation of securities. From the standpoint
of Canada, such repatriation involves the same problems
AE B direct war expenditure - the money must be raised
in Canada - en equivalent amount of securities or the
identical securities must be absorbed by Canadian 10-
vestors. For this reason it is necessary to look at
the total burden assumed by Canada as a result of the
war. Canada's direct war expenditure during the
present fiscal year ending March 31, 1941, is expected
to approximate $900,000,000. and for the rext fiscal
year will rise substantially - it may run from
$1,200,000,000. to $1,500,000,000. To this must be
added non-war expenditures of the Dominion Government
of approximately $450,000,000. (excluding the cost of
financing an enormous surplus of wheat) and provincial
and municipal expenditures of approximately $600,000,000.
A comparison of the aggregate war and other governmental
expenditures with the national income (estimated at
about $5,000,000,000. for the. next fiscal year) will
throw light on the further amount which can be raised
by Canadian citizens for the purpose of repatriating
Canadian securities now held in the United Kingdom.
(1) Note that of this amount only about $130,000,000.
would be available to the U. K. during the
second year of war.
Regraded Unclassified
-21-
VI.
United Kingdom Investments in Canada.
185
Canadian data in regard to British investments in Canada
are neither up-to-date nor very satisfactory. For what it may be
worth, there are presented in the following table certain data,
purporting to represent United Kingdom direct and portfolio invest-
ments for the year 1937, taken from a publication of the Dominion
Bureau of Statistics entitled "The Canadian Balance of International
Payments" (Ottawa, 1939.). The method of valuation is more fully
described in Chapter IV of this publication but, stated briefly,
bonds or other evidences of funded debt are taken at par value,
preferred stock at par or stated value, and common stock at book
value, while holdings in unincorporated branches or agencies are
valued on the basis of net assets in Canada.
Government Securities
Dominion
$317,100,000.
Provincial
61,300,000.
Municipal
135,800,000.
Total
$514,200,000.
Public Utilities
Railways
$1,065,600,000.
Other, - Traction, light, heat,
power, telephone, &c
176,000,000.
Manufacturing
Wood & paper products
$ 97,000,000.
Metal industries
72,000,000.
All other
201,000,000.
Regraded Unclassified
-22-
136
Mining
$ 90,000,000
Merchandising & service
73,000,000
Insurance.
85,200,000
Finance & mortgage corporations
150,800,000
Miscellaneous (agricultural lands, summer
homes, assets administered for persons
or corporations residing outside of Canada). 160,000,000.
Total
$2,684,800,000. (Can.)
Apart from considerations arising from the arbitrary basis of
valuation of such investments and the reduction in value of securities
payable in sterling due to depreciation of the pound, it is, of
course, necessary to reduce the aggregate amount shown above by
the amount of securities which have matured or which have been
called for redemption or which have been resold to Canadians since
1937. While complete data are not available here, the total amount
of securities (chiefly government bonds and guaranteed reilway
obligations) 80 repatriated cannot well be less than $350,000,000.
and may well exceed this figure.
Regraded Unclassified
-23-
VII. Forecast of Canada's balance of payments with the rest of the
197
sterling area for the second year of war.
Estimated merchandise imports from Canada
$113,000,000.
Estimated merchandise exports to Canada
87,000,000.
$ 26,000,000. (Can.)
Add net balance of invisible items, in-
cluding payments by Australia and New
Zealand on account of Air Training Plan,say 29,000,000. (Can.)
Net credit balance in Cenada's favour
$55,000,000. (Can.)
Up to date, the United Kingdom has been meeting the adverse
balance of the rest of the sterling area with Canada, For masons
outlined under V above, it is impossible for Canada to contribute
to the financing of this debit balance.
-24-
138
VIII. The amount of sterling balances now held by Canada in London.
As of December 9, 1940
Foreign Exchange Control Board -
Spot
L31,200,000
Futures
6,700,000
L37,900,000
Minister of Finance.
1 350,000(1)
$38,250,000
(1) This does not include amounts held temporarily in the
sinking funds of certain Dominion of Canada obligations payable
in London, pending investment in securities to be held in such
sinking funds.
-25-
199
APPENDIX A
U. S. DOLLAR POSITION OF CERTAIN
CANADIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
1. Canadian Life Insurance Companies, as at September 30, 1940.
Assets
Bonds - Canadian debtor
$ 15,400,000.(U.S.)
U. S.
II
242,700,000.
Other
If
12,000,000.
Stocks - Canadian debtor
1,000,000.
U. S.
#
236,000,000.
Other
#
-
Mortgages
6,900,000.
Policy loans
46,700,000.
Cash
36,200,000.
Other Assets
3,700,000.
Total Assets
$600,800,000.
Total Liabilities
545,600,000.
Gross long position at book values
...
55,200,000.
Adjust for market values (approx.)
...
50,000,000.
$5,200,000.
Adjust for non-U.S. debtors
28,400,000.
Net short position in U. S.
......
$23,200,000.
It will be obvious that the above adjustment for
market values relates mostly to the investment in stocks.
Regraded Unclassified
-26-
200
The investment in U. S. debtor bonds is subdivided
as follows:
Government
$39,300,000.
Municipal
19,300,000.
Rails
41,800,000.
Utilities
126,700,000.
Industrials
14,100,000.
Miscellaneous
1,300,000.
$242,700,000.
The investment in stocks is subdivided as follows:
Rails
$ 2,800,000.
Utilities
115,500,000.
Industrials
110,600,000.
Miscellaneous
11,300,000.
$236,200,000.
The total liabilities which are shown at $545,600,000.
include the appropriate amount of the companies' surplus
applicable to their U. S. position.
The all-over position of the Canadian life insurance
companies, excluding assets represented by multiple
payment bonds, is as follows:
United States
Gross long position
$55,200,000.
Less Canadian debtor bonds & stocks
16,400,000.
$38,800,000. (long)
Regraded Unclassified
-27-
United Kingdom & Sterling Area
201
Short
$206,800,000.
Canada
Short
58,600,000.
$265,400,000. (short)
Balancing figure, which represents
investments in multiple payment
bonds, and assets and liabilities
in other currencies
$226,600,000.
(Note - In the above, all conversions are at
pre-war rates of exchange.)
2. U. S. Dollar Position of Canadian Trust and Loan Companies.
The total U. S. dollar investments held by these companies
is reported to amount to only about $18,000.
3. U. S. Dollar Position of Canadian Chartered Banks (including both
Canadian and foreign branches) as at June 30, 1940.
(a) Total Assets and Liabilities in U. S. Dollars, as at June 30, 1940.
in Cuban silver
Total such assets were $365,000,000. including
$40,000,000.
of which:
Cash Assets
#
181,000,000.
#
13,000,000.
foreign securities
53,000,000.
current loans
100,000,000.
#
21,000,000.
letters of credit
22,000,000.
#
2,000,000.
Total such liabilities
329,000,000.
II
36,000,000.
-20-
202
Between June 30, 1940, and October 31, 1940, total
such assets probably declined about $23,000,000. and
total such liabilities about $21,000,000. As at October
31, 1940, total such assets would probably include
(roughly): cash assets, $185,000,000; securities,
$40,000,000; and current loans, $85,000,000.
(b) Net Long Position in U. S. Dollars
As at June 30, 1940
the net spot position was
$35,700,000. long
future exchange contracts were
1,200,000. short
items in transit were
7,900,000. long
leaving a true net position,
$42,400,000. long
Since June 30. 1940, the net long position has declined
about $2,000,000, and would now be approximately $40,400,000 -
of which $3,000,000 is in the form of Cuban bank premises.
Note. - In view of the size of the U. S. dollar
business and the need of maintaining adequate working
capital margins in order to satisfy state banking laws,
we would not under present conditions regard this net
long position as available.
(c) Holdings of Foreign Securities, payable in U. S. Dollars.
As shown above, the Banks had at June 30, 1940, foreign
securities payable in U. S. dollars of a total book value
of $53,000,000. Known sales between June 30, 1940, and
October 31, 1940, indicate present holdings of about
$40,000,000.
Regraded Unclassified
-29-
203
Roughly, this total would be divided somewhat
as follows:
U. S. Government & State Government bonds
$35,000,000.
U. S. railway bonds and stocks
......
1,000,000.
Other U. S. stocks
1,000,000.
Latin American securities (some govern-
ments, some industrials, chiefly
Cuban)
3,000,000.
$40,000,000.
-30-
204
APPENDIX B
SUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS WITH THE
UNITED STATES AS ESTIMATED FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR.
(Millions of Canadian dollars)
Current Account
Credits
Debits
Net
Merchandise - ordinary
$450
$550
-$100
- war
-
325
- 325
Non-monetary gold (net)
212
-
plus 212
Tourist and travel
(1)
expenditures
150
25
plus 125
Interest and Dividends
30
255
- 225
Freight and miscellaneous
services (net)
-
55
- 55
Total
$842
$1,210
-$368
Add estimated amount of tourist
expenditures in Canada pro-
bably paid for from Canadian
dollar accounts
25
- 393
Capital Account
Maturing obligations
$55
- 55
Capital imports
7
1
!
Total
7
$55
- 55(7)
Total unfavourable balance
$448
(1) Includes $25,000,000. estimated to be paid for
out of Canadian dollar accounts.
Regraded Unclassified
-31-
205
APPENDIX C
SUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
WITH COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE UNITED
STATES FOR WHICH PAYMENT MUST BE MADE
IN GOLD OR U. S. DOLLARS, AS ESTIMATED
FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR.
(Millions of Canadian dollars)
Credits
Debits
Net
Merchandise
$50
$45 plus $5
Dividends and other invisible
credits
15
plus 15
Immigrant remittances and
other invisible debits
10
- 10
-
$65
$55
plus$10
-32-
APPENDIX D
206
SUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM AND STERLING
AREA, AS ESTIMATED FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR
(Millions of Canadian dollars)
Credits
Debits
Net
(a) With United Kingdom
Merchandise, &c.
...
$1,161
$161
plus $1,000
Interest & dividends (net)
62
-
62
Expenditures on Canadian
Armed Forces in U. K.
75
-
75
Freight & miscellaneous
services (net)
20
-20
$1,161
$318
-$ 843
(b) With rest of sterling area
Merchandise
113
87
plus
26
Invisible items (net)
29
-
plus
29
142
87
plus
55
(c) With Sterling area
(including U.K.)
Merchandise
1,274
248
plus
1,026
Interest & dividends (net)
62
- 62
Expenditures on Canadian
Armed Forces in U.K.
75
- 75
Freight & miscellaneous
services (net)
20
- 20
Other invisible items (net)
29
-
plus
29
$1,303
$405
plus
$898
Regraded Unclassified
TABLE I
ESTIMATE OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR
An attempt at Monthly Allocation of the Various Items.
(Millions of Canadian Dollars)
Freight &
Total
Total
Capital
Interest &
Other
Current a/c
Current a/c
Export
Tourist
Imports
Dividends
Current
ex War
War
(Net)
including
re
Exports
Gold
Non-War
(Net)
(Net)
Imports
Importe
War
Tourists
September
Maturities
Total
37
17
13
48
18
5
4
15
19
IN
1
22
October
38
17
8
57
16
5
15
17
32
2
1
35
November
38
17
3
57
12
5
16
18
34
1
3
38
December
35
17
3
44
33
4
26
19
45
1
In
48
January
33
17
5
39
19
4
7
21
28
2
?
32
February
33
16
5
37
9
4
4
25
21
2
1
24
March
33
17
4
45
20
5
16
29
45
1
1
47
April
36
18
4
43
18
5
8
31
39
1
1
41
May
40
19
6
48
19
5
7
36
43
2
23
68
June
42
19
14
46
32
5
los
40
48
2
3
23
July
42
19
30
42
19
4
26
38
12
4
15
31
August
43
19
30
hills
10
24
34
36
2
15
5
2
9
450
212
125
550
225
55
43
325
368
25
55
448
Note.-Allocation of individual items by months is necessarily subject to
a considerable margin of error.
2
Regraded Unclassified
208
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 12, 1940
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
Mr. Cochran
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
At 5:30 this afternoon the Secretary telephoned me from his residence in
regard to the conversation which he had had with Sir Frederick Phillips. Sir
Frederick had asked me this morning to make an appointment with the Secretary which
would permit a brief but private talk. At the Secretary's suggestion, Sir Frederick
had come to the Treasury at 12:30 and had ridden home with the Secretary.
Phillips explained that the British could not sell us the French gold held
in Canada because the Prime Minister of Canada has so far objected to it. Part of
this objection comes importantly from consideration of the large French population
of the Dominion. Furthermore, the British are very conscious of the fact that they
are running $600,000,000 behind on their annual account with Canada. An officer of
the Canadian Government is in Washington, however, and Phillipe planned to nake a
further attempt through him today to overcome the objection of the Prime Minister.
The Secretary's press statement of today was discussed. At his press COD-
"erence the Secretary had made the point that be was against any loan to Great
Britain which violated even the spirit of the Johnson Act; furthermore, the British
had not yet asked for any loan, Phillips said that he is now definitely asking for
financial assistance. The Secretary replied that while he had consistently been
opposed to lending funds to Great Britain in circumstances such 8.6 exist at present,
he would favor making 8. gift of such assistance. In his relations with the press
and with his colleagues in the Government the Secretary has purposely taken the
position of pushing the British as far as possible. That is, he wanted it to be knowne
that be vas calling upon them to put forth their best efforts and vsa demanding from
them a frank and full expression of their financial end economic situation. It is
the Secretary's view that his plan of getting assistance for Great Britain can best
be achieved through this approach, and be is therefore pushing it. Phillips asked
If he could cable this idea to his Government. The Secretary replied in the negative,
stating that this was just his own personal feeling.
Phillips' attitude seemed to change remarkably 80 the conversation developed.
Ee affirmed his desire to let us have everything, considering the position which the
Secretary has taken, The Secretary was such gratified over this conversation, feeling
that he had made more progress in the fifteen minutes drive home, than he had made
since Phillips' arrival in the United States.
The Secretary talked briefly with Phillips on the question which is to come
before our Group tomorrow morning, namely, that of marketing British-owned American
securities in this country. It is the Secretary's desire that this question should
be gone into thoroughly with Gifford and the British brought to realise the necessity
if the most efficient system possible for carrying out the marketing of such securities
B.M.
Regraded Unclassified
209
HSM
GRAY
Bucharest
Dated DECEMBER 12, 1940
Rec'd 7:42 a. me, 13th
Secretary of State,
Washington.
805, December 12, 5 p. m.
An official of the Ministry of National Economy
called at the Legation recently to discuss the question
of the period of validity of United States Treasury
licenses for the unblocking of Runanian funds. HE
stated that the United States Treasury had hitherto
followed 8 policy of limiting licenses to a validity
of only a few days usually five days; that Rumanian
budgetary legislation required that all payments bE
approved for separate organizations including the
Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Economy
and the National Bank; and that this process was
inevitably tine-consuning and difficult to Expedite
Especially in VIEW of the recent reorganization of the
Runanian Government. HE inquired whether the Legation
could recommend that the United States Treasury if it
decided to issue a particular license at all, could not
make
210
hsm -2- No. 806, December 12, 5 P. me, from Bucharest
make it valid for a longer period such as twenty days.
While the official in question was informed that
the Rumanian Legation at Washington was the proper
channel for such a request, I an bringing the foregoing
to the Department's attention for such action, if any,
that it may SEE fit to take.
GUNTHER
DDM
YOURABAT
BECEIVED
GVO DEC GW DEC 17 LMT IS 10
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
211
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 12, 1940
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM Mr. Cochran
confidential
Registered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
i 71,000
Purchased from commercial concerns
L134,000
About 693,000 of the registered sterling purchased from commercial concerns rep-
resented dividend payments received by American firms.
In the open market, sterling was again quoted at 4.03-3/4 throughout the day.
Transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:
Sold to commercial concerns
1 5,000
Purchased from commercial concerns
1 5,000
As for the other currencies, there was a continued improvement in the Canadian
dollar and Cuban peso discounts. Closing quotations were:
Canadian dollar
13-1/2% discount
Swiss franc
.2321
Swedish krona
.2385
Reichsmark
.4005
Lira
.0505
Argentine peso (free) .2363
Brazilian milreis (free).0505
Mexican peso
.2070
Cuban peso
9-1/4% discount
The yuan in Shanghai was again unchanged at 5-15/16¢.
Te purchased $50,118,000 in gold from the earmarked account of His Britannic
Majesty's Government.
No new gold engagements were reported to us today.
The Bombay gold price was unchanged at the equivalent of $33.83, and silver was
3/15# higher at the equivalent of 42.874.
In London, the prices fixed for spot and forward silver were both unchanged, at
22-7/8d and 22-13/16d respectively. The dollar equivalents were 41.54$ and 41.42#.
Handy and Harman's settlement price for foreign silver was unchanged at 34-3/44.
The Treasury's purchase price for foreign silver was also unchanged at 35#.
Regraded Unclassified
-2-
212
Be made four purchases of silver totaling 225,000 ounces under the Silver
Purchase Act. Of this amount, 175,000 ounces represented sales from inventory,
and the remaining 50,000 ounces consisted of new production from foreign countries,
for forward delivery.
The Federal Reserve Bank's report of December 4, listing deposita of banks
in Asia with the New York agencies of Japanese banks, showed that such deposits
totaled $100,455,000, a decline of $10,345,000 since November 27. As usual,
nearly all of the change in deposits took place on the books of the Yokohana
Specie Bank's New York agency. The latter's reported dollar liabilities to and
dollar claims on Japanese banks in Asia stood as follows on December 4:
December 4
Change from Nov. 27
Liabilities: Deposits
$89,796,000
- $10,124,000
#
: U.S. Treas. bills, comm. paper, etc
30,426,000
-
935,000
Claims
: Loans
$37,566,000
- 4,391,000
"
: Other - mainly Jap. import bills
18,429,000
+
4,783,000
It will be observed that $4,391,000 of the decline in deposits apparently were used
to reduce loans. No definite explanation was provided for the other $5,733,000
withdrawn from deposit, although the agency stated that this represented ordinary
disbursements from several branch accounts. Such funds may have been used in the
purchase of American goods, or transferred to other banks in this country or abroad.
Regarding the $4,783,000 net purchase of Japanese import bills, the agency empha-
sized that these were bought for its own account, and that Asiatic deposits were
not used in the operation. With the exception of $36,925,000 which Japanese banks
in China had on deposit with the Yokohama agency (off $1,048,000 from November 27),
practically all of the agency's figures shown in the above table refer to Japanese
banks in Japan and Manchuria. The agency's foreign currency liabilities and claims
remained negligible.
We have also learned, from the Federal's letter of December 5 to the Secretary
reporting its investigation of the Yokohama agency's accounts, that at the present
time the agency holds no American long-term securities for foreign account. Such
holdings, consisting mainly of U.S. Treasury bonds held for account of the head
office, rose to a value of $66.6 million by the end of 1939. The entire amount has
been liquidated since then, the bulk of the sales having been made during the past
five months.
CONFIDENTIAL
Regraded Unclassified
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
213
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
Regraded Unclass
DATE
Des13,1940
Secretary Morgenthau
TO
Be H. Foley, Jr.
FROM
12-12-40
In addition to Walter Stone, editorial writer for the Scripps-Howard
newspaper chain, and myself the following were present at a conference
held in my office this afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 o'clock, Assistant
Secretary Sullivan, George Hear, Director of Research and Statistics,
Henry Murphy, Assistant Director of Research and Statistics, and C. L. Kades.
Mr. Stone stated that the Scripps-Uoward newspaper desired to institute
an aggressive editorial campaign directed at securing the elimination of tax
exempt securities. He further stated that he expected to carry on this can-
paign through editorials and news articles which would appear in the various
newspapers comprising the chain, and that he desired material for such
editorials and articles. Mr. Stone asked if be could be supplied with a
series of hypothetical cases showing the tax avoidance resulting from invest-
ment in state and municipal securities, as distinguished from investment in
business enterprise, after taking into consideration not only Federal income
taxes but state income and intangible personal property taxes. It was agreed
that this could be done and that the material would be submitted to him from
time to time beginning within a week. A committee was appointed to collect
the necessary information consisting of Mr. Murphy AB chairman, Mr. Kades and
Mr. Ecker-Racz of Mr. Blough's Tax Research Division.
Mr. Stone also said he would be interested in ascertaining who was
financing the Conference for State Defense and the other pressure groups
opposing the elimination of tax exempt securities, and Mr. Sullivan and I
indicated that we would be glad to cooperate with him in such an undertaking.
Mr. Stone also suggested the advisability of the Federal Government con-
senting not only to the imposition of state income taxes upon the interest of
Federal securities but also to the intangible personal property texation by
the states of such securities in private hands at the Bane extent as the
states taxed their securities. This suggestion was explored at some length
the object being to take away from the opponents of the proposal to sliminate
tax exempt securities the argument that states not having an income tax would
be discriminated against if the Federal Government subjected its securities
only to state income taxation. Such opposition, for example, smanates from
Governor Bricker of Ohio for this reason.
After exploring generally the entire problem of tax exampt securities,
Mr. Stone raised the question whether the Treasury was going to do anything
about income taxation so far as community property was concerned and Mr. Sul-
livan stated that it was not thought desirable to do anything about eliminat-
ing this inequity at this time for fear it wight jepardise the success of the
proposal to eliminate tax exempt securities.
214
I asked Mr. Stone if he thought it would be desirable for the
Treasury to retain a newspaper man having editorial experience to put
the material in the form in which he wanted it. Mr. Stone said he did
not think this was necessary as the information he needed was of the
character which could be supplied adequately by economists, lawyers
and accountants.
9.10.7L
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
215
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE December 12, 1940.
TO
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM
E. H. Foley, Jr.
Here is some additional material that you might want to glance
over in connection with the memorandum on the "Johnson Act Conference" which
I sent to you this afternoon.
E.10.7h.
Attachments
(CONFIDENTIAL)
216
C
0
October 1, 1939
P
Y
7:10 p.m.
The President called me awhile ago, and I told him that we
had been asked by the State Department to prepare something for Key
Pittman on the Neutrality Bill.
We felt that the consideration fell into two matters:
One, whether the credit clause in the cash-and -carry plan now
under consideration was contrary with the Johnson Act, and that we in
the Treasury felt that, and were of the view that, the opposite was the
fact. Particularly in view of a memorandum in the Treasury's files of
a conference in my office in 1934 at which Senator Johnson was present.
When we had asked the Senator the specific question relative to short-
term credits, the Senator had answered that the elimination of short-term
credits had not been considered part of the purpose of his Bill.
The President said, "That's wonderful! That's finel"
And the second part, with reference to the question of the
extension of 90-day credits, I felt that the President shouldn't do
anything to urge it. That the whole history was that it had been
introduced in the House for the direct purpose to restrict the powers
of the President as to the extension of any such credits, and that we
in the Treasury felt that the President should let the pressure come
from outside on this.
The President said, "I an in complete agreement with you, and
Regraded Unclassified
217
- 2 -
that is exactly the way I feel, and Cordell agrees absolutely."
I told him that Cordell didn't talk that way to me this morning.
He gave me the impression that he would like to see this included.
"So would I", said the President, "but I am not going to do anything
about it. The Pressure will have to come from elsewhere."
He asked me to send over to him the memorandum, and the memorandum
on the conference in my office, and while he didn't tell me 80 in so many
words, I got the impression that he will see that it is sent and gets to
Key Pittman.
(Dictated via telephone by
the Secretary to McGuire)
The original sent to the Secretary's office for the Secretary's diary.
Regraded Unclassified
218
0
P
October 1, 1939
I
MEMORANDUM
Re: Credits to Belligerents
Section 7 of the Senate neutrality bill relates to financial
transactions with belligerents. It continues the existing provisions
of the neutrality statute which prohibits the making of loans and
credits to belligerents and persons acting on their behalf. It is
also to be noted that the existing neutrality law authorizes the
President, when he finds it in the interest of the United States, to
exempt from this prohibition "ordinary commercial credits and short-
term obligations in aid of legal transactions and of a character
customarily used in normal peacetime commercial transactions." The
Senate Committee apparently felt that the existing provision could
be strengthened, without sacrificing American interests, by limiting
the discretion of the President and by confining to a more limited
category the permissible forms of short-term commercial credits.
Accordingly, the Senate bill provides that (1) the short-term commercial
credits may not be for a period more than 90 days without renewal;
(11) if any belligerent or person acting for a. belligerent defaults
on any such 90-day credit, no new commercial credit may be extended;
and (111) the President report to Congress every six months full in-
formation as to each commercial credit which has thus been permitted.
Regraded Unclassified
- 2 -
219
It is thus entirely clear that Presidential authority to permit
short-term commercial credits to belligerents has been a part of the
neutrality law continusously since February, 1936, and that the only
changes which the Senate bill makes in the existing law are in the
direction of additional restrictions on the Presidential discretion
to permit short-term commercial credits.
It has been charged that the provision in the present bill
relating to short-term commercial credits to belligerents is inconsistent
with the Johnson Act of 1934, and is the opening wedge for the granting
of loans to belligerents. I think that an examination of the history
of the Johnson Act and the Neutrality Act will show these charges
to be unfounded.
JOHNSON ACT
The Johnson Act provided in part as follows:
"That hereafter it shall be unlawful within
the United States or any place subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States for any person
to purchase or sell the bonds, securities, or other
obligations of, any foreign government or political
subdivision thereof or any organization or association
acting for or on behalf of a foreign government or
political subdivision thereof, issued after the passage
of this Act, or to make any loan to such foreign
government, political subdivision, organization, or
association, except a renewal or adjustment of existing
indebtedness while such government, political sub-
division, organisation, or association, is in default
in the payment of its obligations, or any part thereof,
to the Government of the United States. ***,*
Within a few weeks after the passage of the Johnson Act a
number of problems arose necessitating the interpretation of that
statute. On April 27, 1934, a conference was held at the Treasury
- 3 -
220
Department attended by Senator Johnson, the Attorney General, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and a number of
other officials of the State, Treasury and Justice Departments.
During the conference, Senator Johnson was asked if he thought that
the statute applied to such every-day commercial instruments as time
drafts, bankers' acceptances, etc. Senator Johnson stated that he did
not think that the statute could be interpreted in any such manner
and that it was not the intention of the statute to interfere in any
way with ordinary commercial transactions. It also appeared to have
been the view of the participants in the conference, including Senator
Johnson, that the Johnson Act did not apply to time drafts, acceptances,
etc., employed in connection with ordinary commercial transactions.
A memorandum of the conference is in the Treasury Department's files.
A copy of the memorandum is attached.
On the same day the State Department issued the following
press release:
"Enquiries have been received at the Department of
State as to whether the Act of Congress approved April
13, 1934, to prohibit financial transactions with foreign
governments in default on their obligations to the
United States, applies to ordinary commercial 'acceptances
or time drafts,' such as are used by foreign governments
to finance the current requirements of their embassies
and consulates in the United States.
"The Department of State and the Attorney General
are in agreement that such instruments do not constitute
'obligations' within the purview of the Act.
"Certain other questions that have been presented
regarding the interpretation of the Act are under con-
sideration. #
On May 5, 1934, the Attorney General, in response to a request
Regraded Unclassified
221
- 4 -
from the Secretary of State, rendered an opinion on a number of questions
relating to the Johnson Act, which opinion stated in part as follows:
"1(2) To what types of transactions does the
Act apply?'
"The Committee Reports (s. Rept. 20 and House Rept. 974,
73d Cong.) recite that the bill was introduced following an
investigation by the Senate Committee on Finance and the
revelation therein that 'billions of dollars of securities
*** * offered for sale to the American people' were overdue
and unpaid; that some of these 'foreign bonds and obligations
*** were sold by the American financiers to make out-
regeously high profits'; and stated a purpose 'to prevent
& recurrence of the practices which were shown by the
investigation to be little less than a fraud upon the
American people * * * to curb the rapacity of those engaged
in the sale of foreign obligations * *,'
"This, I think, is indicative of a purpose to deal
with such 'bonds' and 'securities' and with 'other
obligations' of like nature, observing the rule of
ejusdem generis - that is, obligations such 88 those which
had been sold to the American public to raise money for
the use of the foreign governments issuing them - not
contemplating foreign currency, postal money orders,
drafts, checks and other ordinary aids to banking and
commercial transactions, which are 'obligations' in 8
broad sense but not in the sense intended. It was
obviously not the purpose of the Congress to discontinue
all commercial relations with the defaulting countries."
*****
"(4) Does the Act apply to acceptances or time
drafts?'
"This question appears to be sufficiently answered
by the comments under Question No. 2, supra. It appears
proper to add, however, that such transactions must be
conducted in good faith, in order to be within the law,
and not as mere subterfuges to circumvent its purpose."
In other words, the Attorney General found that while the
Johnson Act prohibited the sale of bonds and securities of countries
Regraded Unclassified
222
- 5 -
in default it did not prohibit those ordinary short-term commercial
credit devices customarily used in international trade. The entire
text of the opinion of the Attorney General was quoted in a State
Department press release dated May 5, 1934 which also included the
statement that the State Department concurred in the Attorney General's
interpretation of the Johnson Act. Unquestionably this opinion has
been relied upon by American business interests in their commercial
transactions with defaulting countries and persons on their behalf.
In the light of this background and at this late date, the Johnson
Act should not be construed as making illegal short-term credit
transactions with defaulting governments relating to otherwise per-
missible trade and commercial transactions.
NEUTRALITY ACT
In February, 1936, Congress in amending the then existing
Neutrality Act included the following provision:
"SEC. la. Whenever the President shall have
issued his proclamation as provided for in section 1
of this Act, it shall thereafter during the period of
the war be unlawful for any person within the United
States to purchase, sell, or exchange bonds, securities,
or other obligations of the government of any belligerent
country, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of
any person acting for or on behalf of such government,
issued after the date of such proclamation, or to make
any loan or extend any credit to any such government
or person: Provided, That if the President shall find
that such action will serve to protect the commercial or
other interests of the United States or its nationals,
he say, in his discretion, and to such extent and under
such regulation as he may prescribe, except from the
operation of this section ordinary commercial credits
and short-term obligations in aid of legal transactions
and of a. character customarily used in normal peace-
Regraded Unclassified
223
- 6 -
time commercial transactions."
It will be noted that this provision, which has been the law since
February, 1936, specifically authorized the President to permit short-
term ordinary commercial loans to belligerents and persons acting on
their behalf. The debate in Congress reveals no feeling that this
provision was inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of the
Johnson Act. The view of Congress was quite the contrary. The House
report on this provision in the 1936 amendment stated:
## * * It is the law now under the Johnson Act
that it is unlawful to sell bonds, securities, etc.,
in this country of any foreign country that is in
default of its indebtedness to the United States.
This covers most of the greater powers in Europe.
This section, however, goes much further and makes
it unlawful, as before stated, to all belligerent
countries. Now, there is a provision in this section
that if the President shall find that such action
will serve to protect the commercial or other interests
of the United States or its nationals, he may, in his
discretion, and to such extent and under such regulation
as he may prescribe, except from the operation of
this section ordinary commercial credits and short-time
obligations in aid of legal transactions and of a
character customarily used in normal peacetime commercial
transactions. There is also another provision that
this section does not apply to renewal or adjustment
of indebtedness which may exist on the date of the
President's proclamation. The only discretion given
the President under this section is in reference to
such credits used in normal peacetime commercial trans-
actions."
By specifically prohibiting in the Neutrality Act the extension of
"any credit" (which words do not appear in the Johnson Act) Congress,
in view of the purposes of the Neutrality Act, apparently intended
thereby to prohibit even short-term commercial credits unless the
Regraded Unclassified
224
C
o
P
Y
-7-
President found that the making of such short-term commercial credits
to belligerents was in the public interest, in which event, such credits
would be lawful.
No change was made in this provision of the Neutrality Act when
the Neutrality Act was otherwise amended in 1937. When the neutrality
legislation wes considered in the House of Representatives last July,
it was proposed to circumscribe further the President's power to
permit short-term commercial credits to belligerents by limiting such
credits to 90 days without renewal, and requiring the President to
make periodic reports to Congress of such transactions. These
limitations on the power given to the President by the existing
statutory provision are included in the Senate bill, and in addition
the Senate bill prohibits further 90-day credits if a belligerent
defaults on prior 90-day credits given to it.
Original and 1 copy taken to White House by Foley 8:30 p.m.
1 copy to Attorney General at Washington Hotel by Shelley (returned
1 copy sent to Secretary by Bernstein
approved and original run given to Attorney General.)
1 copy to Viner
1 copy to Bell
1 copy to Cochran
1 copy to Bernstein
1 copy to Pehle
1 copy to Foley
Bailie returned copy after reading it.
Regraded Unclassified
225
C
0
P
Y
October 2, 1939
Secretary of the Treasury
Mr. Foley
As you know, we have ruled that neither the Johnson Act,
nor the provisions of the Neutrality Act relating to the making
of loans and the extension of credit to belligerent countries,
apply to the Government or any agency thereof. The Attorney
General has concurred in this view. Nothing in the Neutrality
Bill, which has been reported out in the Senate, necessitates
a change of this view.
(Initialed) E. H. F., Jr.
JWP:mgt 10/2'39
Initialed JWP and BB
Regraded Unclassified
226
C
o
P
October 24, 1939
Y
To:
Secretary Morgenthau
From: Messrs. White and Foley
Senator Wagner inquired by telephone as to the Department's position
on Taft's amendment to the Neutrality Bill to limit the atabilization fund's
holdings of the currency of any belligerent to no more than $50,000,000 at
any one time. Tie feel that the Department should indicate to Senator Wagner
its opposition to Taft's amendment for the following reasons:
(1) When Congress extended the stabilization powers it was fully
conscious of the possibility or probability of a war in Europe.
There is accordingly no need at this time for Congress to re-
consider the problem and to limit the stabilization powers.
(2) Senator Taft questioned the Secretary about the use of the
stabilization fund in the event of war. The Secretary said that
before he would use the stabilization fund to assist any
country in prosecuting that war he would come up before the
proper committee and ask for guidance. This procedure would
permit greater flexibility than Taft's proposal in dealing with
an emergency situation in which it might be greatly in the
interests of this country to purchase the currency of a belliger-
ent in amounts greater than $50,000,000. By going to the con-
gressional committees the Treasury could ascertain the views of
Congress without the publicity and delay involved in getting
new legislation.
(3) If we do not indicate our opposition to Taft's amendment, there
is likelihood that other amendments would be offered prohibiting
the stabilization fund from purchasing any belligerent currency
and in effect mullifying its use during the war.
If you agree with the foregoing, we can give these views to Senator
Wagner orally.
(Initialed) E.H.F.Jr.
H.D.W.
APPROVED: October 25, 1939
(Initialed) H.M.Jr.
Original was left with Senator Wagner by White and Foley
Regraded Unclassified
227
C
0
The original copy was pulled. The following note appeared
P
on it "Please talk to me. H.M.Jr.", and "White House".
Y
Oct. 30, 1939
Secretary Morgenthau
Mr. Foley
As I stated to you in my memorandum of October 2, 1939, it is our
view, concurred in by the Attorney General, that the Johnson Act and the
provisions of the present neutrality law relating to the making of loans
and the extension of credit to belligerent governments do not apply to this
Government or agencies thereof.
The pending neutrality bill contains similar language and it would
have been appropriate to interpret it in a similar manner but for the state-
ment made by Senator Pittman on the floor of the Senate late in the evening
on October 27, 1939. Senator Pittman indicated that he and the other
drafters of the bill construe its provisions to prohibit the making of
loans or the extension of credit to belligerent governments by governmental
corporations, such as R. F. C. and the Export-Import Bank. A discussion
of this matter appears in the attached excerpts from the Congressional
Record. On October 17, 1939, Senator Barkley said on the floor of the
Senate that his offhand view WBB that the credit provisions of the pending
bill applied as rigidly to the R. F. C. and any other agency of the Govern-
ment as to any private person in this country.
Senator Pittman made the statements in question notwithstanding the
fact that on October 27, the Senate voted down an amendment introduced by
Senator Taft, which was designed to prohibit the making of loans and the
extension of credit by the Government or agencies thereof. You will note
from the discussion of the matter which appears in the excerpt from the
Congressional Record that Senator George pointed out that Senator Pittman's
construction "covers precisely one of the amendments offered by the dis-
tinguished Senator from Ohio, which was voted down by this body yesterday."
Unless Senator Pittman can be persuaded to take some appropriate 8.0-
tion that would nullify the effect of this statement I an fearful that we
will be unable to hold that the R. F. C. and the Export-Import Bank have
legal authority under the now-pending legislation to make loans of the type
which have been considered to an American corporation acting on behalf of
belligerent governments, collateralised by American securities owned by
such belligerents.
(Initialed) E. H. F., Jr.
JWP:BB:mgt 10/28/39
Regraded Unclassified
EXCERPT
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
Regraded 2289 Unclas
SENATE
October 27, 1939 Page 1655
Mr. TAFT.
Mr. President, while this matter is being discussed I should
like to ask the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations one
question regarding this section. On page 21 it is provided that
whenever the President shall have issued a proclamation it shall
be unlawful for any person within the United States to advance
credits to foreign governments. I wish to know whether or not
the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations considers
that the word "person" which is also defined on page 30 as
including corporations, and so forth, is broad enough to
include the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Export-
Import Bank.
Mr. PITTMAN.
and
The word "person" expressly includes corporations,/I therefore
take it that it does include them.
MR.TAFT.
In the Senator's opinion, it includes the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation and the Export-Import Bank?
Mr.PITTMAN.
That is my opinion, and that was the opinion of those who drafted
the joint resolution.
Mr.GEORGE.
Mr. President, I wish to make a short statement. Particularly
I wanted to say that my construction of the word "person"
is identically the same as that given by the chairman of the
committee. I think that is pertinent, because in effect it
covers precisely one of the amendments offered by the distinguished
Senator from Ohio, which was voted down in this body yesterday.
I think the word "person" here does include a subsidiary
of the Government, a corporate subsidiary such as the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation, or any other corporation
which is owned wholly or practically wholly by the Government
itself.
229
Commissioner of Accounts
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
11/12/20
& Deposits.
WASHINGTON
April 28, 1934.
CONFERENCE RE: JOHNSON BILL:
(Public No. 151, 73rd Congress)
The Secretary of the Treasury called 8 conference at 11 o'clock
Friday, April 27, 1934, for the purpose of considering some of the
difficulties in interpreting the provisions of the so-called Johnson
Bill, which prohibits the flotation of loans in the United States by
governments in default on their indebtedness to the United States
Government. Those present were the Secretary of the Treasury, the
Attorney General of the United States, Senator Johnson of California,
Under Secretary Phillips and Assistant Secretary Moore of the State
Department, Mr. Hackworth, Solicitor of the State Department, Mr.
NacLean, Assistant Solicitor General, Mr. Coolidge, Mr. Oliphant, and
tr. Bell, of the Treasury. Secretary Hull came in at 11:20.
The Secretary asked Senator Johnson to outline to the meeting
the objectives which he had in mind in presenting the bill to the Con-
gress.
Senator Johnson went into the history of the measure and stated
that as it was first introduced and passed the Senate more than a year
ago, he had in mind definitely the protection of the American citizen
in his purchases of foreign securities in the United States issued by
foreign governments which are in default on any of their indebtedness
to the United States Government or its nationals. He stated that he
had definitely in mind at that time the South American governments. He
stated that just after the bill first passed the Senate, Senator Robinson
asked that it be laid on the table and reconsidered. At a conference be-
tween him and Senator Robinson at a later date, he agreed to further
amendments, after which it was referred back to the Foreign Relations
Committee and was there amended to its present form. He thought as the
bill now stands, its main objective W&G to preclude the flotation in this
country of any securities of those governments or any subdivisions there-
of which are in default on their indebtedness to the United States Govern-
ment.
The Secretary asked him just what he meant by the term "default" and
did he have definitely in mind including those governments which have
made token payments as & result of which the President had stated that be
did not consider those governments in default?
Senator Johnson said that it was his personal opinion that if these
governments did not pay the full amount due they were certainly in default
Regraded Unclassified
230
2.
as to the remaining balance. However, he realized that this was largely
an administrative matter and the President under the powers granted by
the Constitution to handle foreign affairs, certainly had the authority
to state whether or not a particular government was in default on its
indebtedness to the United States Government. He did not think that
the act was intended to disturb the action already taken by the President
in declaring those governments not in default.
The Attorney General stated to the Senator that he thought the
President's previous action WEB quite in line with his authority, but
saked the Senator if he thought the President could take similar action
on future token payments in view of the act.
The Senator stated that his personal opinion was that the President
had no authority after the passage of this act to accept from our debtors
token payments and then consider them not in default.
The Secretary then asked the Senator if he thought the bill included
such everyday commercial transactions as time drafts and bankers' acceptances
etc. The Senator said he did not think it could be interpreted in any
such manner and that it was not the intention of the bill to interfere in
any way with ordinary commercial transactions. The question was then raised
0.8 to what was meant by time drafts, acceptances, etc. lr. Coolidge ex-
plained an ordinary commercial transaction with respect to the purchase of
cotton in the United States by the national of some foreign government -
that the concern selling the cotton might draw a bill of exchange on the
purchaser, which would be honored in thirty days more or less and that this
bill of exchange could be sold on various terms. It was the concensus of
opinion that such B. transaction would not fall within the provisions of the
act.
The Attorney General then asked the Senator if he thought that a fair
interpretation of the act web that it did not intend in any way to limit
the ordinary everyday commercial transaction, and the Senator said that,
certainly, WAB the interpretation he would put on it.
Mr. MacLean, Assistant Solicitor General, then called attention to
the fact that France exercised 6. monopoly in tobacco, and that the organisa-
tions in this monopoly would no doubt in the course of business sell their
drafts and other instruments of credit in this country. The Senator said
that he did not have such transactions in mind and that the words "organisa-
tions or associations" in the act were not his language. It seemed to be
the concensus of opinion that these transactions would fall within a commer-
cial transaction and not within the provisions of the Act.
Regraded Unclassified
231
3.
Mr. Hackworth brought up the question that had been presented to
him just before he came to the Treasury, i.e., as to whether the oper-
ations in coupons on German bonds would fall within the provisions of
the act. He explained that coupons falling due on many of the German
bonds were paid partly in cash and partly in scrip, and that later the
scrip was purchased by a bank in Germany which was more or less under
the supervision of the Reichsbank and the German Government.
Senator Johnson thought that such a transaction would clearly
fall within the exception in the act with respect to renewal or ad-
justment of existing indebtedness.
Mr. Coolidge said that he thought that one way in which to in-
terpret the act was to decide whether or not any of the transactions
passed upon involved new American money and that this should be a de-
ciding factor. This seemed to be agreed to by the Attorney General and
Mr. Hackworth.
Initialed - D.W.B.
Regraded Unclassified
232
Detember 12, 1960.
Secretary
Le L Felow, it.
Here is - additional material that you night wast to glance
- in connection with the en the Volution Act Conference which
I - to you this afternoon.
(Initialed) L.H.N. Jr.
1
Attachments :
Sent out to the Secretary at his House (by hand)
at 6 pollo 12/12'40
1. Momo in the Secretary's disry 10/2'39 20 telephone call from
the President and the Secretary's explanation of the
Treasury's views an the Neutrality Bill,
2. Memoranders ret "Credits to Belligerents". Propared at the
suggestion of the State Department 10/1'20 for Key Pittern
to use in connection with the debutes on the pending
Neutrality Bill.
3. Foley's - to the Secretary 10/2'39 halding that neither
the Johnson Act not the Neutrality AST (as reported out of
the Senate) in regard to the miking of loans to, and the
extension of credits to belligerent countries applied to
the Governments or any agency thereof. The A.G. concerted
in that view.
40 Messrs. White and Feley's - to the Secretary on 10/24'39
Three reasons viry the Treasury should object to Taft's
to the Neutrality mill to limit stabilization fund's holdings of the
currency of any belligerent to as nore than $50,000,000.
50 Feley's - to Secretary 10/30'39 relating to the Secretary that
Key Pittuan's statement - the floor of the Senate a Date 27,1939
would have to be changed # w would have to hold that the me and
the Expert-Import Bank de not have the authority to miss lease
to M American scrporation seting on behalf of the belligeremb
Regraded Unclassified
233
October 1, 1939
I
7020 -
the President called - subile ego, and I told his that w
had been asked by the State Department to propare something to Ear
Pitteen a the Neutrality MILL
No falt that the consideration full into two entiers)
Cas, whether the credit clause in the eash-sad -48777 plan -
under consideration was controry with the Johnson sor, and that we in
the Treasury falt that, and were of the view that, the apposite was the
fast. Particularly in view of a memerandem in the Treasury's files of
& conference in my office in 1934 at which Senster Johnson was present.
has 90 had asked the Senster the specific question relative to short-
term credits, the Smater had answered that the elimination of short-term
credits had not been considered part of the purpose of his mill.
the President said, "That's venderfull That's finel*
And the second part, with reference to the question of the
extension of 90-day credits, I falt that the President shouldn't -
anything to urge 13. That the whole history was that 10 had been
introduced is the House for the direct purpose to restrict the powers
of the President as to the extension of my mish credits, and that -
in the Treasury felt that the President should let the pressure -
from outside - this,
The President said, "I as in complete agreement with you and
Regraded Unclassified
234
- 2
that is emetly the way I feel, and Cordell agrees absolutely."
I told him that Cordell didn't talk that my to - this seraing.
the gave no the impression that be would like to ⑉ this included,
"Se would IS, said the President, "bat I as not going to de enything
about is. The Pressure will have to come from alsothere."
Be asked no to send over to his the memorandum, and the
as the conference in my office, and while be didn't tall me 60 in n may
words, I got the impression that be will 000 that 10 is sent and gate to
Key Pitteen.
(Distated via telephone by
the Secretary to MeGuire)
The original sent to the Secretary's office for the Secretary's diary.
The original of this sent to the Secretary at his house on 12/12'40
copied 12/12'40 by fm
Regraded Unclassified
235
October 1, 1939
Bet Credits 11
Section 7 of the Somete neutrality MII relates to financial
transactions with belligerents. It continues the existing previsions
of the neutrality statute which prohibits the miking of leans and
credits to belligerents and persons acting 00 their behalf. It-is-o
also to be noted that the existing neutrality Law authorizes this
President, when be finds 18 in the interest of the United States, to
exempt from this prohibition "ordinary commercial credite and short-
term obligations in aid of legal transactions and of a character
customarily used in nermal peacetive commercial transactions." The
Senate Committee apparently felt that the existing provision sould
be strengthened, without sacrificing American interests, by limiting
the discretion of the President and w confining to a mere limited
category the permissible forms of short-town commercial credits.
Accordingly, the Senate bill provides that (1) the short-torm commercial
credite may not be for & period mre than 90 days without renowal)
(11) if say belligerent or person acting for a belligerent defaults
on my rush 90=day credit, 20 - commercial credit my be extended)
and (111) the President report to Congress every als souths full in
formation M to cash commercial credit which has the been paraltted.
Regraded Unclassified
a s -
236
26 to the entirely clear that Presidential authority to permit
short-term commercial credito to belligerents has been a part of the
neutrality law continuously since February, 1936, and that the only
changes which the Senste bill unless is the existing las are in the
direction of additional restrictions on the Presidential discretion
to permit short-term consercial credito,
It bee been charged that the provision in the present bill
relating to short-term commercial credits to belligerents is investatent
with the Johnson Act of 1934, and is the opening wedge for the granting
of leans to belligerents. I think that as emmination of the history
of the Johnson Act and the Neutrality Act will show these charges
to be unfounded.
The Johnson Act provided is part as follows
That heresfter it shall be wiseful within
the United States or any place subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States for any perces
to purchase or call the bonds, securities, or other
obligations of, any foreign government or political
subdivision thereof or any organization or association
seting for w on behalf of & foreign government of
political subdivision thereof, issued after the passage
of this set, or to nake my Loan to must foreign
gevernment, political addivision, organization, or
association, encept a renowal w adjustment of enisting
I allas 1 1
division, organization, or association, Le in defauls
in the payment of its obligations, w any part thereof,
1 3 $ :- Mill Mates, s . a 8
Within a fee weeks after the passage of the Polmon we a
- of problems aress assessitating the interpretation of that
statute. be April m, 1934g 6 confirmence me hold at the Treasury
Regraded Unclassified
- , -
Regraded 23% Unclassified
Department attended by Senator Johnson, the Attorney General, the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and a number of
other efficials of the State, Treasury and Justice Departments.
During the conference, Benater Johnson me asked if be thought that
the statute applied to such every-day commarcial instruments as time
drafts, bankers' acceptances, etc. Benater Johnson stated that he did
not think that the statute could be interpreted in any sush nasser
and that 10 was not the intention of the statute to interfere in any
way with ordinary commercial transactions. It also appeared to have
been the view of the participants in the conference, including Senstor
Johnson, that the Johnson Act did not apply to time drafts, acceptances,
otd., employed in connection with ordinary Commercial transactions.
A nemerandum of the conference is in the Treasury Department's files.
A copy of the memorandum is attached.
On the same day the State Department issued the following
press release:
"Inquiries have been received at the Department of
State as to whether the Act of Congress approved April
13, 1934, to prohibit financial transactions with foreign
governments in default on their obligations to the
United States, applies to ordinary commercial 'secoptances
or time drafts," such as are well by foreign governments
to finance the current requirements of their embassies
and consulates in the United States.
"The Department of State and the Attorney General
are in agreement that sush instruments 4e not constitute
'obligations' within the purvice of the dor.
"Certain other questions that have been presented
regarding the interpretation of the hot are under 000+
alderation. #
On May 5, 1934, the Attorney General, is response to 4 request
238
4
Regraded Unclassified
from the Secretary of State, readered an opinion a a number of questions
relating to the Johnson Act, which epinion stated is part as follows:
**(2) To what types of transactions dose the
Act apply?*
"The Committee Reports (s, Sept. 20 and House Rept. 974g
734 Comg.) resite that the bill was introduced following -
investigation by the Senste Committee on Pinance and the
revelation therein that 'billious of dollars of securities
... offered for sale to the American people* more overder
and unpaid, that some of these "foreign bonds and obligations
... vere sold by the American financiers to sake out-
regeously high profits's sad stated a purpose "to prevent
e recurrence of the practices which were shown by the
investigation to be little less than a fraud upon the
American people # " to curb the repacity of those engaged
in the sale of foreign obligations . . 0,1
"This, I think, is indicative of a purpose to deal
with such 'boads' and 'securities' and with 'other
obligations' of like nature, observing the rule of
einadem generia - that is, obligations such as those which
had been sold to the American public to reise money for
the use of the foreign governments issuing then - not
contemplating foreign currency, postal money orders,
drafts, checks and other ordinary side to benking and
commercial transactions, which AND 'obligations' is a
broad sense but not in the sease intended, It was
obviously not the purpose of the Congress to discontines
all commercial relations with the defaulting countries."
.....
**(4) Does the Ast apply to acceptances or time
drafts?'
This question appears to be sufficiently carvered
by the comments under Question No. 2g - It appears
proper to add, however, that such transactions smot be
conducted in good faith, in order to be within the les,
and not as mere subterfuges to circumvent its purpose."
In other words, the Attorney General found that while the
Johnson Act prohibited the sale of bonds and occurities of countries
239
- 5 -
in default it did not prohibit those ordinary short-term comercial
credit devices customarily used in international trade. The entire
text of the opinion of the Attorney General we quoted in a State
Department press release dated May 5, 1934 which also included the
statement that the State Department concurred in the Attorney General's
interpretation of the Johnson Act. Inquestionably this opinion has
been relied upon by American business interests in their commercial
transactions with defaulting countries and persons on their behalf.
In the light of this background and at this late date, the Johnson
Act should not be construed as making illegal short-term credit
transactions with defaulting governments relating to otherwise per-
missible trade and commercial transactions.
SEUTRALITY ACT
In February, 1936, Congress is amending the then existing
Neutrality Act included the following provisions
"SEC. 1a. Whenever the President shall have
Losued his proclemation as provided for in section 1
of this Act, it shall thereafter during the period of
the war be unlawful for my person within the Maited
States to purchase, sall, or exchange boads, securities,
or other obligations of the government of any belligerent
country, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of
any person acting for or or behalf of such government,
Lossed after the date of such proclemation, or to mine
any loan OF extend any credit to ear such government
or persons Profided, President
and of & character customerily used
Regraded Unclassified
240
-
Regraded Unclassified
time commercial transactions."
It will be noted that this provision, which has been the law since
February, 1936, specifically authorised the President to permit short-
term ordinary commercial loans to belligerents and persons noting on
their behalf. The debate is Congress reveals no feeling that this
provision as inconsistent or in conflist with the provisions of the
Johnson Act. The view of Congress was quite the contrary. The House
report on this provision is the 1936 assendent stateds
so # . It is the law now under the Johnson Act
that it is unlawful to sell bonds, securities, etc.,
in this country of any foreign country that is in
default of its indebtedness to the United States.
This covers most of the greater powers is Europe.
This section, however, goos such further and makes
it unlewful, as before stated, to all belligerent
countries. Now, there is a provision in this section
that if the President shall find that such action
will serve to protect the commercial or other interests
of the United States or its mationals, be say, is his
discretion, and to such extent and under such regulation
as he may preseribe, ensept from the operation of
this section ordinary commercial credits and short-time
ebligations in aid of legal transactions and of 0
character sustomarily used in normal peacetive commercial
transactions. There is also another provision that
this section does not apply to reneval or adjustment
of indebtedness which my exist on the date of the
President's proclamation. The only diseretion given
the President under this section is in reference to
such credits used in normal peacetine commercial trans-
actions."
By specifically prohibiting in the Neutrality set the extension of
"my credit" (which words do not appear in the Johnson Act) Congress,
in visa of the purposes of the Neutrality set, apparently intended
thereby to prohibit even short-term commercial credits unless the
241
0
0
?
I
-7-
President found that the making of such short-term comercial credite
to belligerents was in the public interest, in which event, such credits
would be lawful.
No change was made in this provision of the Neutrality Act when
the Neutrality Act was otherwise asended in 1937. When the neutrality
legislation was considered in the House of Representatives last July,
it we proposed to circumscribe further the President's power to
permit short-term commercial credits to belligerents by limiting such
credits to 90 days without renewal, and requiring the President to
make periodic reports to Congress of such transactions. These
limitations on the power given to the President by the existing
statutory provision are included in the Senate bill, and in addition
the Senate bill prohibits further 90-day credits if a belligerent
defaults on prior 90-day credits given to it.
Original and 1 copy taken to White House by Foley 8130 P.M.
1 copy sent to Secretary by Berustein
1 eopy to Attorney General at Washington Hotel W Shalley (returned
approved and original run given to Attorney General.)
1 copy to Viner
1 copy to Bell
1 copy to Cookran
1 copy to Berastein
1 copy to Puble
1 copy to Foley
Builie returned copy after reading 10.
Regraded Unclassified
242
C
0
?
I
October 2, 1939
Secretary of the Treasury
Mr. Foley
M you know, we have ruled that neither the Johnson dot,
nor the provisions of the Neutrality Act relating to the making
of loans and the extension of credit to belligerent countries,
apply to the Government or any agency thereof. The Attorney
General has concurred in this view. Nothing in the Neutrality
Bill, which has been reported out in the Senate, necessitates -
& change of this view.
(Initialed) & a. For Jr.
JUPingt 10/2039
Initialed JMP and n
Regraded Unclassified
243
0
,
October 24g 1939
I
Tot decretary Morgentham
From lears. White and Foley
Desator Taguer inquired by telephone u to the Department's position
on Taft's assistment to the Neutrality Bill to limit the stapilization fund's
holdings of the currency of any balligerent to no more the $50,000,000 or
any one time. To feel that the Department should indicate to Senstor Vageor
its opposition to faft's assistment for the following remain
(1) When Congress extended the stabilisation premo 10 was fully
conseious of the possibility or probability of a var in Berope.
There is accordingly no need at this time for Congress to No
consider the problem and to limit the stabilisation powers,
(2) Benater Taft questioned the Secretary about the use of the
edabilisation fund in the event of war. The Secretary said that
before he would use the stabilization fund to assist any
country in presenting that SAP be would come up before the
proper committee and ask for guidance. This procedure would
permit greater flexibility this Taft's proposal in dealing with
N energency situation in which it might be greatly in the
interests of this country to purchase the currency of & belliger-
at in amounts greater than $50,000,000. by going to the -
gressional committees the Treasury sould assertain the visas of
Congress without the publicity and duly involved in getting
new legislation.
(3) If - do not indicate our opposition to Taft's assedemt, there
is likelihood that other Amendments would be offered prohibiting
the stabilization fund from purchasing any belligerent currency
and in effect mullifying its use during the will
If you agree with the foregoing, we can give these views to Benefot
Taguer orally.
(Initialed)
H.D.W.
APPROVED: October 25, 1939
(Taitialed)
Original me left with Senstor Vaguer by White and poler
The original of this "copied" run was sent to the Becretary
Insurance
at his house on 12/12'40
10/24(39
copied 12/12'40 fa
Regraded Unclassified
244
Regraded Unclassifi
0
o
The original copy was pulled. The following note appeared
P
on its "Please talk to M. H.M.Jr.", and "White House",
I
Oct. 30, 1939
Secretary Morgenthau
Mr. Foloy
As I stated to you in my assorandus of October 2, 1939, it is our
view, concurred in by the Attorney General, that the Johnson Act and the
provisions of the present neutrality law relating to the saking of leans
and the extension of credit to belligerent governments do not apply to this
Government or agencies thereof.
The pending neutrality bill contains similar language and it would
have been appropriate to interpret it in . similar nanner but for the state=
sent made by Benator Pittman on the floor of the Senate late in the evening
on October 27, 1939. Benator Fittmen indicated that be and the other
drafters of the bill construe its provisions to prohibit the saking of
loans or the extension of credit to belligerent governments by governmental
corporations, such as R. 1. c. and the Export-Import Bank. A discussion
of this matter appears in the attached excerpte from the Congressional
Record. On Ostober 17, 1939, Senstor Barkley said on the floor of the
Senate that his offhand view was that the credit provisions of the pending
bill applied as rigidly to the B. 1. c. and any other agency of the Govern-
sent as to any private person in this country.
Senator Pittman made the statements in question notwithstanding the
fact that on October 27, the Senate voted down an emendment introduced w
Senator Taft, which was designed to prohibit the seking of loans and the
extension of credit by the Government or agencies thereof, Yes will note
from the discussion of the matter which appears in the excerpt from the
Congressional Record that Denator George pointed out that Senater Pittman's
construction "Govers precissly one of the amendments offered by the die-
tinguished Senster from Ohie, which was voted dom by this body yesterday."
Unless Senster Pittman can be personded to take - appropriate 4-
tion that would nullify the effect of this statement I as fearful that W
will be usable to hold that the 2. 7. c. and the Export-Import Bank have
legal authority under the now-pending legislation to nake leans of the type
which have been considered to an American corporation acting - behalf of
belligerent governments, collateralised by American securities owned by
such balligerents.
(Initialed) L. a. 1., Jr.
JUPelMingt 10/28/39
245
RECORD
October 27, 1939 Page 1655
TAXE
Mr. President, while this matter is being discussed I should
like to ask the chairess of the Committee OG Foreign Relations -
question regarding this section. On page 21 10 is provided that
thenever the President shall have issued a proclemation is shall
be unlowful for any person within the United States to advance
credits to foreign governments. 1 wish to know whether w not
the chairman of the Connittee as Foreign Relations considers
that the word "person" which so also defined GEL page 30 as
including corporations, and ao forth, is broad enough to
include the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Export=
Import Bank.
and
PITTMAN.
The word "person" expressly includes surporations./I therefore
take 10 that 11 does include them.
In the Senstor's opinion, 10 includes the Resonstruction Finance
Corporation and the Expert=Impert Sank?
That is my opinion, and that me the opinion of these the drafted
the joint recolution.
Mr. President, I wish to mike a short statement, Particularly
I wented to my that my construction of the med "yursun"
is identically the - as that given by the chairman of the
consittee. I think that is partinent, because in effect 18
correr precissly - of the offered w the
from Chio, which was voted down in this body yesterday.
I think the word *perscall here does include a
of the Government, a corporate emboidiary reth M the
Resenstruction Finance Corporation, w my other corporation
which is camed wholly or practically vally w the Governmenth
itself.
Regraded Unclassified
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"ocrText": "DIARY\nBook 339\nDecember 12 - 14, 1940\nRegraded Unclassified\n- A -\nBook Page\nAmerican Friends Service Committee\nSee War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control (France)\nAppointments and Resignations\nBasby, Duiley: Rockefeller group asks for his transfer -\n12/12/40\n339\n1\n- B -\nBank for International Settlements\nSee Mar Conditions\n- 0 -\nCanada\nSee War Conditions: Canada; (Fereign Funds Control\nCullen bill\nSee War Conditions: United Kingdom\nCustems, Bureau of\nSee War Conditions: United Kingdom\n- D - -\nDesmark\nSee Var Conditions: Shipping\n- I -\nMasky, Budley\nSee Appointments and Resignations\n- , -\nFederal Bureau of Investigation\nClass memerandum - 12/12/40\n119\na) cosporation reported\nb) Wythe Williams' activities commented on\nPritz Mandl: Report by Federal Bureau of Investigation - -\n12/12/40\n120\n(See also Book 240. page 234)\nFrance\nSee Var Conditions: Foreign Funds Control\n- G -\nGermany\nfor propagenda in Latin America, see Latin America\nles also War Conditions: Foreign Funds Centrol\none\nBee Mar Conditions\nRegraded Unclassified\n- H -\nBook Page\nHeath, Donald\nHMJr thanks Heath for informal observations on\nsituation in Germany - 12/13/40\n339\n369\n- I -\nItaly\nSee War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control\n- J -\nJapan\nSee War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control\n- L -\nLatin America\nGerman propaganda films showing bridges, landing\nfields, etc., made in South America, printed in\nUnited States by subsidiary of German Dye Trust,\nfall into the hands of Customs - 12/12/40\n9,316\nLiquor\n\"Army and Havy Whiskey\" - label discussed by HMJr\nand Berkshire - 12/12/40\n21,313\na) Berkshire memorandum - 12/13/40\n403\nLothian, Lord\nDeath announced at 9:30 meeting - 12/12/40\n1\na) Mackensie-King and HMJr discuss - 12/14/40.\n427\nLumber\nSee Var Conditions: Price Control\n- M -\nMorgan, J. P.\nSee War Conditions: Purchasing Mission\n- I -\nNelson, Donald H.\nSpeech before Bankers' Club of Chicago - 12/13/40..\n377\nNeutrality Act\nSee War Conditions\n- O -\n011; oil Companies\nSee Mar Conditions\nRegraded Unclassified\n- P -\nBook Page\nPhillips, Sir Frederick\nSee War Conditions: Purchasing Mission\nPike, Summer\nSee War Conditions: 011; 011 Companies\nPortugal\nSee War Conditions: Gold\nPrice Control\nSee War Conditions\nPuerto Rico\nHass reperts on conversation with Davila, Puerto Rico\nHousing Authority - 12/12/40\n339\n123\nPurvis, Arthur B.\nLeaving London for United States - 12/14/40\n247\nArrives in New York City - 12/23/40: See Book 342, page 74\n- 1-\nResearch and Statistics, Division of\nReport on projects during November 1940\n440\nRevenue Revision\nTax-exempt Securities: Sullivan, Foley, and Murphy to\nwork out examples for speech by HMJr or magazine\narticles - 12/12/40\n4\na) Foley memorandum on conference with Walter Stone\n(Scripps Howard), etc. - 12/12/40\n213\nRockefeller Foundation\nFood Situation in Spain: Chamberlain resume' of Janney\nmemorandum - 12/13/40\n374\nRoumania\nSee War Conditions\nShipping\n- $ -\nSee War Conditions\nSpain\nSee War Conditions\n- T -\nTaxation\nSee Revenue Revision\nTax-exempt Securities\nSee Revenue Revision\nTurkey\nSee War Conditions\n- U -\nUnited Kingdom\nSee War Conditions: Military Planning: United Kingdom\nRegraded Unclassified\n- Y -\nBook\nPage\nWar Conditions\nAirplanes:\nEmployment in Aviation Manufacturing Industry:\nHass memorandum - 12/12/40\n339\n146\na) Copy sent to FDR - 12/18/40:\nSee Book 341, page 149\nBank for International Settlements:\nFrench shareholders - resume' of situation - 12/14/40.\n433\nCanada:\nForeign exchange position - 12/12/40\n175\nFrench gold - sale of discussed by Phillips and\nHMJr - 12/12/40\n208\na) Clark (Canadian Treasury) and HMJr discuss -\n12/13/40\n388\nExchange market resume' - 12/12/40, etc\n211,411,439\nExport Control:\nExports of petroleum products, scrap iron, and scrap\nsteel from United States to Japan, Russia, Spain,\nand Great Britain, as shown by departure permite\ngranted for week ending December 14, 1940\n432\nForeign Funds Control:\nGeneral over-all control discussed by Treasury group -\n12/12/40\n40\na) Recent movements of Ario funds\n58\nb) Gold shipped here by and for account of Bank\nof Portugal\n59\nc) Corporations suspected of subversive activity\nor of concealing assets subject to freezing\n62\nd) Treatment of American property interests by\nGermany, Canada, Italy. and Japan\n72,258\nAxis funds - recent movements of - 12/12/40\n156\nFrance:\nOffers $50,000 \"from Government frosen funds in\nUnited States\" to American Friends Service\nCommittee for purchase of Swies milk for French\nchildren - 12/13/40\n326\nGermany:\nTransactions with Chase National Bank - 12/13/40\n415\nItaly:\nTransactions with Chase National Bank - 12/13/40\n413\nFrance:\nBank for International Sattlements: French shareholders -\nresume of situation - 12/14/40\n433\nGermany:\nFor propaganda in Latin America, see Latin America\nHAJr thanks Heath for informal observations on\nsituation - 12/13/40\n369\nGold:\nshipment to United States by and for account of Bank of\nPortugal discussed by Treasury group - 12/12/40\n69\nSale of French gold by Canada discussed by Phillips\nand HNJY - 12/12/40\n208\na) Clark (Canadian Treasury) and HNJr discuss -\n12/13/40\n388\nRegraded Unclassified\n- W - (Continued)\nBook\nPage\nWar Conditions\nMilitary Planning:\nReports from London transmitted by Butler - 12/12/40,\netc\n339\n255,406,464\nCharacteristics of German Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank\nMateriel: Var Department bulletin - 12/14/40\n470\nNeutrality Act:\nResume' of various steps made by Foley - 12/12/40\n215\nOil; 011 Companies:\nSummer Pike \"to go into South American companies\" -\n12/12/40\n19\nPrice Control:\nHenderson \"minding everybody's business except his own °;\nHMJr to call his attention to price of lumber, wool,\nhides, tallow, butter, wheat, and cocoa - 12/12/40\n13\n(See also Book 340, page 14)\na) Memorandum and charts\n393\nb) FDR sent lumber charts - 12/17/40:\nSee Book 340, page 347\nc) Henderson's letter and HMJr's answer - 12/23/40:\nSee Book 342, page 60\n1) Telephone conversation: Book 342, page 191\na) Hass memorandum on \"sequence of events\":\nSee Book 342, page 65\nPurchasing Mission:\nAssets:\nPhillips and HMJr confer privately: Cochran\nmemorandum - 12/12/40\n208\na) Sale of French gold by Canada discussed\nb) Financial assistance to Great Britain definitely\nrequested\n1) Butterworth memorandum\n399\nc) Jones told by HMJr Phillips, at last, asked\nfor & loan from United States - 12/17/40:\nSee Book 340, page 328\nPurvis leaving London for United States - 12/14/40....\n247\na) Arrives in New York - 12/23/40:\nSee Book 342, page 74\nGold and dollar resources of British Empire and extent\nof depletion reported on by Federal Reserve Bank of\nFew York - 12/12/40\n302\nConference on sale of American-owned securities in\nUnited States as well as direct investments; present:\nHMJr, Purcell, Frank, Cochran, White, Gifford, Pinsent,\nPhillips, Playfair, Forrestal, Wise, Bell, and Clark -\n12/13/40\n337\na) Phillips sends list which will be included in\nvesting order dated December 14, 1940\n387\n1) See announcement: Book 340, page 177\nBackground on vesting procedure and Kennedy's place in\nproblem covered in Pinsent memorandum - 12/17/40:\nSee Book 340, page 195\nMorgan (J.P.) as agent: Frank tells HMJr of Gifford's\nstatement that he had taken Ranes' and Butterworth's\ncomments to his 'as informal tip from HMJr\" - 12/13/40.. 361\na) HMJr-White conversation - 1/10/41:\nSee Book 346, page 416\nRegraded Unclassified\n- V - (Continued)\nBook\nPage\nWar Conditions (Continued)\nRoumania:\nNegotiations with Turkey for exchange of cotton for\npetroleum products - 12/12/40\n339\n126\nShipping:\nDenmark: Ships tied up in United States waters -\ndiscussion at 9:30 meeting - 12/13/40\n318\na) Conference in Land's office: Foley-Pehle\nmemorandum - 12/13/40\n391\n1) Maritime Commission hostile to Treasury\nparticipation: See Book 340, page 25\nb) Coast Guard asks for DANMARK for use at Academy -\n12/23/40: See Book 342, page 93\nc) Conference of Treasury group - 12/26/40:\nBook 342, page 176\nd) Use of ships in our and other neutral porte -\nmemorandum sent by HMJr to Navy and to Land -\n12/27/40: Book 342, pages 268 and 276\n1) Knox's acceptance of invitation to confer -\n12/28/40: See Book 343, page 1\ne) Cabinet discussion - \"for some reason FDR does\nnot want Treasury in on it\" - 12/27/40:\nBook 342, page 302\nSpain:\nFood Situation: Chamberlain resume³ of Janney\n(Rockefeller Foundation) memorandum - 12/13/40\n374\nTurkey:\nNegotiations with Roumania for exchange of cotton for\npetroleum products - 12/12/40\n126\nUnited Kingdom:\nSee also War Conditions: Purchasing Mission (Assets)\nLothian's death announced at 9:30 meeting - 12/12/40.\n1\na) Mackenzie-King and HKJr discuss - 12/14/40.\n427\nPhillips and HMJr confer privately: Cochran memorandum -\n12/12/40\n208\na) Sale of French gold by Canada discussed\nb) Financial assistance to Great Britain definitely\nrequested\n1) Butterworth memorandum\n399\nGold and dollar resources of British Empire and extent\nof depletion reported on by Federal Reserve Bank of\nNew York - 12/12/40\n302\nNelson (Donald M.) speech on urgency of need for\nassistance - 12/13/40\n377\nTax to be imposed on purchases of goods from wholesalers:\nUnited States Customs valuation of these goods further\ndiscussed in British Embassy memorandum - 12/13/40\n396\na) Gaston memorandum concerning Cullen bill -\n12/17/40: See Book 340, page 300\n1\nDecember 12, 1940\n9:30 a.m.\nGROUP MEETING\nPresent:\nMr. Haas\nMr. Cochran\nMr. Young\nMr. Wiley\nMr. Foley\nMr. Pehle\nMr. Graves\nMr. Thompson\nMr. Bell\nMr. Sullivan\nMr. White\nMrs. Klotz\nMr. Berkshire\nH.M.Jr:\nIt is bad news about Lothian, isn't it?\nBell:\nWonder what the trouble was, do you know?\nCochran:\nThe coroner has been there and they haven't given\na report yet, you see. He had no doctor. He\nwas a Christian Scientist.\nWiley:\nHe was converted to Christian Science by Nancy\nAstor.\nH.M.Jr:\nDid you say, \"By Nazi Astor?\"\nWiley:\nNancy, yes.\nH.M.Jr:\nIs she a Christian Scientist?\nWiley:\nYes.\nH.M.Jr:\nEdward?\nFoley:\nWe have a lawyer by the name of Dudley Easby.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 2 -\n2\nNelson Rockefeller would like to take him.\nHe speaks Spanish and he has some knowledge\nof things that Nelson thinks would be valuable\nto him. I can get along without him, if you\nwant to let him go.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhat is he doing?\nFoley:\nWell, he is working on matters coming up from\nthe Treasurer's Office in connection with checks\nand handles matters in connection with the\nComptroller General's Office. He is one of\nthe boys in Norman Tietjens' shop.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhat does he get?\nFoley:\nHe gets around thirty-eight hundred.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhat would Rockefeller give him?\nFoley:\nI think he would probably pay him the same thing.\nH.M.Jr:\nDo you see any reason, Norman.\nThompson:\nHe is a good man, but we can spare him.\nH.M.Jr:\nSpeak Spanish?\nFoley:\nYes.\nH.M.Jr:\nIt is all right with me.\nFoley:\nJim Forrestal wants to resume those lunches on\nthe Defense with Army and Navy, and 80 on, and\nI understand he has asked Eddie Greenbaum and\nPatterson and several others. He has some new\nlawyers now. Some of his older group has gone\nback to New York, and he has got a new group.\nI guess he wants to break them in.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhere do they eat, downstairs?\nFoley:\nNo, this one, he is going to have in his office.\n- 3 -\n3\nE.V.Jr:\nI see. All right.\nFeley:\nWalker Stone, one of the editorial writers for\nthe Scripps Howard chain, called up and said they\nwanted to so to town and do a campaign on the\nelimination of exemptions.\nI saw the editorial yesterday. I almost fell\nover backward.\nVoley:\nMe said he needed help. he said he had gotten\nthe paper that I had read over at the meeting\nof the municipal law officers, and he thought\nit was good but he had to have a different ap-\nproach for his stuff, and he wanted examples\nalong the line you mentioned about the fellow\nwho goes to Palm Beach and stays all winter end\ndoesn't have to contribute.\nGive him the telegram that came in this morning\nfrom the Palm Beach fellow calling me down,\n\"day pick on Palm Beach?\"\nKlotz:\nI loved that. (Laughter)\nFoley:\nI had a letter from a fellow by the name of\nDominick in Greenwich, Connecticut. lie said\nhe would fight me in Washington or in hell.\nH.M.Jr:\nSure, go ahead. (Laughter)\nFoley:\nCan John and I get together? We will probably\nneed Murphy on these examples.\nH.M.Jr:\nI don't know whether you can get together.\nFoley:\nWell, give him the material.\nH.M.Jr:\nI think it would be wonderful to get together\non something with Scripps Howard.\nFoley:\nAnother fellow by the name of Izzy Stone--\nI.K.Jr:\nWhat is the name?\nRegraded Unclassified\n4\n- 4 -\nFoley:\nIzzy Stone. (Laughter) I am distinguishing\nhim from Walker Stone. He is Washington editor\nfor The Nation and wants to do something on that.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, that is the fellow. They ran their real\nnames in something or other.\nFoley:\nYes, his name was Einstein, and he changed it to\nIzzy Stone. (Laughter)\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, the question is, is he?\nFoley:\nIs he, or isn't he?\nH.K.Jr:\nThe answer is yes. (Laughter)\nI have got Norman crying here.\nSullivan:\nOn these examples--\nH.K.Jr:\nWhat does Ike want to do?\nFoley:\nHe wants to write a full piece for The Nation on\nit. He says from where they sit up in New York,\nit seems to him that the Treasury has been carry-\ning the banner for what the New Deal stands for\nmore than any other department in town during\nthe last year or so, and they want to help where-\never they can.\nH.M.Jr:\nSure. Who all do you want to help you?\nFoley:\nWell, I think if George could make Henry Murphy\navailable, John and I can get him the stuff he\nwants.\nSullivan:\nBut we want to know about this series of speeches\nyou are going to make. You remember before you\nwent away, you wanted four written. Now, we\ndon't want to waste any of these good examples -\nI mean not waste them, but we want to give you\nfirst crack at them.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, well--\nRegraded Unclassifie\n- 5 -\n5\nFoley:\nWell, what he really wants, Mr. Secretary, is\nto show what a man would pay in the way of state\nand federal taxes with an earned income of 50\nthousand dollars, and what he would get away\nwith if he had everything in tax exempts, and\nthen he would like to show what a fellow would\nhave to pay if he invested 50 thousand dollars\nin stock that produced a magneto or something\nthat went into an airplane after he got through\ntaking the risk and after he got through supply-\ning something useful for the Defense Program\nand compare that with somebody that just putsit\ninto something like tax exempts.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I was all steamed up down in Jamaica, in\nthe tropics, to do a speech and - I was all\nsteamed up in the tropics to do a speech.\nFoley:\nYes, I get it. (Laughter)\nH.M.Jr:\nI wasn't sure.\nSullivan:\nYou have to say it twice. If they don't laugh,\nit is not very good.\nH.M.Jr:\nI didn't think I got the necessary response.\nDon't wait on me. If you fellows have got any-\nthing, I would go to it. What I would like you\nto do is, keep a little record of what you do\nfor these people, each one, just to have it,\nbut by all means, don't wait on me. Let them\ngo. Like all these things, they are going to\nhave to be like drops of water on a stone. We\nare going to have to do it over and over and\nover again. If Scripps Howard takes hold of it\nand goes to town, maybe somebody else will want\nto.\nBell:\nThe Treasury hit the Washington Post yesterday\nmorning in three places on the editorial page.\nA cartoon and two columns.\nSullivan:\nHere are the four speeches you asked for.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 6 -\n6\nH.M.Jr:\nWonderful.\nSullivan:\nHere are more of these memoranda. You wanted a\ncriticism on a summary of all those things. It\ntakes quite a lot of work. I think you have\ngot to determine whether or not you want us to\ncontinue those.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I would until further notice.\nSullivan:\nAll right, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nIf, for instance, this thing comes along, I\nthink we ought to get some very good newspaper\nman who will just do a really first class job.\nHe could help you fellows prepare this sort of\nthing.\nSullivan:\nDo you recall you agreed that Mr. Blough should\ngo to Canada to look into that sales tax and the\nexcess profits? If he is to go before Christmas,\nhe should go tonight and be back here a week\nfrom Monday. Is there any reason we can't let\nhim go now.\nH.M.Jr:\nNo.\nSullivan:\nYou wanted me to remind you about Mr. Stewart.\nDo you want to call him or shall I?\nH.M.Jr:\nI will.\nSullivan:\nWhen you talk with him, he should have in mind\nthat he said that he felt that they would, and\nhe was going to put it up, and he wasn't going\nto let his view become at all apparent.\nH.M.Jr:\nI am always very frank. On second thought, I\nam simply going to say I think the Treasury\nshould finance it.\nFoley:\nOn McCloy, I have those statutes any time you\nwant to look at them. Bernie ran into McCloy\ndown at the Supreme Court on Monday. He was\n?\n- 7 -\ndown there when Mitchell was arguing. He, in\nan offhand way, told Bernie that he had resigned\nfrom his firm, and that he was down here full\ntime.\nH.M.Jr:\nI see.\nFoley:\nSo I don't think that he violates the statute,\nbut I talked to Eddie about it, too. Eddie\ndropped in the other night, but - shall I show\nthe statutes to you?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, that is enough.\nSullivan:\nI have to call Gulick this morning for his meet-\ning. We can get him $22.20 a day and part of\nthe time we can base him at New York, if you\nwant to do it that way.\nH.M.Jr:\nNo. Twenty-two twenty is plenty for anybody.\nIf he doesn't want to come down on that basis,\nlet his own institution take care of it.\nSullivan:\nI will tell him that is what we will do.\nThompson:\nBesides five dollars subsistence?\nH.M.Jr:\nThe twenty-two twenty plus five.\nFoley:\nAnd I think you can shove him up to twenty-five\nafter you have had him 30 days or something like\nthat, but I don't think we ought to do anything\nmore; and, Norman, that won't work out on the\ncontract basis.\nThompson:\nI didn't think it would.\nH.M.Jr:\nTwenty-two twenty plus five, and if you can go to--\nSullivan:\nTwenty-five plus five.\nFoley:\nThey did it in Procurement, but I think they\nwere playing fast and loose. I think on that\ncontract arrangement which they never cleared\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 8 -\n8\nwith us, they were paying him for three days\nwhen he only worked two.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhen were they doing that?\nFoley:\nI think that is what they were doing in some\ninstance the Norman called to my attention.\nH.M.Jr:\nIf, for no other reason, Congress may say,\n\"Well, we want to take this group over, and then\nThey find out that we are paying this thing, and\nsay, \"How do you get that way?\"\nFoley:\nThe only way it could be done, Mr. Secretary,\nwould be out of the President's hundred million\ndollar fund.\nH.M.Jr:\nTry and get it.\nFoley:\nI shouldn't think he would want to pay for this\nout of that.\nH.M.Jr:\nHe wouldn't.\nCochran:\nPinsent will confirm to me before noon about\nthat meeting tomorrow, and I suppose you don't\nwant to get the SEC man until we get that taken\ncare of.\nH.M.Jr:\nI will be incommunicado from twelve-thirty today\non until tomorrow morning. I will be home, and\nI don't want to be bothered.\nCochran:\nPinsent told me that last night Sir Frederick\nsuggested to him that he might call this morn-\ning and want to see you privately, but he asked\nme if Phillips had phoned me last night.\nH.M.Jr:\nI am leaving here today at twelve-thirty and no\nappointments until tomorrow morning. I am tak-\ning all of this stuff home. I hope to read most\nof it while I am not asleep.\n- 9 -\n9\nCochran:\nI talked to Stone this morning, and he is going\nto send us that memorandum which you wanted.\nAnd on that question of the military mission\nof Germany in Argentina, that has been dispersed\nsome months ago. There have been four men\nthere. One went to Chile, and one went to Rio.\nThey passed a law in Argentine that the couldn't\nhave & military mission of a beligerent country,\nso that is stopped.\nH.M.Jr:\nWiley?\nWiley:\nCustoms has run into something interesting.\nGerman educational films are made in South\nAmerica, and then they are sent up here and\nprinted by a subsidiary of the German Dye Trust.\nThese educational films apparently are only of\neducational value for German Military Intelli-\ngence. They show bridges, landing fields, and\ndifficulties of terrain.\nH.M.Jr:\nIn this country?\nWiley:\nIn South America, chiefly in Peru, but not much\nis known about them yet. The films for the\nmoment are in the Treasury Department, and\nthere is hope that we can run them off and look\nat them.\nH.M.Jr:\nGood. You know Coast Guard has a projector.\nWiley:\nI don't think it fits. These are 35 millimeter\nfilms. I believe we will have to go over to\nAgriculture.\nSullivan:\nWhat size are they, John?\nWiley:\nThirty-five.\nFoley:\nWe have one, but ours is sixteen.\nH.M.Jr:\nArchives has a beautiful picture theater.\nWhite:\nWhy do you imagine they would want to display\nRegraded Unclassified\n10\n- 10 -\nthem here?\nWiley:\nI don't think they were to be displayed here.\nThey were probably sent here to be printed and\nthen go on, probably to Germany via Siberia.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnything else? Pehle?\nPehle:\nNothing, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nPhilip?\nYoung:\nI have & note here with a copy of Buckley's\nreport.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, yes. I sent one to Mr. Hull.\nCochran:\nHere is & memorandum on the destination of\nsecurities that you asked for.\nH.M.Jr:\nRight. Philip, I read this morning early, this\nreport of Buckley's, see. Got a pencil?\n(Buckley's report of December 10 regarding\nWest Coast airplane manufacturers inspection\ntrip)\nYoung:\nYes.\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, these are the things that I would like to\nhave an answer on tomorrow morning: 1. Why\nshouldn't the English cancel their order with\nBoeing for these so-called Douglass bombers\nand leave Boeing free to do just the big ones.\nIn this report it said the English would take\nit under consideration. I would like to have\nthe answer on that.\nYoung:\nAll right.\nH.M.Jr:\n2. There seems to be a desperate need for an\naluminum factory on the West Coast to make the\nparts, tubing, and so forth and so on, and can\nRegraded Unclassified\n11\n- 11 -\nyou find out from somebody at National Defense\nwhy the hell - excuse me - don't they do some-\nthing about it?\nYoung:\nThat is a hard one.\nH.M.Jr:\nThen in reading this report on Lockheed, why\ndon't the English have permission to put in\nsuper-chargers in all of their planes that they\nwant to? If they can have them in some, why\ncan't they have them in all? Then on a 24-\nhour basis, I would like to get, on the same\ntwo weeks that Haas has his thing set up on,\nsee, the same two weeks, I would like to know -\nfor instan ce, the English get so many engines.\nWe know how many engines they get of each kind.\nI want a report from them tomorrow - we will go\nback, say, for four weeks. That will be enough.\nWhat distribution did they make of these engines,\nsee?\nYoung:\nYes, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nI want that tomorrow because it is - to me - I\ncan't understand why Lockheed should be short,\nwaiting for 25 or 30 engines. I just can't\nunderstand it. When I look at their production,\nthe ones that they received - the two things.\nI want to know what did they do with all of\nthese engines? If they are selling them to\nEngland, they are breaking their agreement, see.\nThere are plenty of these engines coming off.\nWhat are they doing with them? According to\nthis report, there are 25 or 30 planesawaiting\nengines of the Hudson Model 414. Now, there is\nsomething wrong somewhere.\nHaas:\nAre those those interceptors?\nH.M.Jr:\nI don't know what it is.\nHaas:\nI think one plane they make has the Allison.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnyway, they are waiting for the Pratt and\nRegraded Unclassified\n12\n- 12-\nWhitney 1830's or the Wright 1820's of which\nthere are plenty each week being turned out,\nmany, many more than lanes. If they are send-\ning them to England, then they are breaking\ntheir agreement. The agreement is that there\nshall be no planes without engines in this\ncountry.\nYoung:\nPart of those planes were supposed to be the\nones which were grounded due to the fact they\ngave up the engines to the Boeings.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat is just plain, unadulterated \"hooey.\"\nThey can't fool me. And the other thing, which\nis not on a 24-hour basis, is that I am shocked\nto find that in every case except the Merlin,\nwhich they had with Ford, England's orders\nexpire in the fall of '41. All of their engine\norders run out. That seems unbelievably short-\nsignted to me. They have got enough people that\nthey ought to be able to answer that. Now, one\nother thing: this request of rifles for Canada,\nthat seems important. How hard are you hitting\nthat?\nYoung:\nHaven't done anything on it.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell,\nYoung:\nI wanted to--\nH.M.Jr:\nSupposing I forward your memorandum to Stimson?\nYoung:\nAll right.\nH.V.Jr:\nSay that this seems important, what can he do\nabout it.\nYoung:\nThe only reason I wanted to call that to your\nattention, or one of the principal reasons, was\nthat is not a recommendation of the United States-\nCanadian joint defense board. Now, we have got\nto get a tie-in there with what they are doing\nand what Canada and British Purchasing Commission\nRegraded Unclassifie\n13\n- 13 -\nare doing also. There is no coordination.\nM.M.Jr;\nSupposing you (Reporter) take this letter:\n\"Hy dear Mr. Stimson:\nI an forwarding herewith a memorandum from\nPhilip Young to me in regard to rifles for\nCanada. This seems very important to me and\nI would like to have your advice and help.\nMay I hear from you at an early date.\"\nDoes that fit in?\nYoung:\nYes, sir.\nB.K.Jr:\nNow, George, in the room here - I have been\ncatching up with my memos. Oh, if you would\nbring in the head of the Netherland Purchasing\nCommission, I would like to meet him.\nYoung:\nHe is in London at the moment talking with\nPurvise.\nH.M.Jr:\nGet him. (Laughter) Next time he is around.\nYoung:\nThat is a very interesting development. You\nhave van den Broek and Purvis and Howe all con-\nferring in London on evidently some sort of a\njoint purchasing effort.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I got a secret message this morning that\nPurvis will leave - I think this weekend for\nthe United States.\nYoung:\nThe sixteenth he was scheduled to leave.\nH.M.Jr:\nThe message says he will leave this weekend.\nNow, George, will you write a letter for me,\nunless Mr. Bell wants to do it in another way,\nto Leon Henderson who is worrying about every\nother person's responsibilities except his own,\nsee. I would like to draw to his attention\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 14 -\n14\nthese charts which you have sent me which show\nthat lumber is up sky high, What is he doing\nabout it? What is he doing about wool, hides,\ntallow, butter, wheat, and cocoa? Those seem\nto be the ones. I would say that they are all\nout of line. Isn't that worse?\nHaas:\nYes, those are the ones that made the greatest\nrise. There is some question about some of them,\nwhether anything should be done.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, let's say,\"What do you think should be done,\nif anything, and what are you doing about it?\"\nDo you want to send him these two charts?\nHaas:\nOh, yes.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhy don't you send him these charts, the lumber\nchart and the other one.\nHaas:\nYes.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd, George, it would make life easier for me\nif, instead of sending these things with about\nfive of these things on, you would put them in\na little book from now on. Any report, instead\nofpinning it up like this, if it could be in a\nlittle folder.\nHarry, do you seen any reason - oh, pardon, me,\nPasha. (Laughter) From now on, it is Pasha\nWhite.\nWhite:\nThat is very dangerous, Mr. Secretary. I was\nthinking that over, and I was thinking one of\nthe wits around here is liable to mention that\nto my wife. (Laughter)\nH.M.Jr:\nI hope you aren't getting personal.\nWhite:\nNo. I am afraid of what response there will be.\nShe will say, \"What does that stand for?\" and\nI can just see Ed Foley saying, \"That is short\nfor passionate, and the part thattroubles me\nRegraded Unclassified\n15\n- 15 -\nis my wife's response. (Laughter)\nWhite:\nMy wife is liable to say, \"Oh, yeah!\" (Laughter)\nLet's forget the nickname. It is really danger-\nous.\nYou were asking me about whether it was fair,\nwhat you just said about Leon Henderson?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, advisable.\nWhite:\nOh, definitely. He is worrying about prices,\nMr. Secretary.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right. We will just send it over.\nI didn't give George a chance to finish, and we\nhave got to give White a chance to recover, and\nme.\nWhite:\nThanks.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou don't even want me to tell them how the nick-\nname came around?\nWhite:\nI don't mind what you say, but some of them have\na way af adding on. It is unrecognizable by the\ntime it gets where it shouldn't. (Laughter)\nH.M.Jr:\nI will let Harry tell it to you in his own im-\npassioned manner. (Laughter)\nKlotz:\nThat was good.\nHaas:\nThe Boeing situation is interesting.\nH.M.Jr:\nI want to take this chart to the house.\nHaas:\nHere is all the other stuff (handing reports to\nSecretary).\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right, George. Yes, Dr. White.\nRegraded Unclassified\n16\n- 16 -\nWhite:\nThe Dutch East Indies have apparently come to\nan agreement with Japan on the oil arrangements.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll I want to S ay is, I can't help it. I have\nnot seen Kintner and Alsop or Pearson and Allen,\nand I don't expect to see them the rest of this\nweek, so if it appears Monday in their column,\nit is not my fault.\nWhite:\nYou mean you don't want me to tell you so you\nwill be able to run it down?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, I mean on this Pasha White stuff.\nWhite:\nOh, they don't bother with such small fry.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou may be surprised. (Laughter)\nSullivan:\nMerry Christmas.\nWhite:\nLet's see, we were talking about oil. The Dutch\nEast Indies - the Japanese asked them for about\n25 million barrels, which is about what they\nneed. The Dutch East Indies companies, the\nAmerican and the others, offered them about a\nthird, which has been accepted, so that accord-\ning to current contracts, they will get about\n10 million barrels of oil on these contracts &\nyear.\nH.M.Jr:\nAs against what? What were they getting before?\nWhite:\nI have forgotten, but it was less than that. I\nhave forgotten how much less. It was less. I\nwill write this up in connection with the other\noil matter and have it for you when you come back.\nThere is a phrase here that I don't understand.\nI don't know whether it is important because maybe\nMerle Cochran could explain it. It says \"force\nmajeure\" applies. Does that mean if they don't\ndeliver, Japan can force them to deliver?\nCochran:\nThat is the way I understand it.\nRegraded Unclassified\n17\n- 17 -\nH.M.Jr:\nHarry, Walter Stewart tells me one of the\ngreatest authorities on oil and oil companies\nin this country, if not anywhere, is this SEC\nCommissioner.\nWhite:\nPike?\nFoley:\nYes, Sumner Pike.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat is field oil and oil companies.\nWhite:\nWe are ready for him to go into these South\nAmerican companies any time you are ready.\nH.M.Jr:\nJust call him up.\nWhite:\nI see, Also ask him about oil.\nH.M.Jr:\nYes.\nWhite:\nCanada has just imposed some new restrictions\non imports in an effort to conserve foreign\nexchange. They will hit our exports, particu-\nlarly, to the extent of about 50 or 60 million\ndollars a year, at present contemplated. Auto-\nmobiles and petroleum products, electric appli-\nances.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhat is our export?\nWhite:\nOur exports to Canada will be reduced. They\nhaven't touched fresh fruit, including applies,\nI suppose, because they said it is politically\nundesirable.\nH.M.Jr:\nAs a matter of fact, they export apples. They\nare not importing apples.\nWhite:\nThen I was wrong. Applies aren't included. That\nwas my own addition. It just says fresh fruit\nand vegetables.\nBell:\nClark said they might have to include fresh fruit.\nRegraded Unclassified\n18\n- 18 -\nH.M.Jr:\nAs a matter of fact, my apple grower friends\nare worried because they are duping so many of\ntheir Canadian applies in the United States.\nThey are not helping me at all.\nWhite:\nThere is a ltter here that you passed on from\nWelles indicating what is being done for Chile\nand also indicating that it is less than they\nhad hoped and wondering whether we couldn't\nre-examine the situation and see, in the light\nof the current situation, whether a little might\nnot be done for them.\nH.M.Jr:\nBring it up - let's make it for next Monday's\nstaff meeting.\nWhite:\nRight. That is all I have.\nH.M.Jr:\nAre you (Bell) going to see me before ten\ntwenty-five?\nBell:\nI am going to try to. I am going to try to get\nit out of New York. They started working at\neight thirty.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhile I an talking to Berkshire, you might slip\nout and then come back again, and we will go\nahead with foreign funds. I mean, while I am\ntalking to Berkshire, if you will slip out and\nget the dope.\nBell:\nIf it isn't ready, I should think you could say\nthat preliminary reports indicate that this\nissue has gone as well as any previous issue.\nFoley:\nI think if you could say that, it would be a\ngreat help.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I will tell you what I can say, because\nI had what's-his-name dictate it to Hadley last\nnight, that at five o'clock last night he com-\npared the subscriptions with the last five year\nnote and at five 'clock last night we had more\nRegraded Unclassified\n19\n- 19 -\nsubscriptions for this than the previous one\nwhich was also three-quarters of a percent.\nFoley:\nYes, that would be a big help. That was one\nof the things that Walker Stone wanted to know,\njust what the difference was in actual performance,\nbecause he thought that if we could demonstrate\nthat there was no real difference between a\npartially exempt and a wholly taxable security,\nit would go a long way toward overcoming some\nof the handicaps.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, Bob Rouse gave ne that at five o'clock,\nand I said please dictate that over the tele-\nphone to Hadley, which he did, but at five\no'clock last night, compared with - when was\nthe last five year note?\nBell:\nLast December.\nH.M.Jr:\nThere were more subscriptions at the same time\nthan there were for last December.\nFoley:\nWould it have been the same, Mr. Secretary, if\nyou had offered it as a partially exempt?\nBell:\nIt might have been, but it could have gone down\nto five-eights, but it might have been the same\ncoupon rate, but the Secretary could have made\nit a little thinner and made it five-eights.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou mean this one, the one we just sold?\nBell:\nYes. You could have gone on a five-eights and\ngot twelve thirty-seconds.\nHaas:\nAbout eight, I think.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, the whole Street had the price at seven-\neights.\nWhite:\nThat is speculative. You don't know if it was\nfive-eights, Dan, it might have gone to a little\nRegraded Unclassified\n20\n- 20 -\ndiscount.\nFoley:\nIt might have gone sour.\nBell:\nIt would have been a little too thin to put a\nfive-eights coupon. I think it would have been\nabout the same.\nFoley:\nI think, if you could say that, that would be\ngrand.\nH.M.Jr:\nThey would all jump on me, The New York Times,\nfor instance, have a little piece and say the\ngossip is that I could have priced the tax free\nnote at five-eights. Well, it would start a\nwhole argument. I an just going to say, \"These\nfellows don't know enough about it. It just\nwent as well as the last one.\nBell:\nAnd I think that is a good thing to say. I\nwouldn't go in too much but you got as many\nas you did last time because you have got a\ndifferent situation.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I would say it went just as well.\nBell:\nI think that is good. We will try to have some\nfigures.\nH.M.Jr:\nNorman?\nThompson:\nWe are planing to move Mr. Pehle's Foreign Funds\nsection over to the Raleigh Hotel.\nH.M.Jr:\nGood.\nBell:\nMay I tell you some more?\nH.M.Jr:\nPlease.\nBell:\nJesse Jones announced a loan yesterday to Argen-\ntina. Ambassador Espil called up and wanted to\nknow if you couldn't say something on the Treasury\nRegraded Unclassified\n21\n- 21 -\nend. I said I would speak to you, but I didn't\nthink we ought to do that at this time.\nH.M.Jr:\nNo. Now, if you want to go out and get that,\nI will have Berkshire come in and then if you\nwill come back, we will continue on foreign\nfunds.\nFoley:\nThey think that these fellows --\n(Mr. Bell left the conference and Mr. Berkshire\nentered)\nK.M.Jr:\nBerkshire, show them this sign (\"Serve Army and\nNavy Whiskey. James Moroney.\") which I picked\nup. I was shocked. I picked it up when I was\nup there. I think it is terrible. Now, what,\nunder the law, can you do?\nBerkshire:\nWe have, by wire, after I had the poster last\nnight, conceled the label first. There had been\nan old label issued by the Federal Alcohol Ad-\nministration in 1936 authorizing that whiskey\nto be labeled \"Army and Navy Brand whiskey.\"\nI find that later they advertised it as \"Army\nand Navy Whiskey.\" The FAA had cited them for\nthat, that is, the dropping of the word \"brand,\"\nand they had paid a fifty dollar offer - compromise\nof that violation. Now, this evidently is the\nnext that they have observed. They have dropped\nthe name \"brand\" again. That doesn't go to the\nbottom of the thing, I might say, Mr. Secretary.\nWe don't propose that they use this kind of a\nlabel even with the word \"brand\" there, and since\nthe FAA came over to the Unit, we had refused to\nissue Army and Navy Brand to sherry wines and\nsomething else. This I didn't know about. It\nwas the first I had heard, but we canceled that\nbrand, and we may, if this advertising material\nhas been disseminated outside of the State of\nPennsylvania - that is necessary, and my wire asks\nthat that be investigated. If it is disseminated\nbeyond the borders of the State of Pennsylvania,\nRegraded Unclassified\n22\n- 22 -\nwe may cite them and even revoke or suspend\ntheir permit.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, couldn't I, B5 Secretary of the Treasury,\ntelegraph the Governor of Pennsylvania and ask\nthem to cooperate to stop this thing?\nBerkshire:\nYou should. I can't say what authority the\nGovernor of Pennsylvania would have in control-\ning a matter of this kind.\nR.S.Jr:\nWhat I thought of doing, and that is what I\nwanted your advice on - I mean, I an all right\non my law. I think that this is pretty shock-\ning. I didn't know whether you people thought\nit was wise or unwise for me, as Secretary of\nthe Treasury - I would like, for instance, at\nmy press conference to show this to the boys,\nand say, \"This is the kind of thing here the\nTreasury is not going to stand for, and that\nwe hope we will get public support on. This\nis the first thing of its kind I have seen, and\nthat I have seen it myself, and that we have\ntaken steps to cancel this brand. If You can\nsee - I didn't know that that was & brand name.\nWhen I saw \"Serve Army and Navy Rye Whiskey,\"\nI thought it meant to serve it to them. That\nis the way I read it.\nWhite:\nThat is the way I read it.\nFoley:\nYes, and then you have got \"for company attention\"\ndown there in quotes, too. What does it say\nover the name \"Moroney?\" On the left hand side.\nRlots:\n\"At holiday time.\"\nWhite:\nIt is specifically designed to convey an in-\npression of the prestige of the Government and\nSO on,\nH.M.Jr:\nWhat I thought, I would just 20 out and say to\nthe boys, \"I think that this is absolutely out-\nrageous. This is the kind of thing we want to\nRegraded Unclassified\n23\n- 23 -\nnip in the bud, and I want to do my part to\nsee that this kind of thing doesn't spread.\"\nWhite:\nI am wondering, Mr. Secretary, whether there\nmight not first be tried. to get in touch with\nthe people who have done it and merely request\nthem, talk it over with them. I have 8. little\nbit doubts about making--\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, they have done it, Harry.\nWhite:\nDo they know that you disapprove or that there\nis disapproval in the Government on it?\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, how are you going to let them know?\nWhite:\nWell, I would be inclined to let the Army and\nNavy take it up with them. I feel 8 little bit\n\"leery\" about clamping down on anything if it\nis within the law, even though it is of that\ncharacter.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, it is 8. matter of taste.\nWhite:\nThat is why I think it should be done either\nthrough cooperation or let the Army and Navy\ncomplain. I don't feel strongly about it.\nSullivan:\nI agree with Harry in principle, but not in his\ntechnique. You have full authority. You don't\nneed cooperation from anybody. I think it is\nbeneath your dignity to go after a thing like\nthat. That is pretty small. And the whole\npurpose is accomplished by having Stewart re-\nvoke it. That is all there is to it. He has\nfull authority under the law. He doesn't need\ncooperation with the Army or the Navy or the\nGovernor of Pennsylvania or anybody.\nWhite:\nDoesn't he need a good legal reason for revoking\nit.\nSullivan:\nWhy certainly he does. He has got it. He has\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 24 -\n24\nto approve every bit of their--\nH.M.Jr:\nevery label--\nSullivan:\nof their labeling and everything else.\nH.M.Jr:\nI have got to go out in the field to check up\non you fellows.\nBerkshire:\nIt seems so, Mr. Secretary.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, somebody certainly in Philadelphia - the\nSecretary of the Treasury has to go up and see\na thing like that and pull it off a sign post.\nBerkshire:\nIt certainly should have been picked up by our\nmen.\nH.M.Jr:\nThe question is, how much other obscene and\nstuff of bad taste is there like that going on\nin the United States.\nBerkshire:\nWell, Mr. Secretary, if we weren't on the watch\nconstantly, I can't imagine what might happen.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, do you get copies of all advertisements.\nBerkshire:\nNo, sir. The law doesn't require that they\nget approval of advertised material. They must\nget approval of their labels, and then there\nare certain restrictions about their advertis-\ning matter. Unless they submit one for free\napproval, we don't have anything to say about\nit unless we just catch them.\nH.M.Jr:\nBell, I want to say at my press conference that\nI saw this advertisement, and I have taken the\nfirst steps to cancel the permit. Is that what\nyou call it?\nBerkshire:\nThe label approval.\nBell:\nWell, it was approved?\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 25 -\n25\nH.M.Jr:\nYes.\nThompson:\nThe label on the bottom hasn't the word \"brand.\"\nH.M.Jr:\nThey call it \"Army and Navy Brand, and then you\nsee they use the word \"serve\" - you see, it is\n\"Serve Army and Navy Rye Whiskey.\" You wouldn't\ndo it, if you were me?\nBell:\nI don't know, but I don't understand how it got\napproved. Do they have authority in the field\nto approve things like that?\nH.M.Jr:\nIt says, \"brand,\" but they just serve Army and\nNavy whiskey, for company attention.\nBell:\nEven what is on the label, \"Army and Navy Brand,\"\nI don't see how they got it.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, it was approved by the old FAA. Do you\nsee any reason why I, as Secretary of the Treas-\nury--\nFoley:\nMr. Secretary, I don't think we ought to shoot\ntoday on this. I think you ought to give us a\nlittle time to look into it and make sure we\nare on good, sound grounds. I would like an\nopportunity to determine what constitutes a\nviolation and what our power is to summarily\nrevoke these permits. I am not prepared now\nto say that it is all right for you to go out\nand make this statement at a press conference.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou are not?\nFoley:\nNo.\nWhite:\nIt is a matter of morals involved there, Mr.\nSecretary.\nFoley:\nIt doesn't make any difference whether it is\ndone today or at your next one, and then we\nwill know 8. little more than we know now.\nRegraded Unclassified\n26\n- 26 -\nWhite:\nIt is a matter of morals involved, and I - I\ndon't know.\nBell:\nHow about him saying he is looking into it?\nSullivan:\nNo. What you are objecting to--\nKlotz:\nI think these fellows ought to be given a chance.\nAfter all, they are perfectly all right. Every-\nbody advertises that way. If they won't cooper-\nate then, I would say, Go after them,' but they\nhaven't been given a chance.\nFoley:\nMy reaction, Mrs. Klotz, is this: I think we\nought not to be objective or personal about this.\nI don't think we ought to single out one fellow.\nI think when we do it, we ought to put it on a\nhigher plane, and say, \"That this sort of ad-\nvertising, at a time when we are marshalling\nthe resources, the man power of this country,\nis the sort of thing that just can't go on.\nIt is unpatriotic, and it isn't compatible\nwith what we are doing. The Secretary of the\nTreasury is going to see to it that this kind\nof advertising and this sort of sales campaign\nfor liquor is not conducted anywhere within\nthe United States or anywhere in the vicinity\nof our training camps.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat is what I want to say.\nFoley:\nYes, but I think that we ought to put it on a\nbroader basis, and I think you ought to give us\na little chance to look into it.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right, but also I think it just raises this\nwhole question of advertising and labeling and\nhow good are you since you have taken it over.\nBerkshire:\nMr. Secretary, we think we have pretty close\nsupervision over certain of the labels, because\nthere isn't one approved that doesn't go through\nthe office down here. Now, as far as that\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 27 -\n27\nadvertising is concerned--\nH.M.Jr:\nYes, but how about outstanding ones?\nBerkshire:\nWell, there isn't any way, of course, of condemn-\ning this liquor, and all of the liquor that is\nnow labeled \"Army and Navy\" must be sold that\nway.\nH.M.Jr:\nI will tell you what you haven't done, Berkshire.\nYou haven't made a review of the permits for\nlabels and advertising which were given prior\nto the time you took this thing over, have you?\nBerkshire:\nWe haven't gone back through all of those\nrecords.\nH.M.Jr:\nI am ordering you to do it now. I want you to\nbring in every label, every piece of advertis-\ning, and review it just the way we do in Inter-\nnal Revenue. I gave orders that every charitable\norganization that had been granted tax exemption,\nwe reviewed every single one, and each year they\nhave got to come in and prove that they have\nthat right. Now, I put this on the same basis,\nthat first you should review every single one\nthat has been issued, and then make a business\nof reviewing them once a year.\nBerkshire:\nWe can do that, all of the active ones. Of\ncourse there have been some three hundred labels\na day approved ever since the FAA went into\neffect.\nH.M.Jr:\nGo back - if you haven't'got enough help, get\nyour help, but go back and review every out-\nstanding label and every piece of advertisement\nthat has been issued prior to the time that you\ntook it over.\nBerkshire:\nWe can do that.\nH.M.Jr:\nBecause you don't know how many more things\nthere are.\nRegraded Unclassified\n28\n- 28 -\nBerkshire:\nThere isn't very much of this because they\npass through our office there.\nH.E.Jr:\nAnd what I would think of is getting in an\nadvisory committee of outsiders, sort of &\njury.\nBerkshire:\nWe denied this same label.\nH.M.Jr:\nDid you hear what I said?\nBerkshire:\nYes, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nI would get a kind of a jury, get some women\non them and some people - get some women and\nsome men to represent the American nation,\nrepresent the League of Women Voters, some\ngroups like that. They could be a sort of\njury. They would love it. You don't have to\npay them. You should have done it long ago.\nThen you and Foley get together. Does this\ncome under Foley?\nFoley:\nSure.\nH.M.Jr:\nWe will have a report from Philadelphia about\nthis in the next two or three days, I am sure.\nFoley:\nMonday.\nBerkshire:\nYes, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nO.K., Berkshire. I will see you Monday, Berkshire.\nWhat I am going to do, now, gents, on this frozen\nfunds, those who sat with me yesterday, we have\nadded Philip Young to the list. He said it would\nsolve 80 percent of his problems. We will meet\nagain at twelve o'clock. Frozen funds at twelve.\nI have got to see Bell.\nRegraded Unclassified\n29\nDecember 12, 1940\n10:27 a.m.\nWalter\nStewart:\nHello, Henry.\nH.M.Jr:\nHow are you?\nS:\nVery good, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nWalter, on thinking over this question of\nasking your one organization to assist us on\nthis Federal tax study, 800, on second thought\nI agree with you. I think that it is something\nthat the Treasury ought to pay for itself.\nS:\nYou do think 807\nH.M.Jr:\nYes, I do.\n3:\nYou mean - just how will you set it up then?\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, we'd set it up just the same. I mean,\nwhoever comes down we'd pay it in the regular\nway. I mean, we can pay them $22.50 and $5.\na day, I mean, for the top men.\nS:\nRight. I think I'd do that until I got deeper\ninto it anyway.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd Thompson tells me that we have money enough\nto do that.\nS:\nRight. All right, sir.\nH.M.Jr:\nSo I wanted to tell you that. On second\nthought I think we ought to do it.\n8:\nWell, then if you want me to be of any help\non personnel or something I'll be delighted\nto do it.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, we certainly will. It was most helpful\nhaving you down.\nS:\nThanks very much.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right.\n3:\nGood-bye.\nRegraded Unclassified\n30\nDecember 12, 1940\n11:14 a.m.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello.\nFiorello\nLaGuardia:\nHello, Mr. Secretary.\nH.M.Jr:\nHow are you?\nL:\nPretty good.\nH.M.Jr:\nI was Henry the other day. Why do you demote\nme?\nL:\n(Laughs). Maybe I have to be on my guard.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, you never know. Look, I got word that you\nwere coming down either Monday, Tuesday or\nWednesday - going to have lunch with me Tuesday.\nL:\nNo, I've got the Canadian Commission. Let's\nsee, Monday and Tuesday I have the Canadian\nCommission.\nH.M.Jr:\nWhere?\nL:\nIn New York.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh. I understood from\n.....\nL:\nYeah, I thought Bo too. I was off my track.\nNow I could come down Wednesday for a very\nshort time.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, do you want to come around noon?\nL:\nUh-huh.\nH.M.Jr:\nDo you like my lunches - you remember you\nkicked about it the last time you were here.\nL:\nYes. Suppose I take a 11 o'clock plane and\nthat will get me at the Air Port at 12:30.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd then you'd come up here?\nL:\nAnd then I'd come right up there and then I'd\ncome right back.\nRegraded Unclassified\n31\n- 2 -\nH.M.Jr:\nSwell.\nL:\nAll right. Then I'll make that for Wednesday.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat'll be fine.\nL:\nYeah. They're raising hell all through the\ncountry on that.\nH.M.Jr:\nOn what.\nL:\nOn your proposed unconstitutional tax.\nH.M.Jr:\nI'm getting wonderful support.\n(\nL:\nYou are. (Laughs).\nH.M.Jr:\nYes, sir, from everywhere except Palm Beach.\nL:\nPalm Beach.\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah. They don't like it.\nL:\nAw, they haven't got anything down there.\nH.M.Jr:\nThey don't like it.\nL:\nThey're just\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah.\nL:\nAll right, 12:30 Wednesday.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, you're plane gets in - you'll be here\nabout 12:45.\nL:\nYeah. The plane will be there at 12:30. Just\ngive me time to get to your office.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right. I'll be waiting for you.\nL:\nThank you.\nRegraded Unclassified\n32\nDecember 12, 1940\n11:19 a.m.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello.\nOperator:\nForrestal.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello.\nJames\nForrestal:\nHello, Henry.\nH.M.Jr:\nJames, how are you?\nF:\nWell, a little bit dizzy.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, ah - I was going to get off a wisecrack\nbut I - (laughe) - I was going to say I hope\nit isn't the blonde that's responsible.\nF:\n(Laughs).\nH.M.Jr:\nI've got these English fellows coming in at\n10:30 tomorrow morning to talk about why they\ndon't sell their stocks different and also\ntheir assets in this country, and I'd like very\nvery much to have you sit in.\nF:\n0. K., Henry.\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, I don't know whether your former boss\ntold you what he told me as to the damn fool\nway they've been selling their stuff.\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nDid he feed that to you? Have you got all of\nthat?\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nSo that you can dieh it out to them?\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, that's what I want you to do.\nF:\nAll right.\nRegraded Unclassified\n33\n- 2 -\nH.M.Jr:\nI mean, how for instance they whisper to a\nfellow - you get your security in one place\nand your money in another place?\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nHe told you all that.\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nAll right. And I'm going to try to have\nJerome Frank or somebody here from the S.E.C.\nF:\nO.K.\nH.M.Jr:\nBut I'm going to lay it right on the line and\nI need your help because you know this Wall\nStreet .....\nF:\nRacket. (Laughs).\nH.M.Jr:\nThank you, and I only know it by hearsay.\nF:\nWell, you know it good enough all right.\nH.M.Jr:\nBut I got along fine with Clarence Day\nand I liked him.\nF:\nWell, he's got a first-rate brain.\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah, and if you've got what he told me then\nI want to lay that right on the line.\nF:\n(Laughs). All right.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou've got it haven't you?\nF:\nWell, I think so, yes.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou might want to talk to him about it - Just\nhow he thinks that they've been making a fool\nof themselves up on the Street, and one of the\nthings that I want to get them to do is to\nas soon as they're out of an issue 1s to tell\nthe world.\nF:\nThat's right. Absolutely.\nRegraded Unclassified\n34\n- 3 -\nH.M.Jr:\nSee?\nF:\nThat's right.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd also that the possibility of negotiating\nsome of these sales privately.\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, you be thinking about it, will you?\nF:\nWell, I'll probably talk to him sometime\ntonight.\nH.M.Jr:\nWill you do that?\nF:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\n10:30.\nF:\nAll right, Henry.\n35\nDecember 12, 1940\n11:22 a.m.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello.\nOperator:\nChairman Frank.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello, Jerome.\nJerome\nFrank:\nHello.\nH.M.Jr:\nAre you back at work?\nF:\nOh, yes.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, good. I got your message that you went\nafter the Trans-America suit.\nF:\noh, yes. We're having lots of fireworks now.\nH.M.Jr:\nGood for you.\nF;\nThey're probably going to refuse to comply\nwith a subpoena on a cock-eyed reason and\nwe're probably in the next day or 80 going to\nhave to go into court after them.\nH.M.Jr:\nI Bee. Jerome, the reason I'm calling you\nis the English are coming in here at 10:30\ntomorrow morning to have you and Forrestal\nand me tell them why we think they've been\nhandling their sales 80 badly because I feel\nthat very strongly. You remember you and I\nspent a lot of time with them and then they\ndidn't take any of our advice.\nF:\nNo.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I told them the other day that I thought\nthey had been handling it very badly and now\nthey're coming in at 10:30 tomorrow. Could\nyou be here?\nF:\nYes. Could I bring one of my men with me?\nH.M.Jr:\nWhich one?\nF:\nI'd like to bring Purcell.\nRegraded Unclassified\n36\n- 2 -\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah. That's the fellow you had the other\ntime.\nF:\nYeah, that's right.\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah, I think that would be helpful.\nF:\nAll right. 10:30.\nH.M.Jr:\nIf you please.\nF:\nAll right.\nH.M.Jr:\nThank you.\nRegraded Unclassified\n37\nDecember 12, 1940\n11:29 a.m.\nH.M.Jr:\nHello.\nCordell\nHull:\nHenry, this is about those Grecian planes.\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah.\nH:\nThe way I understood it we undertook to get\nthe British to put up 30 in the beginning\nwhich we wanted the Greeks to have and the\nBritish said they couldn't and anyhow the upshot\nwas we were to put up 15 of these 42's or\nsomething and the British 15 and they were to\ncome out of the British order.\nH.M.Jr:\nYeah.\nH:\nNow, the British step in to you and say here\nthese don't exactly fit in over there and we'll\nfind out whether - what you have got that they\ncan use and let you know.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat's right.\nH:\nWell, now, the British are taking the thing\nout of our hands in & sense Bo far as our\npledge to the Greeks are concerned and I'm\ntelling Mr. Murray and he's agreeing with me,\nin fact suggesting 1t, that we must make clear\nto the Greeks that we are not in any way welsh-\ning on our pledge, that we're not going to let\nthe British unless they and the Greeks with\nthe Greeks voluntarily agreeing on modifying\nour promise. We re not going to modify it\nourselves or go to the Greeks and say you can't\nuse this, you can't use that and so on and 80\non and .....\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, let me ask you this: has somebody for\nthis Administration promised the Greeks 30\nplanes?\nH:\nWell, I thought the Greeks were to have 30 -\nthey asked for 60 and somebody said they - there\nare so many people who are in on this, you know.\nWelles has been in on 1t, I've been in on it\nand Berle has been on it and you've been in on it\nRegraded Unclassified\n38\n- 2 -\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, we don't have to promise anybody anything.\nH:\nYes, well then .....\nH.M.Jr:\nWe ven't promised anybody anything.\nH:\nWell, anyhow - what I'm getting at is this:\nthat we don't want the British to come back\nand tell us that they have talked the Greeks\nout of this thing and leave the Greeks wondering\nif we haven't welshed on them in some way. Now,\nwe want to keep in touch with the Greeks. I\nthink that it's understood that we were to\nbe responsible for 12, I mean, 15 to go to\nthe Greeks and we want them to know that we\nare not trying in any sense to get out through\nanything that may be said to them by the\nBritish, that we stand by our promise.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I haven't contacted the Greeks. I've\nonly talked to your office - I've talked to you\nand to Stone, that's the only person I have\ntalked to. Now on the practical side they\nclaim, and it is very easy to ascertain it,\nthat this Curtiss P-40 cannot land in Greece\nbecause they haven't got the kind of airports\nthat this plane needs. This needs a smooth\nconcrete field to land in. You see?\nH:\nYes. Well, now, we want to get that from the\nGreeks.\nH.M.Jr:\nSo I made the suggestion to Stone last night\nthat what I told him of my conversation with\nthe British be immediately repeated to the\nGreek Minister here BO that he could check up\nas to whether the English were telling the\ntruth.\nH:\nYeah. Now, Murray is going to do that this\nmorning and send you a copy of his conversation.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, who 18 Murray?\nH:\nHe's the head of the Near Eastern Division.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, you and I are together because we're\nboth saying the same thing. I said that the\nRegraded Unclassified\n39\n- 3 -\nGreeks ought to be told that to make sure\nthat the English are telling the truth.\nH:\nThat's all. We don't want the Greeks to have\nthe least occasion for suspicion.\nH.M.Jr:\nI can get that but you agree that if what the\nEnglish say is true that it would be stupid\nto send a plane over that they couldn't use.\nH:\nYes, we are glad for the British to tell us\nanything, but we want the Greeks personally in\non it.\nH.M.Jr:\nI think that 16 perfect.\nH:\nYeah.\nH.M.Jr:\nI think that's perfect.\nH:\nYes. All right, Henry.\nRegraded Unclassified\n40\nDecember 12, 1940\nRee\nlints\n12:00 m.\nPres of 12/22\nRE FREEZING\nPresent:\nMr. Bell\nMr. White\nMr. Cochran\nMr. Graves\nMr. Young\nMr. Pehle\nMr. Wiley\nMr. Klaus\nMr. Bernstein\nMr. Foley\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, where do we go?\nPehle:\nHarry seems to be missing.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, we won't wait. Go ahead.\nPehle:\nWell, on the point as to movements of Axis funds,\nI have a memorandum which points out some of the\nhigh-lights, things that have been gathered\nrecently.\nH.M.Jr:\nRead it out loud so that everybody can get it.\n(Mr. Pehle read memorandum which is Attachment 1)\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, the one thing which seems to be missing,\nin the first place, is how few cases you have,\nand the second thing is, what about that move-\nment of gold out of Portugal?\nCochran:\nI have a memorandum on that.\n(See Attachment 2)\nRegraded Unclassified\n41\n- 2 -\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, that ought to go here. Do you know about that?\nWhat is that?\nCochran:\nWell, we have gotten more gold here now than\ntheir Central Bank statement shows that they\nposess.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat ought to go on, Portugal.\nCochran:\nAnd the Federal has made some investigations of\nthat, and they are going to give us a list of\nthe different types of bars and so on that they\nhave.\nH.M.Jr:\nI think that was one of the most - how much\nmoney?\nCochran:\nAbout 70 million dollars. That is their total\ngold that they have over here now.\nH.M.Jr:\nHow much of that has come in the last two or three\nmonths?\nCochran:\nI will have to check up on that. We have had\n33 million dollars in gold shipped since\nOctober 2.\nH.M.Jr:\nThat ought to go into this thing. To me, that\nis one of the most - there is 33 million dollars\nhere, which can hire a lot of propagandists, if\nthat is German.\nWiley:\nMr. Secretary, it looks as if they have enough\nmoney already in Brazil to almost buy the\ngovernment and the armed forces.\nH.M.Jr:\nNot quite.\nWiley:\nIt is somewhere about a hundred million dollars.\nH.M.Jr:\nBut look at this thing coming out of Portugal.\nDid you know about that?\nRegraded Unclassified\n42\n- 3 -\nWiley:\nNo. The last I heard was that they had sus-\npended shipments of gold.\nPehle:\nThey are starting again, aren't they, Merle?\nH.M.Jr:\nI would add that, very definitely. Now, who\nelse was going to have things for me?\nBell:\nWhite. He was in my office at a conference,\nand he had to go to his office to get it.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh.\nCochran:\nYou asked me for several things.\nH.M.Jr:\nPlease, will you (Pehle) take this back and add\nPortugal on there.\nCochran:\nI have the statement from Sir Frederick Phillips\non their desires and the one from Clark describ-\ning the Canadian situation. I kept the one from\nSomary, which the men, most of them, have seen,\nbut which was submitted before this thing came up.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, where are they?\nCochran:\nI have them right here.\nH.M.Jr:\nI would like to have them and take them home.\nCochran:\nAnd if you want this Portugese memorandum.\nBecause we are trying to find whether the Portu-\ngese treasury owns this gold. This is the one\nfrom Clark, here is the one from Phillips, and\nthis is the Somary memoranda, and this is the\nmemo the British sent us sometime ago telling\nus what they want if we put on exchange control\nin China.\nH.M.Jr:\nIs Phillips coming now?\nCochran:\nHe is coming at 12:30 and is going into my\noffice.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 4 -\n43\nH.M.Jr:\nWho else has got some more work?\niley:\nHere is a little item of back ground, sir, that\nmight be helpful in talking to the Secretary\nof State.\n(Mr. White entered conference)\nWiley:\nThis is from the alien property custodian report\nof 1919: \"The relation between the German\nGovernment and the great German chemical houses\nwas so close that representatives of the indus-\ntry were naturally almost direct representa-\ntives of the government and their work in this\ncountry gave them unequalled opportunities for\nexamining our industries from within * #,\nAfter the war began the industry became a center\nnot only of espionage but of propaganda and of\ndirect governmental activity. The number of\nstriking instances of this development is so\ngreat that only a few can be detailed, but\nthese appear sufficiently striking * #.\"\n(See Attachment 3)\nWiley:\nNow, of course that should apply with equal\nforce to the possibilities of the present. Then\nwe have already got several items of interest\nwith regard to what is going on now: \"The FBI\nis watching the Dye Trust activities, especially\nsince two persons posing as aspirin salesmen in\nits employ were found actually to be engaged in\nsubversive or at least dubious activities in\nthe Western Hemisphere, including the carriage\nof secret codes (the Hoehne and Wolff cases).\n(Mr. Foley entered conference)\nWiley:\n\"2. Chemical Marketing Company and German Gold\nand Silver Refining Institute (Dr. Kertess and\nassociates) are undoubtedly engaged in activi-\nties close to espionage according to the Dies\nCommittee report.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 5 -\n41\n\"3. Ufa Film. This is B. propaganda agency and\nis being used in connection with the Agfa Ansco\nfor taking pictures of military objectives in\nthe Western Hemisphere in the guise of producing\n\"educational films\" for consumption in Germany.\nThen German shipping facilities, they can be\naccepted as going into that work.\nThe German money forwarding agencies, Robert\nHautz and Company, New York and Chicago; Hans\nUtsch and Company, New York; Carl Marks and\nCompany, New York; etc., are believed clearly\nto need investigation.\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, I can't remember, but I know I have asked\neach one of you for something. Does that\nfinish you?\nWiley:\nA little later I will have something.\nH.M.Jr:\nFine. I will give you a call. Harry?\nWhite:\nYou asked for a description of the treatment of\nAmerican property interests by Germany, Japanese,\nCanada, and Italy.\nH.M.Jr:\nYes.\nWhite:\nI have it here. Would you like me to read the\nsummaries or just tell you?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, I want to take it and read it at home.\nWhite:\nThe one on Italy, as I indicated before, is\nrather brief.\nH.M.Jr:\nHave you got anything else?\nWhite:\nThen you asked for a statement of the remittances\nby the--\nII.M.Jr:\nPost office.\nRegraded Unclassified\n45\n- 6 -\nWhite:\nYes. We had submitted those figures about two\nmonths ago. We got in touch with the Post\nOffice and the American Express Company to\nfind out that, and we brought them up to date\nas much as possible.\nH.V.Jr:\nI would like them all. I will take it all home\nand do the best I can.\nShite:\nAll right. There is a brief memorandum here on\nwhat the fund might do with regard to Latin\nAmerican relations.\nR.S.Jr:\nYou give all of that stuff that you prepared to\nMcKay and tell him to send it up to the house.\nWhite:\nRight. There is one thought that occurred to\nme that I don't think has been mentioned. I\nhaven't heard it mentioned. It just occurred\nto me today. With respect to the possibilities\nof controlling subversive activities in Latin\nAmerica through the extension of exchange control,\nall that information that we received of the\ntie-up between American concerns and others is\nvery comprehensive. There is E possibility that\nmight be worth thinking about, that where ex-\nports are sent to companies that this Govern-\nment doesn't approve of through agents, through\nthe extension of exchange control, you have an\ninstrument which you can use if you wish in that\nso as to get the changes made by the American\ncompanies if they don't see fit to cooperate\nthrough the ordinary channels.\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, does Mr. Wiley get those Nelson Rockefeller\nreports?\nWhite:\nI don't know. I have got them on my desk, and was\ngoing to - didn't know who they would go to.\nH.F.Jr:\nThe ones where he is looking into which American\nbusinesses are being--\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 7 -\n4S\nWhite:\nThat is right. I was going to give them to\nGaston.\nKlaus:\nWe got one set on Peru and a report from the\nState Department man.\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, Nelson Rockefeller.\nKlaus:\nHe sent them in. They were State Department\nreports.\nH.M.Jr:\nYou had better get together with White and make\nsure they are the same things.\nWhite:\nIf they haven't got them, I will make them avail-\nable.\nH.M.Jr:\nIt is something Rockefeller made available to\nme personally. I doubt if you have them.\nWhite:\nThey are very comprehensive. It is one of the\nbest jobs I have seen done on anything like\nthat. I was very much suprised at the amount\nof work they have done in a brief time of that\ncaliber.\nH.M.Jr:\nJust make sure, because it ought to flow into\nthem for digestion.\nWhite:\nI think it has great possibilities.\nH.M.Jr:\nWill you?\nWhite:\nI will do that.\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, just a second. Tomorrow morning at ten-\nthirty the English are coming in on their securi-\nties, and I would like to have you (Bell) here\nand White and you (Cochran). That is all that\nsits with me on England, isn't it?\nBell:\nI think that is all that has been in so far.\nWhite:\nYou wouldn't want to have one of the men in the\nSEC?\n47\n- 8 -\nM.M.Jr:\nYes. I an having Frank and Purcell.\n:\nOh, you are.\nR.C.Jr:\nYes, Frank and Purcell.\nCochran:\nAnd Clark just accepted. He will be here.\nR.H.Jr:\nGood. Now, there is, and we seem to have for-\ngotten it, & committee that is supposedly between\nthe State Department and the Treasury and in\nwhich you (Bell) represented me on this thing.\nYou remember when we were over there, we said\nwe would appoint a committee. Now, as you\nremember, who was it up to to call that meet-\ning.\nFell:\nHull.\nS.M.Jr:\nWas it up to Hull?\nBell:\nHe went out of the room, and you said, \"Bell\nis at your disposal, and we will wait until he\nhears from you, so he said, \"All right, I will\nget in touch with you in the next few days.\"\nAlso at the last Cabinet meeting I attended,\nthe President said that Mr. Hull \"has the\nSecretary's memorandum and he is supposed to\nget in touch with you in the next two or three\ndays. Mr. Hull said again, \"I will call you\nin the next few days.\"\nThen that is all right.\nBell:\nThat is the last I have heard of it.\nJr:\nNow, why is Philip Young here? How does he\ncome into this thing? In this thing, there are\nB. number of agencies - let's put it in this way.\nI am a exporter. Let's say we put on exchange\ncontrol. I want to sell & thousand dollars\nexport stuff, and the thing we have got to en-\nvisage - while you (Bell) are busy, if somebody\ncould take this who isn't overworked - it is\nan administrative matter - that this exporter\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 9 -\n48\ncould make an application, let's say to Foreign\nFunds, if that would be the place, and also all\nthe other things so that when he got a license\nhe wouldn't have to go to a half dozen agencies\nin Washington, see. Now, I think what we ought\nto do is, let's take the initiative so that this\nexporter - I mean, after all, if he has got to\ngo here, if he has got to go to Colonel Maxwell,\nif he has got to go to Joe Green - where else?\nYoung:\nIf it is a new order that has to be placed, it\nclears through my office, and we, in turn, clear\nit with Defense and War and Navy and State.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, Harold, you are always quiet, so you never\nseen busy, although I know you are busy. This\nis EL strictly administrative matter. I mean\nthe machinery. You see what I mean. I wish\nyou would take on this thing, you see. You\nhave been studying Pehle's setup. Now study Ree Pres the\nbe set up so that this exporter, when he applies\nthe thing that Young can give you. How can it to of\nfor the funds, can get the whole works, 80 that 12-23\nhe doesn't - the poor fellow would wear himself\nout, so by the time he gets through, he would\nsay, \"Well, the hell with it, I would rather not\nsell it,\" see. It is administrative machinery,\nwhich you are a past master at.\nWhite:\nI think there is a way of doing it.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, but I mean the question of the setup, and\nall that, and all you other fellows are mixed\nup with Argentine and China and God knows what\nelse, so I think, Phil, if you and Harold could\nget together, you see, and pour out your heart\nto him and tell him the troubles about the\nPriorties Committee, and McReynolds is in on\nthis too, but Mac tells me, when I ask him,\nthat he can't find out what Don Nelson is doing\nbecause Don Nelson won't let him see the forms\nthat he wants the President to sign, you see.\nWhite:\nI think that would be a remarkable development,\n49\n- 10 -\nif you could head that into one hand because\nthat is one of the difficulties they are hav-\ning in all the other countries, is that they\nare segregated, and there is a lot of red tape.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I mean Mac tells me that, and he says,\n\"Well, I will go down the hall and see Don Nelson\nand find out what he is doing.\" Well, that was\na week ago, but it is your old pal Mac. You\nknow Mac when he doesn't want to do something,\nthat is, you know him just as well as I do.\nBut I would like to - I don't say that it all\nshould be headed up in the Treasury, but I do\nsay that a manufacturer shouldn't have to go to\nthree different places to get an export license\nand B. permit for the money because they won't\nstand for it.\nWhite:\nThe policy cannot head up here. It shouldn't.\nThe administration absolutely would have to--\nH.M.Jr:\nNow, I am coming to that. I am glad you men-\ntioned it. The question of the machinery, I\nthink, ought to be here. Now, as to policy,\nthat is something else.\nWhite:\nThat is right.\nH.N.Jr:\nAnd what I think, the question of - the way I\nlook at it, whether a man should or shouldn't,\nthe high policy, I think, should be settled by\nState, Treasury, and Commerce, possibly War and\nNavy. But there ought to be those five Depart-\nments.\nBell:\nLeaving out the Defense Commission?\nWhite:\nThey don't need them, but they will get their\nfoot in.\nH.M.Jr:\nBut anyway, I am just thinking out loud, and as\nI say, somebody has got to carry this through\nadministratively, but I think certainly State,\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 11 -\n50\nTreasury, War, Navy, Commerce--\nI am not at all sure you want Mar and Navy on it,\nYoung:\nexcept in an advisory capacity.\nE.I.Jr:\nWell, after all, how are you going to tell\nwhether a machine tool should leave the country\nif the Navy says they need it.\nWhite:\nThey have got to be on it.\nE...Jr:\nOh, sure they have.\nI think one person from the National Defense.\nNow supposing a man is going to sit on Pri-\norities. He will say, \"Well, I need this\nmachine tool.\" Well, it is like the case you\n(Young) cited me the other day. They wanted\nto buy some boxcars - I may not have it exactly\nright - from South Africa and they wanted to\nplace the order in a factory that is now making\ntanks. Now, should South Africa be permitted to\nget an export license and be permitted to place\nthe order with a company who is making tenks?\nNow the question is the Priorities, and I think\nit would be Nelson who is the administrative\nhead of the Priorities Board. That is the way\nI feel as of today.\nWhite:\nHow about the Department of Justice in view of\nthe activities of the FBI and so on?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo. They are legal advisors.\nNow I am just throwing this out, you see. I\nam beginning to get in to the thing, just begin-\nning. How does it sound to you, Ed?\nFoley:\nAll right.\nH.M.Jr:\nWould that be two things: administrative\nmachinery in one spot, and then a board which\nwould sit once & week and fix the high policies\nas to what should or shouldn't go out.\nRegraded Unclassified\n51\n- 12 -\nFoley:\nYes. There are so many Departments involved in\nit you have to have an inter-departmental board,\nas far as policy is concerned.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd that would really be a board of economic\nwarfare.\nFoley:\nThat is right, and if you had the administration\nhere where the policy that was determined would\nbe carried out and not sabotaged--\nWhite:\nAnd another thing the administration would break\ndown if the administration has to determine the\npolicy alone.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, I wouldn't take the responsibility, Harry.\nWhite:\nNo, I don't think you should, but if you can\nsegregate the two, the better job the policy\nboard does, the simpler the administration,\nand it can be very effectively done, I think,\nand done with much less red tape than elsewhere.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd not done by personal hunches the way it is\nnow. I mean the best example is in the room\nhere, Mr. Hull tells me that somebody, he doesn't\nknow who, has given the Greeks their word of\nhonor that we are going to give them 15 Curtiss\nP-40's, and the English are going to give them\n15. I said, \"Well, who gave them that word?\"\nHe said, \"I don't know, somebody did.\" And\neverybody else tries to scramble around and make\ngood on it, and the British say positively that\nthe Curtiss P-40 can't be flown by a Greek\nbecause he doesn't know how to fly it, and in\nthe second place there is no field where they\ncan land it, because they need an absolutely\nperfect landing field. Otherwise, it is a\nbeautiful idea.\nWhite:\nI think that policy committee would have to be\nof Cabinet rank, Mr. Secretary.\nH.M.Jr:\nOh, definitely.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 13 -\n52\nWhite:\nThey could have subcommittees to deal with\nany technical material.\nH.M.Jr:\nHow do you like that, just pulling it out of\nthe air? I dreamed it. Did you dream it?\nWhite:\nI think that is a perfect plan and an essential\nplan.\nH.M.Jr:\nDid you dream it, Harry?\nWhite:\nNo, I didn't dream much last night. (Laughter)\n(Discussion off the record)\nH.M.Jr:\nPhilip, you have given a lot of thought to this.\nDoes this at all fall into what you have been\ngroping for?\nYoung:\nYes, sir, it does. You will find an ardent\nsupporter for that scheme in Berle. He and\nI have talked about exactly the same sort of a\nplan, of a coordinating committee at the top\nwith the administration centralized, which he\nis very enthusiastic about and also very anxious\nthat the administration be carried on in the\nTreasury.\nH.M.Jr:\nYes, but I mean this would fall into - I haven't\ngiven you a chance to pour out your heart on this,\nbut would this be along the lines that you have\nbeen thinking?\nYoung:\nYes, exactly, because, at the present time, you\nhave four clearances that a foreign supplier\nhas to go through. Joe Green, technically under\nthe neutrality act; Maxwell, in the interest of\ndefense, representating the President; my office\nfor the placement of an order before even a con-\ntract can be signed, and frozen funds where you\nrun into it at the moment or everywhere if ex-\nchange control is put on. Our difficulty is in\nkeeping control over foreign orders which may\ncome into the category of strategic items or\nwar supplies, the boundary line being very\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 14 -\n53\nshadowy. Where they come through the hands of\nimport firms and agents over whom you have no\ncontrol, because the original setup for our\noffice was to deal directly with the foreign\ngovernment, and you have all of these purchases\nin instances where you don't have purchasing\nmissions or accredited representatives coming\nthrough all sorts of different ways.\nH.M.Jr:\nHarold, you see there are these four agencies,\nand I think the argument for the Treasury doing\nit is - after all we have Customs, which can be\nused to reverse - I mean they could be used to\nsupervise stuff going out as well as coming in.\nWe have Coast Guard to stop the boat from leaving\nif we don't want it to. We have complete con-\ntrol of all ports now through the port captains.\nWe have - we issue a license before a ship can\nsail through our ship control. We issue the\nlicenses for the money, so the machinery, the\npolicing and all that, I think, belongs here.\nGraves:\nIs this contingent upon the extension of the\nforeign funds control to the uncovered areas,\nor is it a separate proposition in your mind?\nH.M.Jr:\nNo, what I would do - what I am thinking of,\nif I was going to do this for the President,\nI would lay the whole thing before him so he\ncould do it all at once, freeze the funds,\nset up this thing, and the whole thing would\nbe explained.\nGraves:\nBut they do hang together?\nH.M.Jr:\nDefinitely.\nBell:\nBut this other thing was in the mill before the\nextension of foreign funds came up. You have\nbeen talking about this with Philip, how it\ncould be separated and still work.\nH.M.Jr:\nYes, but if I am going to do this, why not let's\ndo a good job for the President, and also it\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 15 -\n54\nkind of takes the curse off the foreign funds\nbusiness. It doesn't stick out like a sore\nthumb.\nBull:\nI think if a decision were made not to go any\nfurther on freezing foreign funds, you still\nmight want to do this.\nE.C.Jr:\nThat is right.\nBell:\nIn order to get the loose ends together.\nM.M.Jr:\nI didn't understand, but I think this is defi-\nnitely something which needs a smooth running\nmachine, and Harold is the fellow to do it.\nWhite:\nIsn't there an additional reason why it should\nbe in the Treasury Department, Mr. Secretary?\nThe State Department after all is the important\nDepartment that shapes foreign policy.\nH.M.Jr:\nRight.\nWhite:\nAnd it seems to me that there should be & seg-\nregation between the shaping of policy which\ncorresponds to legislation, the legislative\nbranch of the Government, and the administration\nbranch of the Government, those who execute the\npolicy. In that way you get both a counter-check\nand the division of labor lends for efficiency;\nand, I think, for that reason alone - and those\nare the only two Departments who could possibly\nhandle it. For that reason alone, it should be\nhere.\nI.M.Jr:\nHarold, what I would like you to do - I didn't\nmean to shut you off.\nWhite:\nNo, I an through.\nH.M.Jr:\nDo you like the way I am approaching this now?\nBell:\nVery much.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 16 -\n55\nH.H.Jr:\nWhat I would like you to do is, anybody that\nyou (Graves) don't know, and I think the person\nwhose work you likely know the least about is\nYoung. Get that. I would get hold of McReynolds\nnot later than tomorrow and give him a sketch\nof this thing 50 that he doesn't go off on some\nangle before it is too late, and then tell him\nthat we want to work with him on this, you see.\nGet to Mac not later than tomorrow.\nGraves:\nRight.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd tell him quite frankly just what we have in\nmind.\nWhite:\nWould you want this to get out before you inform\nthe President.\nH.M.Jr:\nWell, McReynolds is administrative assistant to\nthe President. Any orders have to flow through\nhim anyway.\nWhite:\nThat is the channel?\nH.M.Jr:\nYes. Administrative orders have to be set up\nby McReynolds for the President.\nWhite:\nBut you weren't thinking of McReynolds taking it\nup with the Council of Defense first.\nH.M.Jr:\nIn his capacity as administrative assistant, as\na man who draws up these orders, isn't that right?\nGraves:\nThat is right.\nH.M.Jr:\nAnd is a Treasury employee on leave--\nBell:\nHe has already discussed one phase of it with\nDon Nelson.\nH.M.Jr:\nI know, but the thing is all sixes and sevens.\nNow, if it could be done in a nice adminis-\ntrative package, the whole thing would have an\nappeal to the President, and he would say, \"Well,\nRegraded Unclassified\n56\n- 17 -\nthis makes sense.\" What do you think, Wiley?\nWiley:\nSounds all right to me.\nM.M.Jr:\nNothing in here but what it would be much easier\nfor you to work. Well, Harold, get your teeth\ninto this thing. Is anybody, from an administre-\ntive standpoint, unhappy about this?\nCochran:\nJust the one thing. You would consult with State\nand Commerce on this business of extending the\nfreezing before you tried to put it in--\nII..Jr:\nOh--\nCochran:\nThat is my only reservation.\n.....Jr:\nThey way I would do it now, if I were going to\ndo it, I would consult with Mr. Hull after we\nhave the whole package rather than a piece of\nit.\nCochran:\nBut give him 8. chance to give his O.K. before\nit goes to the President.\nM.M.Jr:\nOh, sure, but I don't want to - I wasn't happy\nto walk over just on this thing, but the way\nI Bill talking and thinking, it secms to me that\nthat is something that might appeal to Mr. Hull\nand to anybody else who is interested. I mean,\non this basis, after we go along 8. little Tur-\nther - you see, I will keep pushing it.\nWhite:\nThere is one consideration that is not quite\nclear, Mr. Secretary. Luch of what you are\nspeaking of in the exchange would not apply to\npresent controls, SO that it really has point\nonly if there is some extension because the\nkind of problems that come bafore Philip and\nthe other groups do not apply to most of the\ncountries with which we freeze the funds, so\nthat the kind of problems that they would con-\ntend with, it seems to ne, depends largely\nupon the prior assumption that it is zoin to\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 18 -\n57\nbe extended into other areas. Otherwise, the\norganization doesn't have much point with the\nkind of problems that are confronting it now.\nH.N.Jr:\nBut this puts the whole thing together. It is\na vast, important problem, and the President can\nsee it and whereas a man withdraws from taking\naction because he is afraid of the administra-\ntive end of it, he will say, \"I can do this.\nThis is all right. This will work.\"\nO.K., gents, I hope you all have a nice after-\nnoon.\nNOTROUTS or AXIS JUNDS\n58\nTRANSFIRS TO SOUTH AMERICA. It is reported that since September soss\n$4,600,000 of German funds have bom transferred to South American banks,\nand that approximately $2,300,000 has returned from Argentina and Pera to\nthe account of the Reichabank in Too York. During: the - period there vas\ntransferred from Italian assomia in the United States approximately\n$13,000,000 to South incrios, of which $10,000,000 vest to the Italian\nRoberty in Brasil from the Italian Foreign Imlange Central Tunis in You Terk\nand in addition, $4,500,000 MM and in ask by courier. As & result of\nrecent return transfers of Less than $1,000,000 the net amount of Italian\nfunds transferred to latin America since September anomis to more then\n$16,000,000. Recent information indicates that the Bank of leasil expects\nto reseive $10,000,000 for credit to a Jupenese assess M part of the\nJapanese program designed to centralise dollar enclungs operations of the\nToknhama Specie Bank with the Tank of Brasil.\nGERMAN runns. The flow of Gurna funds in this country appears principally\nto have been to the accounts of Swedish banks here, $1,500,000 being trans-\nforred to such assocate from Gream abcounts since November 25. About\n$1,350,000 is known to have born transferred to Swine accounts here, while\n$750,000 has returned from Buies to Garman accounts. Cash withdrawale from\nGerman consular accounts since December 1 have anounted to $850,000.\nof this amount $650,000 was vithirawn W the Censul General in New York,\nwho paid $530,000 to cover interest payments n German bonds. The remining\n$120,000 is apparently still in the consulate. The Bernan Tubseay in\nVashington recently reseived $200,000 w draft from the Reichobank, Berlin,\nand obtained this amount in notes of $20 to $1,000 demoninations. There is\n- indication that eash deposite are being mão by the Relahsbank by way\nof South America, National City Bank having resently reseived $180,000 w\nthis mothod.\nITALIAN runds. Transfers of Italian funds, excluding those to South America,\nhave been principally to Spanish, Swedish, and American assomite and treasfers\nfrom Sundish to Italian assomis have been noted. It has also boen recently\nreported that the Italian Attache at Tokyo has carried $800,000 is American\ncurrency from Shanghai to Japan. Further reporte indicate that substantial\nItalian Government funds have been converted into eash which is being kept\non diplomatic premises.\nJAPANESE FUNDS. Japanese Institute, Inc., a Japanase cultural organization,\nis known to have been reseiving its principal Income from the Japancee Consul\nGeneral in New York. The various Infence consular officers throughout the\nWorld are apparently being supplied with funds from the Japanese consuler\naccounts with the Bank of America.\nRegraded Unclassified\n2\nC\n59\n0\nP\nY\nDecember 9, 1940\nMr. Cochran\nMr. Hawkey\nSubject: Gold shipped here by and for\naccount of the Bank of Portugal.\nMore than $70 million in gold has arrived here from Portugal\nsince the beginning of July, 1940, shipped by and for account of the\nBank of Portugal. Since all of the gold was earmarked upon arrival\nin New York, that Bank's gold balance here rose from $30.1 million\nas of July 3 to $109.8 million at the clost of December 5. (About\n$6.0 million of this increase resulted from the purchase of gold\nfrom the U. S. Stabilization Fund.)\nOn October 10, I wrote you a memorandum in which comparison was\nmade between the Bank's gold in New York and the asset item\n\"Encaisse-or\" (gold coin and bullion) on the Bank's own weekly\nstatement. At that time, the most recent statement available was\ndated August 21, and it could not be asserted definitely that the\nBank's gold in New York was of B. greater value than its \"Encaisse-or.\"\nWe have now received the Bank's statement as of October 2,\nlisting an \"Encaisse-or\" of $69.1 million. On the same date, its\ngold balance in New York amounted to $70.5 million and since October\n2, the Bank of Portugal has shipped another $33.3 million in gold\nto New York. (All of this has arrived: there is no gold in transit\nat present.) We have no \"encaisse-or\" figure available for dates\nsubsequent to October 2, but since this item has moved upward less\nthan $2.0 million in the past six years, it is very likely that\nlittle or no change has taken place since early October.\nThe foregoing information is tabulated below (in millions of\ndollars):\nImports for\nGold bal-\n\"Encaisse-\nacct. of Bk.\nance here\nor\" 3/\nPeriod-1940\nof Port. 1/\n(At end of each period)\n$30.1 (July 3)\n$68.8 (July 3)\nJuly 4 - 31\n$ 7.1\n37.8\n68.9\nAug. 1 - Sept. 4\n16.7\n55.3\n68.9\nSept. 5 - Oct. 2\n15.2\n70.5\n69.1\nOct. 3 - 31\n21.1\n97.6\n(69.1) Carried\nRegraded Unclassified\n60\n- 2 -\nNov. 1 - Dec. 5\n12.2\n109.8\n(69.1) Forward\nAll from Portugal, except $1.4 million from England in July.\nDuring October, the Bank of Portugal also purchased $6.0 million\nin gold from the U. S. Fund.\n3/ According to 1931 law, the Bank values its gold at .066567 fine\ngrams per escudo; conversion of escudo value into dollars hence\nmade at the rate of $.0748 per escudo.\nThe apparent conclusion is that the Bank of Portugal has sent\nto the United States at least $33.3 million of gold not shown in\nits \"Encaisse-or\". Since only $14.6 million of Bank of Portugal\ngold arrived here during the first half of 1940 (of which $2.1\nmillion came from Portugal and about $12.5 million from England),\nit may be further concluded that most of the \"extra\" gold was shipped\nin the past five months.\nThis \"extra\" gold may be any of the following:\n1) The Bank of Portugal's own gold. In addition to the gold\nlisted under \"Incaisse-or\", there is a reason to believe\nthat the Bank carries some gold in its asset item \"Dispon-\nibilittesor a l'etranger et autres reserves\" (liquid gold\nexchange assets abroad and other reserves). Here is some\nevidence: in the week ended March 20, 1940, the Bank purchased\nslightly less than $5.0 million in gold from the U. S. Fund\nin order to strengthen its gold reserves. In that week, its\n\"Incaisse-or\" changed not even 8 fraction of one escudo.\n\"Disponibilities, etc.\", however, rose $4.9 million (using the\nrate of $.0749)\nAbout a year ago, the largest amount of gold that could\nhave been included under \"Disponsibilities, etc\". was $22.0\nmillion. In the Bank's statement for December 30, 1939, this\nitem was valued at 536.3 million escudos. Examination of the\nBank's annual report for 1939 reveals that 242.2 million\nescudos of the above represented the Bank's holdings of the\nGovernment of Portugal's 3% sterling obligations. Therefore,\nthe maximum amount of gold that could have been included under\nthis item was 294.1 million escudos worth, or $22.0 million.\n(The Bank's holdings of dollars were negligible at that time.)\n2) Gold held by the Portuguese Treasury. The Federal Reserve\nRegraded Unclassified\n-3-\n61\nBulletin, in its table \"Gold Reserves of Central Banks and\nGovernments\", uses only the Bank's \"Incaisse-or\" figure,\nconverted at $.0748. But the Portuguese Bank's annual report\nfor 1939 shows a table of the Treasury's liquid assets at the\nend of November, 1939, wherein appeared 430.2 million escudos\nworth of gold in bars, equivalent to $32.2 million.\nFor all we know, the Bank of Portugal may have exchanged\nits holdings of Portuguese Government sterling bonds for\nTreasury gold, shipping the latter to New York.\n3) Gold of some foreign bank or government, in the shipment and\nearmarking of which the Bank of Portugal acted really as\nintermediary. Unless we receive further evidence that 8\nthird party's interest was involved, it would seem inad-\nvisable to question the Bank of Portugal for what appear to\nbe shipments of \"extra\" gold. The information presented under\nthe preceding two points suggests that Portugal does own gold\nbeyond that shown in the \"Encaisse-or\" asset item of the\nPortuguese Bank statement. Regarding the markings on gold\nbars already shipped here, from Portugal, I think you will\nagree that these cannot be offered as proof of ownership, since\nmany Continental assay marks constitute good delivery in\nEurope's gold markets.\n#The dollar funds used in this purchase were remitted to the\nFederal by various banks in New York. Indication that the\nBank of Portugal acquired such dollars during that same week\nis given in the Bank's statement, wherein Portuguese bank\ndeposits at the Bank of Portugal rose 100 million escudos, or\nslightly more than $4. million.\nRegraded Unclassified\n62\nRegraded ev Unclassified\nA partial list of corporations of subversive activity 07 of\ncensealing assets subject to freesing:\nAs Japanase. Mr. White has estimated that our assets in Japan are\naround $200,000,000. Obviously our bargaining position with regard to\nJapan my term an the concealment of substantial assets by Japanese is\nthe United States.\n1. Tekeheme Specie Bank. This Bank has breaches in New York, Hawaii\nand Sep Francisco, is controlled by the Japanese government, and has at-\nready been found to have filed false reports consealing about $100,000,000\nin assets from American banking authorities.\na. Mitoubishi Bank, Led., New York.\n8. Missui Bank, Ltd., Now York.\n4. Bank of Chosen, lieu York.\n8. Sendtome Bank, Ltd., New Yerk.\n6. Bank of Taisan, Ltd., New York.\n7. Eyede Wire Insurance 00., Ltd., New York.\na. Meiji Fire Insurance Go., Ltd., New York.\n9. Mippen Pire Insurance Go., Ltd., Homolulu.\n20. Tokyo Marine and Fire Insurance Do., Ltd., Nov York.\n11. Iwai and Company, Led., New York (impart and export).\n12. Marimure Brothers, Inc., New York (impert).\n19. Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd., New York (impert and export).\n16. Tenancial of Company, Ltd., Osaka, Japen (dealore is are goods\nwith then Customs has had difficulties).\n63\n- 2 -\n15. Nagoya Seite Kaisha, Ltd., New York (chineware).\n16. Mitsui and Company, Ltd., New York (trading in commodities).\n17. Nissho Company, Ltd., New York (import and export).\n18. Fuso Marine and Pire Insurance Co., Ltd., New York.\n19. Temacho and Company, Ltd., Beattle (import and export).\n(All of the above have been incorporated in Japan, but are doing\nbusiness in the United States. The 1939 tax returns in many of the above\ncases show alleged locass.)\n20. Among the large accounts being monitored by FBI is Shows Teache\nKaisha, which in New York City shows balances in excess of $500,000.\nIn addition there are Japamese banks in Hawaii (two or three) and the\nPhilippines which are apparently viewed with suspicion by FBI.\nB. Gorman. German controlled corporations which are more or less nb-\nject to suspicion include the following:\n1. German Dye Trust. This consists of a group of corporations,\nincluding General Analine and Film Corporation and subsidiaries some of which\nare as follows:\nAgfa Ansee.\nAgfa Raw Film Corporation.\nOsalid Corporation.\nWinthrey Chemical Company (80 per cent).\nAmerican Magnesium Corporation (80 per east).\nRegraded Unclassified\n64\n- 3 -\nThis group was described as far back at the last way (Alien Prop-\ncrty Custodian report, 1919) as follows:\n\"The relation between the German Government and the\ngreat German chemical houses was # clese that represents-\ntives of the industry were naturally almost direct repre-\nsentatives of the government and their work in this country\ngave them unequalled opportunities for examining our 100\ndustries from within : After the war began the\nindustry become a center net only of espionage but of\npropaganda and of direct governmental activity. The number\nof striking instemees of this development is ⑉ greet that\nonly a few can be detailed, but these appear sufficiently\nstriking . . \",\"\nThe FBI is watching the Dye Trust activities, especially since\ntwo persons posing M aspirin salemen in its employ 1020 found actually to\nbe engaged in subversive or at least dubious activities in the Testern Hende-\nphere, including the carriage of secret codes (the liochne at Welff casse).\ns. Chemical Marketing Company at Come Gold and Silver Befining\nInstitute (Dr. Kerbese end associates) are undoubtodly engaged in activities\nclose to espiemage ascording to the Dies Committee report.\n5. Ura Film. This 10 a propaganda agency at 10 being used in\nconnection with the Agfa Assee for taking pictures of military objectives\nin the Western Hemisphere in the guise of producing \"educational filme\"\nfor consumption in Germany.\n4. German Shipping at Tourist Agencies (HAPAD, North German\nLloyd, German Railroads Information).\na. German Money Forwarding Agencies (Robert Hants and Company,\nNew York and Chicago: Same Utesh and Company, See Yesh: Carl Marks and Date\npasty, New York; etc.)\nRegraded Unclassified\n65\n- 4 -\n6. Dures Plastics and Chemical Company, North Tonovanda, New York.\nFBI is interested in this company.\n7. Pilot Reinsurance Company, 70 Pine Street, New York. Forty-six\nper cent of the stock 18 owned by non-resident German aliens worth $1,240,000.\ns. Allgemeine Klektricitats Gesellschaft, Berlin.\nC. Italy. Italian banks represent the chief subject of interest with\nregard to Italy. They are controlled by the Italian Exchange Institute and\ntheir transections as reported to us have been multifarious and mysterious.\nThey include the following:\n1. Banes Commerciale Italians, New York agency (a foreign or\nporation)\na. Credite Italians, New York agency,\n5. The subsidiaries of the Italian Exchange Institute, such as\nthe Bance di Napoli Trust Company, Nov York and Chicago, and the Bease -\nmerciale Italiana branches. The you has been observing these banks. The\nresident alien president of the Benes di Mapoli, Chicago, w recently die-\ncharged by the Italian Archange Institute for not being sufficiently pro-\nFascist.\n4. The General Insurance Company, Led., Trieste. This company 10\nbeing watched by British Intalligence at 10 engaged is mysterious financial\ntransactions in the United States through at individual and Hernth, resid-\ning in the Hotel Pennsylvania, New Yerk.\nRegraded Unclassified\n66\n- 8 -\nB. Do Mobile Cigar Company, Brooklyn, New York, is Italiam wa-\ntwolled; paid dividends to non-resident Italians in 1939 of about $88,000 with\na stock value of $1,546,000.\nD. Switserland. The largest amount of payments to non-resident aliens\nin non-frosen Continental Europe today 10 in Swiss names. It is believed\nthat the largest portion of this is Geman (for comple, I. 0. Farben).\nThe Electrolux Corporation 10 a suspect company. Thirty-seven\nper cont of the total outstanding stock 10 represented by dividends to\nnon-resident aliens with Swine addresses. The FBI has been watching the\nSuede, Arel Weaner Grean (owner of the yesht SOUTHERN CROSS), of this our\nporation very closely. The company has 331 brench offices manufacturing\nand selling THERE excepers etc.\nOther Swies companies that might bear emmination are Hoffman-\nLaReche, Inc., of Matley, New Jersey, paying dividends to Swice names above-\ning a stock value of over $5,000,000 Sendes Chemical Works, New York City,\npaying dividends to a company in Basle, Suitserland, showing stock worth\nabout $1,500,000; Syar Distributing Company of Nashville, Teansses, paying\ndividends to one Adalyh Geneg, Durich, with stock valued at $1,314,000; ore.\nSK:von - 12/12/40 - - 5\nRegraded Unclassified\n4\n67\nThere are undoubtedly types of reprehensible activity not made oriminal\nby any statute and which 4. regine of foreign exchange control would probably\nnot affect in any direct way. For example, the employment by the Glenn Martin\nplant of substantial members of persons suspected of being Mest sympathisers;\nagainst this FBI has apparently been unable to do enything today and in the\nabsence of action by the plant itself nothing further of a remedial nature\ncan apparently be expected. A twilight sone existe with regard to American\nenterprises and funds used for pro-Axis purposes-en example, perhaps, 10 the\nalleged fortune of Whitehead, deceased operater of the Cose Cola bostling\nbusiness.\nThe following are some transactions which have already taken place over\nwhich the Treasury would have & ascaure of control in the event of the insti-\ntusion of a foreign exchange centrol regise.\n1. Une of American dollar balances (frequently in surrency) in 1745\nactions involving alleged repatriation of German securities held in this\ncountry. It has been estimated by Mr. White's division that during the month\nof October and the first two vocks of November $15,000,000 in eash alone was\nspent repurchasing $75,000,000 par value of German bonds as a misimm 0811-\nmate, amounting to about 60 per cent of all German dollar bonds held is the\nUnited States. Under a regine of fereign exchange control we would know more\nabout the precise purpose of such transactions (the British have intercepted\novidence that this has to do with German preparation for an appearment pro-\n(7th in the United States at the continuence of the fraudulent bankruptcy\nprogram involving a cheap depletion of United States bargaining power by\nvay of off-sets). It also appears from FBI reports that German refuges\nRegraded Unclassified\n63\n- 1 -\nin this country are being used in acas of these transactions (for example,\nJakeb Goldschmidt, A.E.B. Corporation) and that in this connection these\ntransactions are being used to cover up the salting essy of funds for\nother purposes, possibly subversive (for example, FBI's discovery of\nMargaret Goyl, a stooge for Hermann Kollmar, and the Transfer Trues Limited's\nactivities in Mexico City).\n1. The Rueckwanderer mark system involves the probable dispoiling of\nthe life sevings of large numbers of gullible Germans in this country for\nverious ends (the Chase National Bank alone from July through October handled\n$1,160,000 of this kind). Today nothing 18 being done to stop this (although\n\" have turned the matter over to the FBI) but under & system of foreign\nexchange control this fraud upon residents of this country could be promptly\nstopped. Related to this is the feed package recket also indulged in by the\nRussians.\n8. Aria powers are reseiving reyalties on American patents and sopyrights\nin substantial - but are refusing to make any payments except in blocked\naccounts to imericans in similar eircumstances. Under the proposed regime\nthis might premptly become a natier for negotiation.\n4. amounts of surrency are being shuttled between this and\nother countries for activities largely subversive. The amount of money ear-\nried by Italian couriers to South American 18, as any realist know, sufficient\nto purchase the allegiance of persons of the highest importance in these cour-\ntries, sad the American dollar is undoubtedly being used as the surrency of\npayment for activities against our interests throughout the world. The pro-\nRegraded Unclassified\n69\n- $ -\nposse regine could prevent cash from being paid out of bank accounts to such\ndiplomate and could be used for diplomatic demarches to prevent importation\nor exportation abuses.\n5. Payment and receipt of remittences from Seviet sources, undoubtodly\nfor Communist purposes, are me entirely lewful and have taken place in -\nstential amounts. The proposed regine would provent this.\n6. Payments by consulates, embassies, serporations, end individuals\nfalling under the inhibitions of foreign exchange control could be serutinized.\nToday the Chemical Marketing Company and other organizations of the kind No\nforred to in the Dies Committee White Paper\" would be subjected to class\nserutiny.\n7. Transfers of credits emounting to flight of And credits to Latin\nAmerica to be used undoubtedly, however, within the United States by gradual\nrepatriation in currency or disguised credit transactions are me teking place.\nThe Italians, for instance, are reported to have in this name? built up a\nbalance in Rie of m less than $10,000,000. The Japanese end Germans are\ndoing the same, The purpose of these activities is to place beyond our ⑉\ntrol all these runde. In view, however, of the feet that dollar creation\nsources remain in the United States a regine of foreign change centrol,\nsuch as is propesed, would provent a continuance of this practice; and 1%\nmight over smable us to centrol the repatriation, bewever disguised.\nSK:ven - 12/12/40 - - 5\nRegraded Unclassified\n7\n70\nEXCHANGE CONTROL\nArswing\n72\nDesember 12, 1940\nMr. thite\nMr. Dee\nsubject: Treatment of American property interests by Cernany, Japan, Canada\nand Italy\n4.\n1. American of brench plants in Commany have not been per-\nmitted to control the management or personnel of these plants.\n2. American of direct investments in Germany have not been\npermitted to collect dividends - their direct investments.\n3. incrison - of bended investment have not been permitted to\nreceive the full interest and amartination - these investasets,\nnore than half of which have been is complete defealt. Probably\nnore than $700 million of clear less has been taken by terrican\nbandhalders.\nhe American long-term investors have been discriminated against in\nfavor of investors from countries politically related to Germany\nor free countries which had sufficient control over international\ntransactions to be able to retaliste.\n5. American private citizens who vare suarded over 8600 million by\nthe Ittmed Claims Commission have not been permitted to sellect\non these claims from Cerreny.\n6. American owers of short-torm claims on Germany have been per-\nnitted to withdraw them only over a 10-year poried and have suffered\nconsiderable leases en three claims.\nOur total claims - dermany, shirt-term and long-torm, excluding war\ndebta, are about $350 million.\nThe total claims of Commany en the United States are less than $100 million.\n(Both of there totals the areas nov occupied by Dermany.)\n3. Iss\n1. The - is the exercise of their foreign amazonge centrol\nand collateral regulations have canced esuaiderable damage to\ninterests is the For East.\n(a) Lim\n(1) American assete have been from. st the discretion\nof the Japanese Government, is met CADGE American\nbusiness have been allowed to withdraw their earnings.\nRegraded Unclassified\n73\n- 2 -\nDivision of Monutary\nResearch\n(2) The Japanese Deverment, through its foreign trade\ncontrols, has aliminated all importe of American\nexcept these vitally necessary u their\nwe effort.\n(3) American enterprises in Japan are discriminated\nagainst and pressure is brought to curtail their\nactivities.\n(b) In Manchmria\n(1) The Japanese system of foreign exchange centrol and\nstate nonopolies has practically climinated American\nenterprise from the field.\n(2) The foreign exchange centrol is administered to\ndiscourage importe from the United States and\nother non-Japaness controlled countries.\n(e) In North China\n(1) As the Japanese tighten their hold upon Morth\nChina similar regulations directed against\nAmericans have become increasingly severe.\n2. American investments in Japan have a neminal value of & quarter\nof & billion dollars. Since these are fromes their astual value\nis deubtful. While enaller, the Japanese investment of $1.50 att-\nlien in the United States 18 crucially important to Japam M 10\nrepresents about half of Japan's foreign exchange reserves.\n(There is appended a longer discussion of the injurious effects of the\nJapanese exchange control.)\nc. Italy\nItalian exchange centrel has been more lenient 02 American industrialists\nand investors than that of Germany.\n1. The Italians have serviced the greater part of their U.S.\ndollar bends.\n2. Short-term assets have been withdrawable with little diffi-\nonly. However, the total of these assets has been mall.\n3. Regular resittances of dividends and profits to the United States\nhas been profitable since 1935, but there have been & number\nof special examptions.\n(Total Averican heldings in Italy are under $140 million. Italian\nholdings in this country are 690 million.)\nRegraded Unclassified\n74\nDivision of Monstary\n- 3\nResearch\nD. Canada\nCanadian exchange central is mash less hersh with respect to\nthe United States than the centrols of the Ande powers. but the\nfollowing restrictions may be noticed:\n1. Balances hold prior to the was cannot be withirem by\nincrisons at the official rate.\n2. withdrawal of profits required 30 days' notice before\na permit is issued,\n3. Importe from the United States in excess of 825 require\n6 permit. Certain categories of goods are prehibited\nand others restricted.\n4. Proceeds from the sale of securities held prior to the\nwar may not be withdrawn at the official rate.\n5. Insurance companies mut declare their heldings of\nforeign exchange.\n6. American companies must nake a monthly report of\noperations and submit to periodis emaminations.\nIn this commestion, it is only fair to list the activities which\ncan be engaged is by American property - in Canada and which\nwould net be permitted under the Avis type of exchange control.\nAmericans can withdraw interest and dividents on Canadian investants.\nBrench plants can conduct business freely with parent company in the\nUnited States. American investors can withdraw DEV funds in foreign\nexchange. incrican residents in Canada on held and dispose of foreign\ncurrency and securities. Returning Americans may withdraw foreign\nexchange which they brought in, and goods up to 8100. Americans\nmay sell foreign or demostic securities to the United States. American\nbalances my be used freely within Canada. Comittments by insurance\ncompanies to pay in foreign exchange are being honored as respects\nAmericans. United States life insurance companies are permitted to\nde business as usual.\n(There is appended a lenger report on the organisation of the\nCanadian exchange control system.)\nVFC:esh\n12/12/40\nRegraded Unclassified\nGermany\nDivision of Monetary\nResearch\nto\nIff. lite\nDecember 11, 1940\n1900\nMr. Used\nDubject Cermac Exchange Control and American Interests.\njumary\n1. The Germans have for many years exercised an exchange control vis-a-via\nthe United States which has cost this country and its nationals hundreds of\nmillions of dollars. They are now using this central to damage this nation not\nonly in its external relations but also in its internal affairs. Mitherto, the\nmjor damage has been effected through German control exercised over American-\nowned assets in Germany and other areas: more recently the use of the foreign\nexchange control over Dersan-owned dollar assets in the United States has been\nthe souree of injury. Specifically the effects of the German Exchange Control\nas it has been exercised with respect to the United States are as follows\n2. The greatest lesses inflicted on American property interests by Germany\nhave been borne by those Americans who, during the 1920's, invested liberally\nin the reconstruction of German industry, both through the purchase of long-term\nGerman dollar bonde and through the establishment of modern branch plants in\nGermany.\n3. Under the liast Regime, United States holdings of Derman dollar bonde\nhave been reduced from a face value of approximately $1,100 million to & face\nvalue of approximately 875 million. Considerably more than half of this redue-\ntion, probably over 6700 million, represents a elear loss by the American\nbondbolders.\n4. When the National Socialists came into power in Germany, American\nbranch plants in that country had an estimated value of over $260 million. There\nhas been very little repatriation of this investment, tut st has gradually become\nalmost valueless for practical purposes. Since the widdle of 1933, transfer of\ndividends has been permitted only intermittently and only to a few favored -\ncerns. The American parent company, in most cases, receives no dividends, has\nno control over management and personnel, and 1s not permitted to receive informe-\ntion concerning the details of operations. Ownership has been reduced to the\nthinnest legal fietion.\n5- At the end of 1930, Americans held about 0925 million of short-term\nclaims on Germany. Today the value of our outstanding short-term claims is\nless than 050 million. This reduction was not achieved thout considerable\nlosses to the American creditors, though the short-term ereditors fared sush\nbetter than the owners of Cerman dollar bonds or the owners of direct invest-\nsente in Germany.\n6. About 61,275 million is the Derman Government's indebtedness to the\nGovernment of the United States. Over $600 million of this represents awards\nof the Mixed Claims Commission to American private citizens. These totals are\nexclusive of the debts to the United States Government of other countries which\nGermany has occupied and amount to the Reich.\nRegraded Unclassified\n77\nDivision of Monetary\n- 2 -\nResearch\nRegraded Unclassified\n9. The National Socialist Covernment has discriminated against American\nlong-term investors ever since 1933. Several other countries, who either had\ncloss political time with Germany or were in a position to retalists by taking\nover German assets of by eliminating - - of importe from Germany, was\nable to get specially favorable cottlements. The United States was unable to\nsecure equal treatment for American creditors. lione of the former American lease\nhas been serviced in full and nore than half have been in complete default. Tes\nvirtually all Dateh and Juice leans, and the English Dame and Young loans, wore\nserviced in full up to the authoresk of mr.\n8. Since 1933, when the last Government defaulted en transfers of bend\ninterest and amertisation, ostensibly because dollars were scaree, Germany has\nrepurchased approximately & billion dellars face value of United States-bald\nGerman dellar bonds, at a cost of between $200 and 6250 million. Dellars, of\nwhich there 4 seareity when 10 - & question of meeting legitimate oblign-\ntions, apparently became plentiful when there w an opportunity to repurchase\nthere came obligations at the low prices which were the direct result of Derman\nGovernment policy.\n9. Since September, 1940, the Insi Government, with avonued political unde,\nhas accelerated the repatriation program by repurshases of a face momt of\napproximately 675 million of United States-hold German dollar banda. the purpose\nof these repurchases, all avowed by German agents, is to strengthen the position\nof Germany at the Peese Conference by subling her to min a cheep gesture of\nagreeing to service all her international obligations in full. German control\nover United States preperty, is all the area today under her jurisdiction, is\nalso regarded as - instrument of M eventual all-rease settlement with the\nUnited States. The withdrewal of all German liquid caseta from this country,\nor their consealment in the accounts of other sountries, serve the - purpose.\n10. In recent months, German officials in the United Dates have carried\n- a large part of their financial transactions in eash, presenably to prevent\nthe detection of Improper disbursements or to build up secret in care\nGerman balances are blocked. In tide way, the unrestprecated freedom wideh W\nafford to the use of German dollar balances enables the German Government to\nfinance activities directed against our national interests, without perious\ndanger of detection.\n11. The Germane are in a position to utilise every losphele and every\nlicensed area in our our foreign funds control insefar of our foreign funds\ncontrol ⑉ be persuaded to release French or other funds to Latin America,\nto Switnerland, to Seeden and other countries. The Gersons are given the\nopportunity through intermediaries in the case of Latin America and through\ncommie and politival ocereien in the case of countries adjacent to Commany\nto sequire the dollars which w free.\n12. German-controlled direct investments in to United States constitute\n8 formidable source of direct influence by the Gurman Government over certain\nAmerican industries. Im addition, the widespread influence of German-ocutrolled\n78\nDivision of Monetary\nI\n- 3 -\ncapital, and certain German individuals, in - domestically controlled indus-\ntries makes possible the exertien of German influence in quarters not super-\nficially apparent. Germany also controls many industrial processes in the\nUnited States, - of which are vital to National Defense, through patent\nholdings and licenses.\n13. German investments and the activities of German nationals in the\nUnited States are strictly centrolled by the Mast Government. is long as the\nUnited States Government fails to establish its em system of central over\nGerman assets, it permits the Masi Government a the hand here. The alternatives\nare not freedom versus control but German control versus American centrol.\n00 tmg\n12/11/40\nRegraded Unclassified\n79\nDivision of Numbery\n- & -\nResearch\nCarger receive and sectrol.\nPersign exchange centrol - first adopted in Germany ea July 16, 1931,\nas 8 result of the covere financial crisis of that year. Prom that date on,\nthe commonic life of Germany and the position of the foreign crediter has been\nsubject to increasingly rigerous government central. Long before the outbreak\nof war, the Cerses Government had assend complete eastrol over international\ntransections of all kindes without the permission of the proper authorities,\nDE treasfere abroad of payments for importe, for foreign dobt service, for\nprefits, rente, # reyalties, or cepital withdressal might be made. The regula-\ntime governing such permission were complex, the use which might be made of\nany Reichemarks belonging to, or accordag no, foreigners being dependent upon\nthe specific origin of these balances.\nPermission to transfer Reichmark funds or claims into foreign currently is\ngranted or withheld according to the commonde, political and strategie policies\nof the Germen Government. For exemple, substantial amo of foreign exclunge\nhave been paid to certain countries with when Germany either was in a poor\nbargaining position, or found 10 desirable to maintain very good relations. In\nthe case of the United states, elmest the only transfers permitted were payments\nfor current importations into Gernery from the United States, and even here a\nlarge propartion of our total experts to Commany could eally be name by scoopting\nvarious forms of blocked balances.\nGerman restrictions on international emital transporting.\nThe system of regulations which the German Government our up to control\ncepital asvanents was repidly expended after 1993 to ester every conseivable\ntransaction and plug every loak wherely capital might essape the country. the\nGerman authorities are erned with valimited authority and the regulations have\nbeen adopted with great vigue be take account of new developments is\ncommis position. Additions, subtractions, and exceptions to the rules are\nfroquent, and a complete description of the regins at any time would be our of\ndate before it could be compiled. the following description 10 intended only\nto illustrate the scops end nothed of the German regulations; any specific vales\nor examples sentioned may have been experseded.\nifter June 1933, the Gestann Government required that interest, dividends,\ncapital payments, and rests resulting from foreign is Commany -\nbe paid in Reichmarke into the Conversion office for Gereen Persign Date to\nthe credit of the foreign crediter. Standstill agreement debte and Income from\nempital sequired after 1931 with free foreign exchange were emeryted from this\nrequirement. The Conversion Office Lossed to foreign creditors men-interest\nbearing Reichanark certificates w interest-bearing bonds in the currenty of the\noriginal claim. Alternatively, the anomis paid into the Conversion office could\nbe transferred to Mested accounts in the foreign exchange besin, there they could\nbe drown a for cortain limited purposes. Copital papaymento could be made only\ninto special blocked secumber which could be expended for certain spostfied\nlimited purposs.\nRegraded Unclassified\n80\n- 5 -\nDivision of Mometary\nResearch\nRegraded Unclassified\nis a result of the severe restrictions - transfer payments, 4 large\nnumber of blocked mark accounts were opened in the German banke authorised to\naccept and associate. German debtate is meet cases were permitted to discharge\ntheir obligations to foreigners by payments into these accounts, may of which\nare still held, shile others have been used chiefly for investment in certain\nsecurities and real estate in Certify or for payment for German experts. Elocked\nmarks could also be sold to other foreignare, but the was of such asquired marks\nwro even more restricted than the uses of the original assounts, and -\nquently they could be sold only at a heavy discount.\nIn addition to the rigorous regulation of financial transastions, the\nGerman Government also bas imposed direct restrictions since the outbreak of\nwar en the expert of commedities from Germany. These restrictions are a further\nobstasle to the liquidation of American assore in Germany.\nDiscrimination U.S. holders of German dellar bendy.\nSince 1933 the National Socialist Government has discriminated against\nAmerican leng-term creditors. Up until I'me of that year Germany had ml is\nfull the interest and amortisation charges - her foreign bonds. not a July 1,\n1933, Gerasey premiented a law relieving German debitere of the obligation to pay\nis foreign surrencies and requiring them to pay their fored.go obligations in\nreichemarks into the conversion office. lines that time, - of the former\nGerman dollar bondshhave been fully serviced is this country and nare than half\nhave been is complete default.\nYes the Detah and Indian creditors were able to collect virtually the\nwhole of the interest due these they 0970 able to reach auch as agreement\nbecause of Owner's favorable balance of trade with Holland and Switeerland.\nThis VAI clearly & discrimination against the incriom creditors. And is 1934\nthe British Deverment was able to obtain fall service a British heldings of\nthe Dame and Terms leans) they vers able to reash such an agreement by PASSA\nof & Law expewering the British Government to take retalistery action against\nGerman trade. The United States, however, had & strong favorable balance of\ntrade with and emeoquently ⑉ net able to bring effective presenze\non the German Government with respect to these leans. The have been\nservicing about 75 persont of the payments due - the American haldings of\nthose leas. This procedure also slearly discriminated against the American\nwediters.\nFurthermore, although the Need Government defmulted a transfers of bed\ninterest and martisation, ortensibly because dellars 05/1 peareo, -\nhas reperchased approximately - billism dellars fase talse of UnitedStates-\nheld German dellar bands at a sect of between $200 and $250 million.\n81\nDivision of Nome tary\n- 6 -\nResearch\nThis repatriation of Carmen dollar bonde was stimulated by special\nmeasures undertaken by the Certer Government. After 1933 default by German\ndebiers and official restrictions on service transfers staresd caused the price\nof German bonds held abroad to fall severely. On the German market prices\nreceived relatively high. The German Government book advantage of this differ-\nential to inetitute - system of \"supplementary exports\". by this wethod German\nexportere sould buy dollar bonds with part of the proceeds of their exports,\nand then could register them for sale at the higher prices prevailing is Gernany,\nThose, dollars, which were scaree when 11 was I question of meeting legitimate\nobligations, wore plentiful when 1% was a question of saking American beadhelders\nindirectly may for German exports.\nFince 1940, however, Wasi Government has accelerated the repatriation\nprogram for avoved political ends. It has repurchased 8 face amount of\napproximately $75 million of United States-held German dellar bands at a cools\nof about 820 million. Two German agents alone, acting privately for the German\nGovernment have received $15 million since October 10 for the express purpose\nof making these repurchases. The purpose of these repurchases, M avound by\nthese Cereas agents, 10 to strangthen the position of Germany at the Posce\nConference by enabling her to nate a geoture of agreeing to service all wher\ninternational obligations in full. Here again dollars which were scares when\n10 one 4. question of meeting legitimate obligations became plentiful when 11\nwas e question of realizing German political ends.\nInjury to American-owned direct investments in Cerumar.\nThe value of American direct invostments in Gerenay has been estimated by\nthe Department of Commorce at about $264 million as of the end of 1933. \"\npresent the book value of these investments is about $225 million. However,\nthis figure of 8225 million is deubly fletitions. On the - hand, these\ninvestments are at the newst practically valualess to their medinal imerican\nowners because they yield no transferable interest or dividends. On the other\nhand, the back value of American direct investments under German centrol has new\nbeen more than doubled by the extension of Gorman control over the larger part\nof Continental Europe.\nAlready American sepital and managing personnel are being eliminated from\nenterprises in all the occupied area-from Pranos to Rusends.\nResent experience in humanie still comes fresh to the mind. In that\ncountry, ae Feen as the Germans sequired complete economic emiral, with the\nadvent of General inteneses to power, American-owned subsidiaries began to\npass into Garman bands. For instance, the director-gemeral of the American-\nowned Societa Amendum Roman de Telefons, a $90 millice subsidiary of the\nInternational Telephone and Telegraph Company, was permaded be agree be s\ndemand of the Irem Guard for a reorganisation of the Telefona's directorship.\nThe Irea Ceard thereupen named a special commissear to supervise the telephone\nRegraded Unclassified\n82\nRegraded Unclassified\nMvisism of Honetary\n- 7 -\nResearch\ncompany's activities. On Ostober 11, 1940, the commissar took over centrol of\nthe company, and it was announced that Iron Ouard understrudies would be solected\nto take over all the nost important executive posts. Also, on December 4, 2940,\na decree announced the expropriation of all the orude eil and gaseline lines,\ntogether with pumping stations and tank farms, of the Rousno-Americans, & company\nowned by the Standard 011 Company of New Jersey. Payment for the exprepriated\nproperty will be made in bends to be mortized in 25 years and carrying interest\nat , percent. Similarly the International Business Machine advidiary in\nRumania was confronted with the alternative either to accept a commisser or to\nreplace American managers by Germans, and to relinquich part of their share-\nheldings to German interests.\nShort-term investments and the standstill agreements.\nDuring the late 1920's American short-term capital named in large volume\nto Europe, principally to Germany. In 1930, American short-term claims an\nGermany totalled about $925 million.\nThe severe financial crisis of the number of 1931 convinced Germany's\nforeign commercial creditors that any attempt at general liquidation of their\ncomercial credits to Cermany would lead to # collepse of German industry.\nA Standstill Agreement was reached between a condittee of the foreign bankers\nand a consittes representing the Reichabank and the German backers. the\nforeign benkers agreed to maintain the existing volume of short-tom credits\nwhich had already been extended to German firms. In return the German banks\nprovided certain guarantees of the regular payment of interest and agreed to\ncertain previsione which permitted the gradual reduction of the extetending\ncredits. The Agreement bas been renewed each year since 1932.\nAbout $486 million of American boat leans WN covered by the first\nStandstill Agreement. Be estimates are at hand for the volues at that time\nof short-term credite not covered by the agreement, but they probably were\nseveral hundred millions.\nThe arount (in marks) due the incrican bankers under the Agreement has\nbeen steadily reduced since 1931. This reduction has been the result of three\nfactors\n1. Cansellation of unceed credit lines.\n2. Repayments through the sale of Travel marks.\n3. Develuation of the dellar.\nby March 1939 the movent outstanding The mly 065 million. In Suptember\n1934 the agreement was emeelled, but - December 9, 1939, - of the heries\nbeaks reached a - agreement covering about 846 million of credits. Per the\npost three years, credito not covered by the Standstill Agreement have been &\nmall and shrinking frestion of all Incrican short-torm credits to Germany.\nat the end of 1938, the Agreement covered $71 million out of a total of about\n090 million. Our latest Treasury figures show a total of only about 845 millies\nis U.S. short-taym claims ⑉ Commany.\n83\n6\nDivision of lionotary\nBaccareb\nInternevernentel\ndebt.\nThe mounts ared the United States Devernment by the Derman Devertment\nrepresent the cost of the American Army of Decupation and the amade of\nthe Mixed Claims Commission. On June 30, 1940, the total value of these\ndobts, including principle and accumulated interest, VISA 81,264 million.\nThe last payments, of about $1,250 thousand, - these debta were\nreceived in 1934. This brought the total paid to about 434 million.\nSince 1934 Sermany has been in complete default.\nTo these debts of the Ourman Deverment wast now be added the debie\noved to the Government of the United States w the countries which Commany\nhas occupted.\nDoe of Cornen Dollar Recources for Inproper Activities in the Prited States\nA common tochnique currently being used by Germany to finance improper\nactivities in the United States is the cocuralation of large cash balances\nwhich can be disbursed fee various subversive perposes without leaving\ntraces behind.\nAccording to reports from the Federal Puress of Investigation, bills\ntraced recently by serial numbers from the account of the Germen consulate\nla les York City are Incm to have been received by firms and organizations\nsupported of being engaged in propagands activities.\nThat this device of using eash assorate for undersover purpose is\nemealy being reserted to is attested by the fellowing exempless\n(2) on Desember 4, 1940, the German Schesey withdraw $200,000\nin each from its account. All of this was to bills of $1,000\n:\ndemonination or smaller.\n(2) In the last for menths, the German Commiste General in Bes York\noccured - $1,000,000 in cash. & detober 14, 11 withdrew\n$400,000 in eash; on November 19, $30,000; as November 25,\n$20,000; - December 2, $650,000.\n(3) Frite Wiedeman, when be assumed the Ownewlate in\nSm Francisco, opened - account with a local bank W depositing,\nreportedly, 05 million.\nDetran October 2, 1940, and the middle of November, it has been\nsubmited that Gerean bank funds in this country have dropped from appread-\nmately $13,200,000 to $7,700,000. The freeden of notion which these\ntransastions represent is hardly resiprocated by Generary N for no incricen\nfunds is Nasi-hold territory are concerned.\nMission\n12/11/60\nRegraded Unclassified\nR1\nDivision of Monetary\n- 9 -\nResearch\nGerman astempte to circumstant our formign funds control.\nThe Cermane have ant up various devices whereby they attempt to\ncircument the foreign funds control which we have established with regard\nto the compted countries. in recent senths, they have affected important\ntrade and remittance transactions, in which nationals of the countries sub-\njoot to licensing have an interest, through interesdieries in Latin invoice,\nsiberia, Adtserland, Portugal and Spain. For example, the Surich branch of\nan Alentian bank has cabled 6 liew York bank stating that they can effect\npayments syst: of considerable amounts against dollars in New York, both in\nuncompied and in the occupted French Lerritory. This ties up with the\nannouncement of the German Consul-Osneral in San Francisco that resitioness\ncould be made to France and other countries whose funds have been blocked by\ntransfers through this ties York bank. Again, & New York fire has been\ncooperating with a Fresich fire in the occupied sone in oveding our foreign\nfunds control by facilitating payments for perfumes in Mexico and Switserland.\nIn another case, an exte controlled benie in the Argentine odvertises that\n18 has established a regular payments service for France. Although there is\nnothing irregular in transfers from this bank to France, yet the purpose of\nthese transfers to clear. Cne can effectively evade the centrols by remitting\nFunds to agents in the Argentine who, in their tarn, regit these funds to\nFrance.\nGerman influence in imerican industry.\nThe direct investments of Cermany in the Enited States, clus the direct\ninvestments in the United States of those countries over which Oarmany has\nmontrol, pake Mast influence in some United States industries of considerable\nimportance. The General Aniline and yilm Corporation of you York is a good\nexample of a Berman-controlled firs which has AD important place in one of\nthe large industries of this country, vis., the chemical industry.\nThe extent of Corman influence en industries in this country ie greater,\nhowever, than indicated nerely by the anount of derman-controlled direct\ninvestments here. Yor example, General Aniline and Film Corporation (which\nis indirectly owned by I. 0. Farben, the Cerman dye trust) has considerable\ninvestments in Standard 011 of New Jersey, in sterling Products, Ins., and\n10 E. I. du Pant de Nameurs and Co. Purthermors, many of the officers and\ndirectore of General Aniline and Film are officers and directors of large\ndemestically-centrelled corporations. Idsel Ford, holds the position\nof director in General Aniline and Film as well w the position of officer\nand director in several other well-known demestic fine. The presence of such\ninterlocking directorates can hardly fail to eshance the magnitude of German\ninfluence in American infustries.\nIn still another way, the presence of Kasi control in United States\nindustry manifests itself. In 1937, Germany hald 37 persont of all foreign\nheld United Itstes patents. Not only is this patent control important, but\nit 1a important in - cases with respect to industrial processes vital to\nnational defense, among which - the following may be mentioned:\nRegraded Unclassified\n85\nDivision of Monetary\n- 20 -\nResearch\n(2) Patent control of Bausch and Lamb Optical Company has recently\nkopt easential instruments from Army and Havy use;\n(2) Magnosium, an sevential netal, 1a preduced in this country partly\nunder patents held by a partially Gorman-owned corporation)\nBoard as \"strutogic\", is produced by Consral Electric, with Krupp having\n(3) Tungsten carbide, & material listed by the Army and Navy Manitions\nthe right, under contract, to limit the number of new licenses of\ntungaten cartide patents.\nThe \"freedou\" of Nasi assets in this country.\nà special circumstance which should be taken account of in the formulation\nof our policy with respect to regulating OF not regulating the use of German\nfunds in tide country, 10 the pesuliar relationship which exists between the\nlies: Government and its subjects. Unlike the situation in meet democratie\ncountries, the control over foreign assets held by German subjects 10, in offect,\nheld by the German Government. The idea of free and individual property\nownership has been eliminated in Namidom. the State has assumed full juris-\ndietion and control over all funds and properties of its subjects, whether\nthe altus of these is at home or abroad. The private, individual ownership\nof Gegzen investments and funds in the United States 10 convenient to the\nGerman Government as a legal fiction, but the reality of the situation is that\nthey are the property of the Raich.\nHence, the absence of American control over the funds of German subjects\nis tentamount to giving the Octuan Government & tree hand in whatever finan-\neial control it can obtain over industries in this country. It is impessible\nunilaterally to maintain \"free\" rights where a bilateral relationship exists\nand where the other party exercises control. The institution of Centrol\nmeasures by the United States over Oerman funds in this country, therefore,\nwould not destroy 8. \"freedom\" which does not axist, bet would rather vest in\nthis Government a control now exercised by a foreign government.\nRegraded Unclassified\n86\nJapan\n87\nDashange Centrol and American Intereste\n1. the depanses in the exercise of their foreign exchange centrol and\ncolleteral regulations have ocused great damage to American interests\nis the Far East.\na.\nthe Japances imposed embange centrol on May 1, 1933.\nThis brought the resittence of - from Japan ro United\nStates from American investments in Japan under Japanese\ncontrol with resulting damage to American interests in\nseveral instances. As early as Nevember, 1934, for example,\n10 - reported by Mr. Grow that the Concral Motors Company\nsubsidiary in Japan wes net permitted to export funds no-\nsulting from the sale of some of its sharee.\nsince 1937 the Japansee centrol has become increasingly\nstringent to the extent that incrison funds in Japan are -\ncompletely freem. it present, only transactions amouting\nto less than 100 you a year (623.00) are exempt from the\ncontrol.\nThe Japance Government is - organizing a complete\ncontrol of all inports and asperts. Iven under the partial\ncentrals in endstence before, the depansee ware able arti-\ntrustly to discriminate against American exporters to Japan.\nThe Japanase have eliminated all importe from the United\nStates except these vitally moonessy for their war effort.\nAmerican enterprises in Japan are being forced out of\ninstruct. After Long years of profitable existence, the\nAmerican-emed Japan Advertiser has been received foreed to\ndiscontines.\nb.\nthe system of foreign exchange control\nis Mansteria has discriminated effectively against jacrican\nbusiness. The estensible purpose of the embange control was\nplainly stated se being \" ourtail imports from\ncomtrice other then Japan\".\nthe papper foreign enshange centrol 10\nlinked with the Japanases centrol and in prestice surve only\npurposes. Under all transactions in\ncurrenation, other then the you, including transcriptions in\nUnited States dollars, are mbject to rigerous administrative\nPrepared by Mr. A. N. Issurek\nRegraded Unclassified\n88\nDivision of Memotary\n- 2 -\nResearch\ncontrol. time all other currenales than the you are regarded\nall foreign exchange and the purpose of the control is to\nrestrict the we of foreign enchange, 18 is obview that\nconstant discrimination against Americans and in favor of\nJapances exists.\nImplementing the foreign enchange centrol are & vide\nvariety of puppet state nonspelies dominated by Japanese and\nexcluding insuriems from fertile fields of industry. American\n- have been foreed to abandon industry after injustry\nto the Japanese. For mumple, the petrolem\nnemopely was organized to beenes the sole importer into\nManchuria of prestically all petroleum products. American\ncompanies were forced to discontime their Mansharian business\nat great loss.\nthe Kwantung Any enforees discrimination by the\nGovernment against the purchase of American motor trusks in\nfavor of Japanses-assembled products.\nthe Government's Law of Ostober, 1937\nresulted in the withdrawal of practically all American notion\npicture companies from the Manchurian murket.\n6. North China\nThe Japanese paypet government in Borth Grina has sixilarly\npremigated a fevel.gn auchange centrol which is increasingly\ninjuriess to American business. the puppot Federal Receive Bank\nof North China has been placed in charge of all foreign contrange\ntransestions. Since the value of the Borth China year to\nefficially first - a partly with the you, while its astual\nforeign enchange value in terms of other currension 10 much\nlover, a produm is placed - importe from Jepan w against\nthe United States.\nthe Japanese are instituting a system of trade nanapelies\nin North China which already has caused considerable damage to\nAmerican interests in this area.\nthe Impense military and nevel authorities in North China\nengage in posstices which discriminate against Americans.\nseale marling dependes various\nprovidess - are enter\nthe compled Chinsee ports without the payment of - w\npart fees.\nRegraded Unclassified\n89\nDivision of Memotary\n- , -\nI\nRegraded Unclassified\n2. Under present American assots under the control of Japan\nhave statemer value the Jupenson wish to not upon them.\nhaving Larestments in Japan have no protection against the arbitrery\nactions of the Japanazo Government. Freesing of Japannee assets in\nthe United states is essential to provide the necessary protection\nass to American property.\nAmericans have a quarter of a billion dollars invested in Japan of\nwhich over one-third is represented in short-term funds which have\nbeen from by the Japanese. on the other side of the lodger, the\nJapanese have about $100 million in short-torm funis and about\n$50 million in direct investments in the United States.\nFrom the viexpeint of relative importance, however, the Jaganese\nfunds in this country represent almost mis of Japan's known foreign\nenchange reserves shoress, inviow funds is Japan represent only a\nnegligible portion of our foreign exchange receives.\n3. Yes effective defense, centrol of Japanese reserves in the United\nstates is measurery.\na. Exchange centrol is the neet flerible and poverful nothed\nof controlling international economic transactions. At\nthe present time, the extatending feet about the commis\nrelations between Japan and the United States is that the\nJapanese are supplying their var - with materials and\nmachines from the U. s. their me - with enshange\ncontrol M a compenses part, has already emard -\ndamage to the commis interests of the U. 8d in the For\nSect. Rechange control would enable the U. s. to place\ninto operation my desired curb on the supply of materials\nacress the Pasific. This ourb might be nevely a gradual\nalouing down. It adght be drastic on seme articles and\nloss on others. Whatever the peljey was, 11 could be\nquickly enforced. The exchange control could be med -\na supplament to diplematic negotiations and bargaining.\nNot only because Jupensos policy has already conced great\ndamage to the United States, but also because the dominent\norientation of Japanese foreign policy - to be against\nthe United States, W should sut of elementary self-interest\ntake stops to provent the strengthening and culargment of\nJapanase my interests.\nbe It is corcential to have the dollar reserves available to\n$ I 1 yes I a A\nboxis in New York, is bee appeared that Japan was libely\nto enhaust ber foreign enchange received. This false\nplature has meenmged the viempoint that no setion by the\nUnited States w necessary sizes Auren would automatically\nbe forced to curtail her war offert du to lask of foreign\nI\n30\nDivision of limetary\n- 4 -\nI\nRegraded Unclassified\n0. Ankassedor Grow has recommend that Japancee funds in the\nUnited states be blooked to esciet his in covering the\nliquidation of from American funds in Japan. This to\nregards as particularly urgent at the present time as be\nhas caught eigne that inficate the depenses will -\nwithdraw all available funds on of the United States.\n4. It is essential for national security that control be maintained\nover Japanese expenditures in the United States.\na. the Japanase efficials in the United states statein a class\nrepervision over all of their nationals in the United States,\nthe recent registration of all Japaness recidents with the\ndepansee consule being a good instance. the Japanese foreign\nexchange control has required registration of all Japanese\nforeign assets and these are, therefore, also at the disposal\nof the Jepanese state. 10 is obview that all Japanese\nassets, consume and nationals in the United States man\noperate for Japanese state ends. The existence of such 6\nforeign centrol reaching incrison borders and\nemercising its influmes on people and concerns resident\nin the United States is a direct threat to the security of\nthe American nation. In self-defunce 14 10 vitally necessary\nthat such foreign control be neutralised by the importion\nof an ineriesn centrol reclaiming the severei.go rights of\nthe United States over all within our boundaries.\nb. The Japanese are medistaining an extensive explemage network\nin the United States. For proof, 10 is nersly measury to\nrecall the - recent 08000 of the apprehension of - income-\npaid agents, Farneworth and the Philippine\nSecute officer recently convicted.\nthe Japaneee have recently started a - school for explanage\nagents to be sent to the Philippines. Unquestionaly, the\nUnited States has many graduation of - of the older\ndepense any schools,\nThe F.B.I. reperted that - agreement for cooperation and\ninterchange of information has already been reached between\nthe German and Japanane explanage organisations in the\nUnited States.\nThe Japanese naturiously attempt to influence public opinion\nin the United States by paying large - for noutnal services\nto influential people (Consural O'hyan being a case in point).\nUnile control over Japanese funds would not stop Japanese\nemplanage and attempts at helbery, both of these Japaname\npractices would understatly be severely crippled.\n31\n- 5 -\nDivision of Necetary\nI\nSo The Japanese have engaged in merch financial transmetions in the\nUnited States.\nfor a period of over two years (July 27, 1938 to September 4, 1940),\nthe New York office of the seal-official Tekehana Specie Bank -\ncoaled accounts held for the Bank of Japan, the Japanese Government,\nand the pappet Federal Reserve Bank of North China. n its highest\npoint on April 10, 1940, the secret account held for Japan assurated\nto $111,000,000 while $3,000,000 was held for puppet North China.\nFor the last two years, the Tekshown Specie Bank of See York bought\nand sold American securities and these transactions were nbb reported.\nThese faste were discovered by the lieur York Federal Reserve Bank\nalmost by pure chance. & thoreagh investigation lasting ovveral\nseaths proved necessary to secure the complete story. It is\nentirely pessible that the Japanese have other Midden associate\nin the United States which only a complete census of Japanese\nfunds would reveal.\nAMK/Jm\n12/12/40\nRegraded Unclassified\n32\nCanada\nat\n93\nDecember 12, 1940\nm. white\nMiss sistler and Mr. adder\nsubjects Canadian Foreign Issurance Central\nI Codumil 1 and I I I 1 a\nDeprember 15, 1939. The Bank of Cameda - appointed technical advisor\nto the Beard ml authorised to mt M its agent or benker. The heard w\ngiven the prove w regulate all foreign enthange transportions\nbetwom residents of Canada at the outside world and take over the No\nof the Exchange 7ml areated in 1935.\n1. Objectives of Persion Reshanges Central\na. to insure that the foreign exchange secraing from experts will\nbe available to the Heard to purchase assential imports and\nmost other Canadian conditments abroad.\nb. To provent the flight of capital is erder to Canadian\nforeign resources and to prevent disorgamisation of\nsecurity markets.\n6. to stabilise the rates of enshange between the Canadian dollar\nand the unjer foreign currencies.\nd. To insure that commercial and financial transactions with the\nBritish Empire take place in Empire survencion.\nthe boste principle underlying the orders and regulations of the\nConsition Foreign Surbange Deard is that no transastions between Canada\nand non-residente of Canada involving foreign exchange or financial\ndealings shall be effected without sending under the supervision of the\nForeign Control hard. All foreign exchange received by residents\nof Conada is required to be cold se, and all purchases of foreign exchange\nare required to be made from, an authorised dealer. The energenci.es of\nthe Beard are directed tomal obtaining and conserving all large an -\nof United states dollare as pessible becomes the United States is the ⑉\ncountry with which Geneta has a large debdt is 14a balance of international\npayments,\n2.\na. Besidents of Conada my not bay or sell foreign enshange encept\nManugh the Reard or its agents and at unlieve rates proseribed\nw the Deard. Possits are required both for exports and for\nimports. All inports or experts of goods and services - be\nat 8 fair yel.ec.\nRegraded Unclassified\nB1\nDivision of Honetary\n- 2 -\nI\nb. Residente my not dispase of foreign assets to non-residents\nexcept for payment in foreign enchange, nor transfer Canadian\ndollars to non-residents except with the Board's permission.\nC. headdents were required to deelare their holdings of securities\nand foreign exchange all of September 15, 1939.\nd. Residents were required to sell all foreign evehange in their\npessession as of April 30 by June 1 under the Foreign Enchange\nAcquisition Order of April 30, 1940.\ne. The Seard designates to the Authorized Dealers the buying and\nselling rates for foreign exchange. Since the inception of\ncentral, they have been as follows:\nU. 3. dollars, buying rate\n108 premism\nU. 5. dollars, solling rate\n115 premium\nFounds sterling, buying rate\n4.43\nPounds sterling, selling rate\n4.47\n3. Mechanica of Operation\na. Licensing armite. Every curtoms office and post office WM made\na licensing agency. No importe can be cleared and delivered to\nthe importers without & Foreign isshange Control Board permit.\nLikewise, no exports can be cleared from Canada without & Foreign\nExchange Control permit. Unless exports are made under a general\nexport license or a special export-import license, the permit must\nbe signed by the Collector of Customs and Incise at the Customs\nFrontier , art of Madet before the carge is cleared. If the export\nis made under & general license, the permit must be subsitted\nwithin six days of clearance. If the export is made under .\nspecial export-import license DD permit is submitted to the\nCollector of Customs and Excise, but the operator is required to\nmake a monthly return to the Foreign Exchange Control Board and\nheard examiners have the authority to examine bis books and\nreserds in order to verify hão reports. The use of the Contons\nDivision and Post office was a natural and obvious step is My\nsystem of control over goods entering or leaving Conada.\nb. Authorized Dealers. Every chartered bank in Canada vas made all\nauthorised dealer by the Board) the Bank of Canada corres 40 &\nrechnical advisor. The fact that there are only ten chartered\nbanks and that Canada has a breash banking system, facilitated\nthe establishment of the system of authorized dealers for the\ncollection and payment of foreign exchange.\n4. tra License\na. Importe. No export license or peridt to required in the following\ni\nRegraded Unclassified\n95\nDivision of Hometary\n- , -\nResearch\n(1) For export of goods having a value net exceeding 825 where\npayment is reseived in foreign surrencies.\n(2) For goode passing through Canada \"in transit for exports\nwithout entry at Customs.\n(3) Goods taken out by a non-resident tourist, not conselling\n$100 in value per person.\n(4) Personal effects taken out by travellers.\nb. Importe. No licenses for the import of goods are required in the\nfollowing 01:00:\n(1) For the import of goods having the value not exceeding 625\nwhere payment is made in foreign currency.\n(2) For goods passing through Canada \"in transit for export\"\nwithout entry at Customs.\n(3) Goods to a total value not exceeding $200 imported by my\nperson in any calender month.\n(4) Personal effects belonging to and necessary for any person\nentering Canada.\n0. Insurance\n1. No permit is required for my payment in Canadian dollars to,\nor to the order of, a nen-resident by any life insurance\ncompany authorised so do business in any part of Canada,\nwhere such payment is made by the company in persuance of an\ninsurance policy, munity, or other contract of & sinilar\nnature. This prevision extends to any insurance policy,\nanmity, or other similar contract entered into prior to\nSeptember 16, 1939.\n2. No interference 10 nade with the maintenance of payments in\nforeign exchange by insurance companies - the obligation\nof the company is to naise payment in foreign anchange. Life\ninsurance companies authorized to do business is my part of\nCanada and in my country outside Canada are authorized to\ncontinue the contact of their business in accordance with\ntheir normal procedure.\nRegraded Unclassified\nDivision of Nonwtary\n36\n- 4 -\nHosearch\n5. offeness and Fesalties\nIt 10 an offence under the Foreign Enchange Centrel Order to make a\nfalse statement is my application; to deselve or mislead the Board or an\nauthorised dealer or a Collecter of Customs and Insise or any other person\nconserned is the administration of the provisions of the order) to fail\nto comply with the conditions of any liemse or pendit or to violate my\nprevision of the Order or any Regulation of the Board.\nEveryone guilty of an offense is liable to a fine up to $2,000 or to\nimprisement up to one year or to both fine and imprisement, and in\naddition, If any person, contrusy to the provisions of the Order, importe\nor attempte to import into Canada any goods or other property or buys or\nattempts to buy any foreign exchange, such goods and foreign exchange are\nliable to forfeiture.\n6. Personnel and Origination\nOrganisation arrungements for foreign exchange control bad born care-\nfully worked out in Canada in advance. This enabled drabange control to\nbe established an the morning of September 16 with a sinimm of inconvenience\nand dialesation to business.\nas soon as exchange control THE established, the Beard called together\na group of experienced - from banks, financial institutions, chartered\naccountant firms, investment dealers, trust companies, insurance companies\nand various government departments. Has with vide professional and\nindustrial experience took charge of the section of the Deard for which\nthey were best qualified.\nThe Fereign Eashange Central Board consists of the following members\nChairess, Oraham Towers, Governor of the Bank of Canada\nDr. 1. c. Clark, Deputy Minister of Vinance\nB. Fortier, Chief Inspector Past office Department\nB. 4. Robertoon, First Secretary, Department of Enternal Affeirs\n2. D. Soully, Comissioner of Customs\nL. D. Wilgress, Director of Commercial Intelligance\nThere are three branch offices, at Tennessey, Turento and\nemploying forty people.\nThe balk of Canadian foreign enchange transactions originate in\nMentral and Torento but mort of the centrol work is dome in ottens.\nThe Board is composed of the fellowing sections:\n(a) deals with experts seld\nfor payment in Canadian dellare, issuing special\npermite for this purpose. Three thousand such pendite\nhave been issued. This costion explays ten people.\nRegraded Unclassified\nDivision of Monetary\n97\n- 5 -\nResearch\n(b) The Central File Dection employe twenty-two people.\n(e) The Commercial Section is concerned with the transactions\nof companies which operate under special export-import\nlicenses and report on a monthly or periodic banis instead\nof using forms for each individual transaction. This sytem\nis employed for companies having a large volume of transas-\nMone and was adopted in order to relieve them of the\nburden of the routine which would have been necessary if\nindividual form for seeh transaction had been required.\nUp to the and of June 1940 a total of 4,500 such organiss-\ntions had been granted permite of this kind. The work of this\nsection is divided into five groups as follows:\n(1) Examiners - dealing with foreign currency bank ascounts\n(2) Investigation of records of the special permit holders\n(3) Orain trade\n(4) Approvals of interest end dividents paid by such\ncompanies, especially as they affect non-residente\n(5) General\nThe Consercial Section also has supervision ever the\nMontreal and Torunto branches of the Board. The number\nof persons employed 10 108.\nThe problem of controlling and supervising the foreign\ntrude and foreign exchange activities of the larger cor-\nporations and compandes engaging in numerous international\ntransactions might at first sight have appeared exceedingly\nsumbersome, if not untractable. but the device of special\nlivenses and periodic examination by the Commercial Section\nwhich - substituted for seruting of individual transactions\nhas apparently provided a satisfactory solution of the\nproblem and contributed to the efficient functioning of\nthe exchange control system.\n(d) The Traffic Section mintains limison with various govern-\nmest departments such as the Post Office Department, the\nDepartment of National Revenue, Board of Transport Commissioners,\nNational Narbere Heard and the Certedian of Enesy Property.\nIt employe 12 persons,\n(o) The Inforcement Seation cooperates with other government\nagencies in safereing foreign exchange centrol for which\n11 has the prine responsibility. It has a staff of 17.\nRegraded Unclassified\n38\nDivision of Memory\n- 6 -\nI\nRegraded Unclassified\n(f) The Foreign Exchange Dention maintains contacts with the\nauthorized dealers and settles foreign exchange policy.\nIt has a staff of 47.\n(g) The General Seation has a staff of 23 people.\n(b) The Insurance section has 4 staff of 5 persons.\n(1) The Intellicence Costion handles problems of public relations.\nThere are 4 people employed.\n(3) The Vatching Seation (Exemining Section) examines, matches\nand disposes of copies of forms. the device of matching the\n\"Deslaration of Goods Exported\" Form provides an excellent\n- for assuring that the Board will receive the foreign\nexchange assering from exports. While the \"Application for\nLicense to Import\" Form is also estabed with the \"Application\nfor Foreign Exchange\" Fern, the natching process here is net\nso important, as the Board retains asro foreign exchange if\nan application for license to import 10 not followed through\nwith an application for foreign exchange. It also recerds\ninformation supplied by residents # their holdings of foreign\neashange and securities. It has a staff of 115.\n(k) The Mail Section employe 14 people.\n(1) The employe 2 people.\n(m) The Descrities partion exportises all transactions in foreign\nsecurities a the part of residents. It employs 11 people.\n(a) The Secretary Section employe 20 people.\n(e) The Statistical SeeMem analyzes and classifies the forms\ninvolving foreign asshange transactions and representing\ntransfers of Canadian dellars to the assounts of neo-residents.\n(p) employe 5 people.\n(a) The Tecentry Seation deals with the Fereign Insurance\nAcquisition Order of May 40 1940. A staff of 24 people so\nemployed.\nAll in all the Canadian Foreign Enchange Centrol Deard employe a total\nof 509 people. The 509 people ware recruited w follows:\non lean from Bank of Canada\n20\n- - . Civil Service\n6\n- - - entoide time\n33\nTesporary employees\n490\n99\nDivision of Memotory\n- 7 -\nI\nExpenses of the Foreign Exchange leard for a normal year, after\nelininating special organisational expenses or items of a mm-reverring\nnature, are expected to total about 03.1 million. this amount will be\nrecounted for as follows:\n(In thousands)\nSalaries\n5758\n(average salary so about\n$1400 por -\nStationery and printing\n150\nRentals\n53\nTelegrame and telephone\n52\nTraveling expenses\n50\nSundries\n37\n7. The Board and Leonomic Relations\nCanadian international transactions total 64 billion to $5 billion per\nyear of which almost half 10 accounted for by foreign trade. Two countries -\nthe United Kingdom and the United States - dominste the international trans-\nsetion of Canada. More than half of all Canada's international transactions\nare confucted with the United States and almost one-third with the United\nKingdom. Therefore, the problem of foreign exchange centrol largely resolves\nitself into the supervision and centrol of transactions with these two countries.\nIn the case of England the problem is further simplified through the intimate\neseperation of the Canadian Toreign Exchange Control Board with the British\nEnchange Centrol and the exchange controls of storling area countries. is\nCanada's belance of payments is favorable with England and the starling area,\nand unfaverable with the United States, and as sterling is not age freely\nconvertible into D. 3. dollars, the mainttask of the Board 10 to conserve\nCanadian holdings of U. 3. dollars.\nThe Beard is notivated by two decisive fusters:\na. The desire to less at small, and to acquire M large, -\nanount of U. 0. dollars as possible.\n(1) There has been a tread in the direction of tightening\nup regulations to prevent Loss of foreign enchange\non service and trade items.\n(1) Traveling by Canadians in the United States has\nbeen drestically restricted and assisage ter\ntravel 10 new granted in linited - only\nfor business, educational, official, medical,\nand scientifie purpose.\nRegraded Unclassified\nDivision of Denetary\n100\n- 8 -\nIssuarch\n(11) Restrictions on the imports of goods not urgently\nneeded for Canada's var effort have recently been\nimposed. The impart of certain catagorias of\ngoods from the United States has been entirely\nprobibited and of others restricted, these\nrestrictions and probibitions are in addition\nto the 10 percent far Tax on imports.\n(2) Positive amouragement is given to U. D. tearist\nexpenditures in Canada, and to the investment of\nU. 5. dollars in Dev Consition enterprises. New\ncapital invested in Canada can be withdrawn at a\nlater date is foreign exchange.\nb. The desire to preserve amicable political and economic rela-\ntions with the United States.\n(1) & reciprocal agreement between Canada and the United\nStates me reached on June 18, 1940 providing for\nreciprocal exemption from vertain aspects of the 02-\nchange control regulations for American residents in\nCanada and far Canadian residents in the United States.\nAmerican citizens resident in Canada are exempted from\nthe Foreign Exchange Control Order of September 15, 1939,\nfrom the Foreign Exchange Acquisition Order of April 30,\n1940, and from any future orders respecting the acquisi-\ntien and disposition of foreign currency and foreign\nsecurities held by such individual Americans. This\nexemption does not apply to corporations nor to foreign\nauchange reselved in connection with exports from of\nimports Late Canada of other than exempted property.\n(2) In the case of transactions between parent and sub-\nsidiary companies, a special license only is required\nand individual transactions are net subject w 5 crutiny, but\nthere is periodic assissation of company books. Meet\nof the companies involved are American companies with\naffiliates in Canada and Canadian companies with affiliates\nin the United States. Benever, the Deard doss net approve\napplications for foreign exchange which would reduce the\n\"capital employed* in Canadian subsidiaries.\n(3) while applications for lisenses for foreign exchange to\npay interest and dividends to non-resident investors\nmust be made thirty days in advance, M obstruction\nis placed in the may of payment of interest and dividends\nto American investors. Furthermore, the Deard sells\nforeign exchange for payment of services mah as\ninsurance preduces, agents' commissions, malandag,\nfreights, case, patent rights, traveling expenses, ere.\nA large part of these payments of foreign eashange as\nservice Items goos to the United states.\nRegraded Unclassified\n101\nDivision of Nonstary\n- 9 -\nI\n(4) Foreign holders of Canadian balances are allowed to -\nthen freely within Cenada itself. (This in sharp\ncontrast with the United States Fereign Fund Control.)\nThe desire to accomodate American interests and to preserve U. s.\ndollar exchange cannot always be easily resemeiled and the difficulties in\nthe way night even increase with the ortension of Canada's var offort.\na. -\na. Canada\n(1) Experts constitute from 15 person's to 20 pareent of the\nnational income.\n(2) The value of the items on service account in the balance\nof international payments 10 relatively high.\n(3) The intimesy of comments relations with the United States\nboth on trade, service, and capital account and the extent\nof the common land frestiers with the United States make\nadministration and enformement complex.\n(4) The former triangle or relationships between the\nUnited States, Canada, and the United Kingdom has born\nbroker. Canada compequently has to make me provisions both\nto neet its mounting unfeverable balance of international\npayments with the United States and to utilise its -\nlation of starling belonces.\n(5) Canadian embange central started from I erstek as for as\ntrained personnel and administrative presedent end experience\nin Canada in related aphere were emerged.\n;\nThe\nand without imposing - strain\nand as the functioning of the Consdian -\n(1) the of foreign trade has not been disturbed by\nthe functioning of the enchange control system. The\nexporter sells me foreign exchange to the Authorized\nDealer, who happeno to be the bank with which be had\nalways examinated Me business.\n(2) Payments of interest and dividents to foreigners - be\nuse - application for 4 license thirty days in\n(9) Insurance ompunies are allowed to earry a their foreign\noperations without distructors. life insurance empenies\nare emported to report their not foreign asshange position\ne 4 quarterly busis.\nRegraded Unclassified\n102\nDivision of Monetary\n- 10 -\nI\n(6) intercourse with the United States MI allowed\nto contitue unhampared except for\n(1) Nestrictions on certain categories of non-essential\nimporte.\n(11) Prohibition of Canadian pleasure expenditure in the\nU.S.\n(5) Dealange are freely permitted between Canadian companies and\ntheir foreign affiliates.\n(6) The Board is & useful instrument to facilitate the repatria-\ntion of British-hold Conadian securities. The repatriation\nof these securities is the seens by which Canada's favorable\nbalance with the U. K. 10 being liquidated. The Board\nsupervised and carried through the orderly repatriation of\n$200 million of Brittsh-held Canadian securities in the\nfirst year of Mar.\n(7) The imposition and enforcement of enchange control relued no\ndifficult edministrative and personnel problems. The\nproperation for the introduction of the enchange central\nsystem were carried through expeditionaly and secretly and\nthe system went into effect without unformable reparenceions\n⑉ the Canadian enonomy. Trained and competent personnel.\nw recruited from the Civil Service, banks and industry, ao\nthat exporienced - vere in leage positions from the very\nbeginning. The use of existing facilities and institutions\ncontributed to the efficiency of the control system. timpli-\nfisation and standardisation of roatine reduced the adminio-\ntrative complexities and the volume of work. the Deard has\nbeen able to edequately cope with the different tacks and\nproblems arising from a variety of the transactions and of\nthe types of corporations and individuals it had to doal\nwith. The administering exchange control in Canada has been\nnegligible and runs at the rate of about $1.1 aillien per\nI\nTNX:SA:esh\n12/12/40\nRegraded Unclassified\n103\nItaly\nRegraded Unclassified\n101\nRegraded Unclassified\nDecember 12, 1940\nSecretary Morgenthan\nMP. white\nSubject: Italian treatment of American property interests.\nAmerican owners of enterprises and investments in Italy have\nbeen treated moderately well in comparison with the treatment\naccorded them in Cormany.\n1. The Italians have serviced by far the greater part\nof their United States-hold dollar bonds.\n2. There has been relatively little difficulty in with-\ndrawing short-term American assets in Italy though\nAmericans have never hold any considerable short-torm\nfunds in that country in recent years for fear of\nblocking.\n3. Regular remittance of dividends free the operations\nof American branch plants in Italy has not been permitted\nsince 1935. On the other hand the Italian Exchange\nCentrel has granted a considerable mober of exemptions\nand special permissions.\nTotal American holdings in Italy are under 8140 million. Short-\nterm American assets in Italy are now only about 3,300,000.\nAmerican holdings of Italian dollar bonds are new less than\n870 million; the lew quotations on these securities indicate\nthat Americans have been accepting leases in order to repatriate\ntheir funds. American direct investments in Italy are less\nthan 870 million.\nTotal Italian holdings in this country are about #90 million.\nThese holdings in the United States include about 019 million\nin short-term funds, about 437 million in security holdings,\nand about 034 million is direct investments.\nIn recent months the Italians have even outdons the Germans in\nturning their accere in this country into United States Govern-\nment bonds, each and accounts held in the names of Latin\nAmerican countries. Obvieusly, the Italians desired to son-\nseal the exact nature of the transactions in which they were\nengaging and feared that their assets in this country would\nbe subjected to licensing control.\n00:rel\n12/12/40\n105\nRemittance\nData\nRegraded Unclassified\n106\nDecember 12, 2940\nM. N. D. White\n6. 4. Saly\nSubjects Personal Remittences to Generary, Italy and Japan.\nLittle information is new available on 1940 resittances to the\nAndo yours.\nThe Department of Commiree estimate for 1939 were:\nJapan $6 millies (84 personal, $2 institutional)\nItaly 20 million (of which $13.5 was through Itale-U.S. banks,\nwhich report once yearly.)\nGermany 7.5 - 10 million\nReparts - only too courses of resittances are available before the\nend of the year. A table is attached showing Pestal Money Orders to the\nthree countries during the first eleven months of 1940. Nothing specially\nsignificant - to be indicated.\nThe American Express resittences of marks and lire are also shown\nin a table attached. Seen increase in the rate of sending marks in recent\nmonths is explained as due to resitiances through New York to Chinese\nand Japanese students in Borlin, who fernerly obtained their funds through\nAnsterden.\nI\n12/12/48\nRegraded Unclassified\n107\nFestal Money Orders - 1940\nGermany\nItaly\ndease\nJanuary/March\n$14,272\n8253,940\n$123,900\nApril/June\n5,885\n183,736\n106,200\nJuly/September\n3,604\n90,000\n99,700\nOctober\n-\n1,100\n105,000\n73,600\nNovember\n3,000\n$27,860\n$632,776\n$403,000\nliste: November Nermally includes a pre-Christmass increase.\nTreasury Department,\nDivision of Nonetary Research,\nDecember 12, 1949.\nGAE:dla\n2/12/40\nRegraded Unclassified\n108\nPostal Money Orders - 1940\nGermanz\nItaly\ndanan\nJemary/March\n514,272\n$253,940\n$123,500\nApril/June\n5,885\n183,736\n106,200\nJuly/September\n3,604\n90,000\n99,700\nOctober\n$\n1,100\n105,000\n73,600\nNovember\n3,000\n$27,860\n6432,776\n$403,000\nNotes November Normally includes e pro-Christmas increase.\nTreasury Department,\nDivision of Hometary Research,\nDecember 12, 1940.\nGABedla\n1/12/40,\nRegraded Unclassified\n109\nAmerican Express Company Resittances\nIn thousands of dellare\ndan./July\nAug./Hov.\nTotal Jan./Nev.\nto Germay\nReg'd., sife, and\nsupport marks\n15 - 15.64\n362\n332\n$\nTravel marks\n16 - 16.64\nR\n137\n233\nFree marks (noney\norders) (404)\nMIL\nTotal to Cornamy.......\n494\n620\n1,014\nTo Italy\nEsigrant live (4.054)\n622\n463\n1,285\nInternal live\n(sinee Sept. only)\n3.94\n0\n334\n334\nFree live 5.074\n100\n216\nTotal to Italy\n1,002\n8\n1,835\n20 Japan - no data\nfreesury Department, Division of Memotary Research.\nDec. 12, 1940\nGAE:ion\n12/12/40\nRegraded Unclassified\nAmerican Express Company Hamittances of Marks and Lire\nReg. Warks\noift & Support Mke.\nTravelmarks\nTree Marks\nEmigrant Tire\nInternal Lire\nPree Lire\nN.O.only\nM.O.only\n1940\nJan.\n293,841.\n27,400.\n24,463.\n1,845,717.\n-\n588,117.\nFeb.\n323,694.\n20,272.\n17,920.\n3,023,399.\n575,397.\nMar.\n414,678.\n22,579.\n26,001.\n4,164,513.\n...\n826,469.\nApr.\n337,261.\n18,353.\n26,242.\n2,854,760.\n---\n492,027.\nMay\n354,888.\n13,114.\n3,280,487.\n...\n30,427.\n595,292.\nJune\n367,365.\n148,495.\n13,722.\n2,468,528.\n258,206.\n18,996.\n2,656,858.\n...\n221,839.\nJuly\n324,533.\n212,402.\nAug.\n378,386.\n253,056.\n28,053.\n3,493,781.\n- -\n411,716.\nSept.\n345,057.\n213,724.\n14,853.\n2,892,598.\n1,620,743.\n96,138.\nOct.\n506,213.\n219,494.\n44,592.\n2,313,685.\n3,135,523.\n140,176.\nNov.\n801,504.\n124,298.\n39,375.\n2,729,059.\n3,814,407.\n59,890.\nTotal- 4,447,420.\n1,284,494.\n267,421.\n31,723,345.\n8,570,673.\n4,264,267.\nc .1560\n9 .1660\ne .4005\n0.0405\[email protected]\n0.0507\nDollar\nEquiv. $691,797.\n$213,226.\n$107,102.\n81,284,795.\n$334,256.\n$216,198.\nTreasury Department, Division of Monetery Research\nDecember 12, 1940.\ngraded Unclassified\n111\nForeign Funds in\nthe United States\n112\nFunds in the United States of Jersey,\nItaly, Japan, Rumania and Hungery\n(In Millions of Dollars)\nTotal of\nI\nGermanya Italys Japane Humaniss\nItems\nI\nDate\nold - earmark\n-\n-\n-\n27.1\n-\n27.1\n12/4/40\nficial funds:\nn Bew York Fede Ass. Bank\noh\n-\n-\n2\n-\nsb\n12/4/40\nas other Here York banks\n.5\n.1\n-\n1\n,\n66\n11/27/40\nPrivate funds\nV\n4.8\nw\nIn Bes Zerk Fed. lies. Dist.\n6.8\n18.2\n115.8\n24.9\n170.5\n11/27/40\nIn other districts\n.3\n6\n4.2\n?\n?\n501\n11/13/40\nIssu States securities\n15.\n37.\n?\n?\n2\n52.\n10/31/40\nand other investments\n84.\nthe\n1\n?\n?\n118,\n12/31/39\nTotal\n107\n89.9\n120\n52.2\n4.8\n373.9\n- Suptember 25, 1940. Deposite only.\nTreasury Department, Division of Neastary Desearch\nDecember 12, 1940.\nRegraded Unclassified\n113\nBRITISH air COMMISSION\n1785 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE\nWASHINGTON. D. c.\nTELEPHONE HOBART 9000\nPLEASE QUOTE\nDecember 12, 1940\nREFERENCE NO.\nThe Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.\nWashington\nD. C.\nMy dear Mr. Morgenthau:\nI have just received the following cablegram from\nLord Beaverbrook:\n\"Please tell Morgenthau I have interviewed\ntoday Group Captain Sorley who is in charge of\nBoscombe Down, the experimental station. He\nsays Curtiss P40 is a straight-forward job.\nFlies easily. Allison engine has proved to be\nreliable. It's performance is equivalent to\nSpitfire which is very fine according to our\nviews. Speed equal to Spitfire in actual exper-\nience. Altitude comparison shows good results.\n\"If desired by Morgenthau, immediate facil-\nities will be given for United States Observers\nat Boscombe Down to study Curtiss P40 perform-\nance compared with British types.\"\nIf there is anything further you would like us to\ndo in this connection, please let us know.\nYours sincerely,\nin\nMorris W. when Wilson\nv\nMT\nRegraded Unclassified\n114\nDecember 12, 1940\nX\nMy dear Cordell:\nIn view of our conversation, Tuesday\nat your apartment, I an sending you herewi th\nin strietest confidence copy of a report by\nMr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-\nspection trip of West Coast airplane manu-\nfacturing plants. This report points out\nthe many weaknesses in the present program\nand the opportunity for increasing production.\nIf this kind of material interests you,\nI shall be glad to send you additional reports\nas they 60M9 to my desk.\nYours sincerely,\nHonorable Cordell Hull,\nSecretary of State.\nRegraded Unclassified\n115\nDecember 12, 1940\nMy dear Cordell:\nIn view of our conversation, Tuesday\nat your apartment, I an sending you herewith\nin strictest confidence copy of a report by\nMr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-\nspection trip of West Coast airplane -\nfacturing plants.\nThis report points out\nthe many weaknesses in the present program\nand the opportunity for increasing production.\nIf this kind of material interests you,\nI shall be glad to send you additional reports\nas they come to my desk.\nYours sincerely,\nHenorable Cordell Hull,\nSecretary of State.\nRegraded Unclassified\n116\nDecember 12, 1940\nMy dear Cordell:\nIn view of our conversation, Tuesday\nat your apartment, I an sending you herewi th\nin strictest confidence copy of a report by\nMr. Buckley, of my office, on his recent in-\nspection trip of West Coast airplane -\nfacturing plants.\nThis report points out\nthe many weaknesses in the present program\nand the opportunity for increasing production.\nIf this kind of material interests you,\nI shall be glad to send you additional reports\nas they come to my desk.\nYours sincerely,\nHonorable Cordell Hull,\nSecretary of State.\nRegraded Unclassified\n117\nTHE SECRETARY OF STATE\nWASHINGTON\nDecember 12, 1940\nDear Henry:\nThank you very much for your note of\nDecember twelfth and the enclosure, which I\nam very glad to have. I should indeed appre-\nciate receiving any supplementary information\nalong the same line.\nSincerely yours,\nCorrecthes\nThe Honorable\nHenry Morgenthau, Jr.,\nSecretary of the Treasury.\n113\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nWashington\nFOR RELEASE, MORNING NEWSPAPERS,\nPress Service\nThursday, December 12, 1940.\nNo. 22-83\n12/11/40\nSecretary of the Treasury Morgenthau announced last\nnight that the subscription books for the current offering of\n3/4 percent Treasury notes of Series B-1945, National Defense\nSeries, closed at the close of business Wednesday, December 11.\nSubscriptions addressed to a Federal Reserve Bank, or\nBranch, or to the Treasury Department, and placed in the mail\nbefore 12 o'clock midnight Wednesday, December 11, will be\nconsidered as having been entered before the close of the\nsubscription books.\nAnnouncement of the amount of subscriptions and the\nbasis of allotment will probably be made on Saturday, December 14.\n00000\nRegraded Unclassified\n119\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 12, 1940\nstortly CORPIDENTIAL\nTO\nSecretury Morgenthau\nFROM\nMr. Klaus\nFBI reports:\nDecember 3. The usual report regarding Hans Thomsen states, among other\nThomsen's reiteration that Oumansky on instructions from his with superiors\nthings, Thomsen fully advised with regard to every move Oumansky makes\nUnited keeps States officials; that Thomsen believes Russia will exercise pressure of\nOF Bulgaris ut the expense of Greece and Turkey; that Weygend is cooperating\nBulgaria for Hitler in exchange for an outlet to the Aegean in favor\n100 cent with the Vichy government and is more anti-British than Petain; the\nCreeks; that landslides and not sabotage were the causes of recent railroad\nthat per Italy will land sufficient troops in two months in Albanie to beat\ndamage in Norway; and that Germany had already extended feelers for peace\nwith the cooperation of continental powers, including Russia.\nDecember 5. Memorandum on the activities of Wythe Williams, radio com-\nmentator of the Mutual Broadcasting System and editor of the Greenwich \"Time,\"\ncharges him with being guilty of deliberate distortion of facts concerning\nnational defense broadcasts over the Mutual Broadcasting System; it appears\nthat Williams has been called before grand juries to compel him to give ovi-\ndence concerning his broadcasts after refusal to cooperate with FBI\nDecember 9. Transmits a copy of a letter from the president of the\nGeneral Mercury Corporation, Dallas, Texas, who requests Government protection\naround the Big Bend mercury district of Texas in order to safeguard American\nmercury mines; he says similar measures were taken in 1914-1918.\nState Department reports:\nDecember 7. American Consulate General at Shanghai says the Italian Com-\nmercial Attache at Tokyo carried $800,000 in American currency B. few days be-\nfore from Shanghai to Tokyo; the currency was obtained in Shanghai.\nRegraded Unclassified\nJOHN EDGAR HOOVER\nDIRECTOR\n7\nFederal Bureau of Investigation\nUnited Stutes Department of Justice\n120\nWashington, D. C.\nDecember 12, 1940\nany\nPERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL\nBY SPECIAL MESSENGER\nThe Honorable\nThe Secretary of the Treasury\nWashington, D. C.\nMy dear Mr. Secretary:\nAs of possible further interest to you, I\nam transmitting herewith a copy of a memorandum containing\ninformation to supplement the data sent with my letter\nof November 6, 1940 concerning Fritz Mandl, alias Frederick\nMandl.\nSincerely yours,\n2a. Hower\nEnclosure\nRecd few 12-16-40 - skrid - 12/16- degisted for dieg\n121\nRegraded Unclassified\nDecember 7, 1940\nMEMORANDUM\nA highly confidential informant has advised Frits\nMandl, alias Frederick Mandl is alleged to have said that:\n1. He was convinced of 4 Masi vistery\nand British collapse.\n2. He was arrenging his affaire accordingly\nand was now on excellent terms with the\nMasis who permitted him to set twelve\nmillions out of Germany.\n3. He was using Schicht, formerly the Unilever\nrepresentative in Germany as his \"go-betmoun\"\nwith the Ramis and was also in close toush\nwith Matteresse in See Paule.\n4. He was in contact in New York with Brown\n\"Chairm or Vise-Chairman of Resington\"\nand with Frank Altechull, who is busily\nengaged in buying German bends) that both\nof these nen were of his opinion as to the\noutcome of the war.\n5. He wanted to get & share of the $500,000,000.00\nlean to South American countries. (Informant\nstated it was believed at one time if Mandl\nwas successful in this he would use it for buy-\ning up supplies and plantations for Germany,\nbut, it has since been heard that he has recently\nretired from Washington very disgramtled after\na conversation on this point with the Treasury\nDepartment).\n6. Be was in close touch with Dester Moriali,\nthe Italian Consul in Baltimers who was previously\n122\n- 2 -\npress attachs at the Italian Legation\nat Vienna.\nThe source of the above information reports that Mandl\nis MW staying at the Waldorf Towers, New York city: that he is\neither & eitisen of Argentina or Paraguay and has & large industrial\nplant, Cometa, outside of Buence Aires and is also the amer of\nlarge rise plantations and centrols the Mihanovich Shipping Line at\nBusace Aires.\nThe Princess Starhenberg is at present living M his\nguest in that city.\nRegraded Unclassified\n123\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 12, 1940.\nSecretary Morgenthau\nTO\nFROM\nMr. Have NA\nSubject: Report on conversation with Mr. Cesar Corders Davila,\nExecutive Director, Puerto Rico Housing Authority.\nIn accordance with your instructions, Commander McKay made\nen appointment for Mr. Davila and Colonel Manuel Font, Commissioner\nof the Housing, Authority of San Juan, to see me at 3 o'clock\nthis afternoon. Mr. Davila explained that his colleague, Colonel\nFont, WAS unable to come with him as he had gone to Baltimore this\nmorning.\nBriefly, Mr. Davila's problem is this. The United States\nHousing Authority \"earmarked\" $12 millions for slum clearance in\nPuerto Rico. Later $2 millions were deducted from the $12 millions,\nthe reason being given by the United States Housing Authority that\nthe funds were needed for defense housing in the United States.\nKr. Davila said, however, that since the time of the deduction\na direct appropriation has been made for defense housing. He 1a\nendeavoring, therefore, to have the $2 millions restored to the\nfunds \"earmarked\" for alum clearance in Puerto Rico.\nMr. Davila stated that Admiral Leahy said he had shown you\nthe Puerto Rican slums and that you therefore had firet-hand\ninformation with regard to them and were aware of the needs.\nIt is Mr. Davila's hope that you will call Mr. Straus and put in\na word in behalf of having the $2 millions restored to the Puerto\nRican slum clearance fund.\nRegraded Unclassified\n124\nJR\nGRAY\nBerlin\nDated December 12, 1940\nRec'd 7:15 p.m.\nSecretary of State,\nWashington,\n5018, DECEMBER 12, & p.m.\nMy 4406, October 22, 2 p.m.\nFOR TREASURY FROM WOODS IN THE ABSENCE OF H ATH AND\nFOR DEPARTMENT'S INFORMATION.\nAccording to a statement published in WIRTSCHAFT and\nSTATISTIK the Reich's disclosed Indebtedness increased\nduring September by 3,179 million marks to a total of\n69,721 million marks as compared with an increase of 3,631\nmillion marks in August. However, whereas in August over\nthree fifths of the increase had been in the form of short\nterm indebtedness 2,336 million marks of the total\nborrowed in September was on long term and only 843 million\nmarks on short term.\nThe major increases in long term debentures during\nSeptember were 1,383 million marks in the sixth series of\n4% bonds (with 20 year maturity) and 955 million marks li\nloans of which 623 million marks were 4% loans and 332\nmillion\nRegraded Unclassified\n125\n-2- #5018, December 12, 4 p.m., from Berlin.\nmillion marks 42% loans (apparently an old issue since to\nour knowledge new issues carrying 43% interest were\ndiscontinued some months ago). Of the total increase in\nshort term borrowing during September 244 million marks was\nin Treasury bills and certificates 307 million marks in\n\"other loans\" (including the loan of the Reichkreditkassen\nsystem to the Reich) and 306 million marks in the Reich's\noperating credit at the Reichsbank offset in part by a\nreduction of 14 million marks in tax certificates outstanding.\nMORRIS\nWWC\n10 THE\nTECHNICY varialvas\nOFFICE of THE\nDVD DEC 13 VVV \" IS\nIBEVENSA\nBECEINED\n126\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON\nIn reply refer to\nEA 840.51 Frozen\nCredits/985\nDecember 12, 1940\nThe Secretary of State presents his compliments to\nthe Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and encloses\ncopies of a paraphrase of telegram no. 782 of December 4,\n1940 from the American Legation at Bucharest, regarding\nTurkish and Rumanian negotiations for the exchange of\ncotton for petroleum products.\nEnclosure:\nFrom Bucharest,\nDecember 12, 1940.\nRegraded Unclassified\n127\nPARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED\nFROM: American Legation, Bucharest, Rumania.\nDATE: December 4, 1940, 4 p.m.\nNO. : 782.\nReference is made to Department's telegram no. 374\nof Oct. 29, 8 p.m.\nYesterday this Legation was visited by an officer\nof the National Bank, who showed me a telegram received\nfrom the Chase Bank to the effect that the United States\nTreasury was reconsidering the license in the amount of\n$1,410,000 for Turkish cotton, which was issued on Oct. 29.\nHe asked if I knew anything about why this license was\nbeing reconsidered. I replied that I knew nothing of this\nmatter: whereupon he requested that I make recommendations\nto the Treasury that the license be issued. I told him\nthat he should make B representation through the Rumanian\nLegation in the United States.\nEdson has been notified by the Turkish Commercial\nAttache here that negotiations between his Government\nand Rumania involving the exchange of cotton for petroleum\nproducts have reached a deadlock. He said that Rumania\ninsists that Turkey import petroleum products in the ratio\nof 4 units of gasoline to one unit of kerosene, and Turkey\n(which urgently needs kerosene) insists on 8. ratio of one\nto one. Evidently Turkey insists that no cotton will be shipped\npending the granting of its request.\nThe\nRegraded Unclassified\n128\n- 2 -\nThe desire of Rumania to export gasoline is due to\nthe shutting off of markets in the Mediterranean and the\noil-buying policy which Germany (which since last June\nhas been the sole buyer of any importance) has pursued\nin recent months. In spite of the fact that Germany\nhas been buying more Rumanian gasoline than kerosene or\ndiesel oil, her gasoline purchases have been below the\nratio of kerosene and diesel oil provided by the Rumanian\ncrude oil. Moreover, Germany does not desire to step up\nher imports of gasoline enough to equal the refining\nratio as she apparently has a greater need for kerosene\nand diesel oil than for gasoline. This has resulted in\na shortage of kerosene and diesel oil, while gasoline\nstorage space has been completely filled up. Therefore,\nthe refineries are confronted with the question as to\nwhether they ought to keep up their refining operations\nwhen there is a market for kerosene and diesel oil and\nstorage space for gasoline is already used up. This\nsituation (plus pressure by Germany) has forced Rumania\nto attempt to make all her Balkan markets take gasoline,\nin order that the problem of storage may be alleviated.\nGUNTHER\nEA:MSG\nim\nCOPY\nRegraded Unclassified\n129\nJT\nGRAY\nBERLIN\nDated December 12, 1940\nRec'd 3:10 p.m.\nSecretary of State,\nWashington.\n5009, December 12, noon.\nBy decree of the Reich Minister of Finance goods\noriginating in the Netherlands are to be admitted free\nof customs duties as from December 16, 1940. In Berlin\ncircles it is anticipated that the Staathalter in the\noccupied Netherlands territory will issue a parallel\ndecree stipulating duty free entry of German goods.\nMORRIS\nCSB\nCopy:emk\nof\n010 DEC 18 bit V S9\nABEVENSA DESTRIMENT\nBECEINED\nRegraded Unclassified\nCOPY\n28254\n130\nPLAIN\nStockholm\nDated December 12, 1940\nRec'd 10:30 p.m.\nSecretary of State,\nWashington.\n1099, Twelfth.\nGovernment revenue for fiscal year 1941-1942 estimated by\nBudget Bureau at 2076 million crowns or slightly higher than\ncurrent fiscal year. Riksbank December 7 million crowns metallic\nreserve 663 foreign exchange 808 loans discounts 638 circulation\n1375 check clearances November Stockholm 3296 Gothenberg 339.\nGovernment price guaranty to forest owners for pulpwood fixed at\nfirst class sulphite wood between 30 and 36 ore per floating\ncubic foot, second class sulphite and first class sulphate wood\nbetween 24 and 30 ore, second class sulphate wood between 22 and\n28 ore. Price guaranty covers 30 million cubic meters. Press\nreports Boliden Company copper production 12 thousand tons 1940\nand further increase to 16 thousand tons expected with exploitation\nof state-owned deposits. First recurrence foot and mouth disease\nsince July fifth reported from south Sweden. Industrial production\nindex up one point to 106 for October but current falling off in\nimports of coal causing considerable anxiety. Negotiations looking\nto renewal of basic wage agreement for industry for 1941 resumed,\nRegraded Unclassified\n131\nI -2- 1099, December 12 from Stockholm.\nit is too early to predict outcome but negotiations are proceeding\nslowly. After lengthy debates Rikedag finally approved sales tax\neffective January 1, 1941 on nearly all retail sales of 5 per cent\nestimated to yield nearly 200 million crowns in one year also\napproved appropriation 15 million crowns for erection shale oil\nplant expected to yield 15 thousand metric tons of crude oil per\nannum. Also appropriation nearly 32 million crowns for laying\ndown two light cruisers and undisclosed number of destroyers and\nsubmarines. Bankrupticies November numbered 113.\nINFORM TREASURY, AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE.\nSTERLING\nNPL\n10 THE\n100HWOYF\noclictor 145\nBIO DEC 11 bill s 12\nBECEIVED\nCopy:jpt\nRegraded Unclassified\n132\n0-2/2657-220\nRESTRICTED\nM.I.D., W.D.\nDecember 12, 1940.\nNo. 268\nSITUATION REPORT\n12:00 M.\nThis military situation report 18 issued by the Military\nIntelligence Division, General Staff. In view of the occasional\ninclusion of political information and of opinion it is classified\nas Restricted.\nI, Western Theater of War.\n1. Air Force Operations.\nDuring daylight of the 11th, the Germans made scattered\nraids on southern England. Last night Birmingham was bombed rather\nheavily and there were light attacks in southwest England and the\nLondon area.\nThe R.A.F. last night operated normally against porte\nin occupied territory and against inland docks and railroad yardo\nin western Germany.\nII. Greek Theater of War.\nIncreased Italian resistance has slowed down the Greek ad-\nvance in the center and north. The Greeks are reported to have\npushed ahead on the southern front north of Argirocastro and Porto\nEdda. Italian air activity appears to have been somewhat more ef-\nfective.\nIII. Mediterranean and African Theaters of War.\nThe capture of Sidi-Barrani on the afternoon of December 11,\n1940 is reported by the British. Cairo dispatches officially estimate\n20,000 prisoners (probably mostly native) and huge quantities of war\nmateriel. Two Italian divisions, one native and one Blackshirt,\nappear to be cut off from Graziani's main army. The British have\ngained air superiority on this front and are exploiting it.\nRESTRICTED\nRegraded Unclassified\n133\n0-2/2657-220\nRESTRICTED\nM.I.D., W.D.\nDecember 12, 1940.\nNo. 269\nSITUATION REPORT\n12:00 M.\nThis military situation report is issued by the Military\nIntelligence Division, General Staff. In view of the occasional\ninclusion of political information and of opinion it is classified\nas Restricted.\nI. Western Theater of War.\n1. Air Force Operations.\nThe German Air Force during daylight on the 12th\noperated normally over southern England. Last night bombing\nactivity was high. Sheffield was subjected to a. particularly\nheavy attack. Smaller raids were made on various other points.\nThe R.A.F. last night cancelled all operations ex-\ncept a small Coastal Command raid on Brest.\nII. Greek Theater of War.\nThe capture of Porto Palermo on the coast road about\ntwenty miles north of Porto Edda has been announced officially\nby the Greeks. It is believed that stiffening Italian resistance\nand bad weather have slowed up the Greek advance, except along the\ncoast. Air activity apparently limited.\nIII. Mediterrenean and African Theaters of War.\nIn Egypt British forces are now following up the Italian\nwithdrawal toward Sollum.\nRESTRICTED\nRegraded Unclassified\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK\n134\nOF NEW YORK\nDecember 12, 1940.\nMrs. H. S. Klotz,\nSecretary to Hon. Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,\nTreasury Department,\nWashington, D. C.\nDear Mrs. Klotz:\nIn accordance with the suggestion made by the Secretary\nlate this afternoon, I am enclosing copy of the notes which we\nmade of our interviews with the market here on Tuesday morning\nwith respect to the new issue of Defense Notes. He told me that\nyou would see that it got to him promptly in the morning, and\nthat it would not be subject to general distribution.\nSincerely yours,\nRobert G. Rouse,\nVice President.\nEnc.\nRegraded Unclassified\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK\nOF NEW YORK\n135\nFFICE CORRESPONDENCE\nDATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940\nPILES\nSUBJECT Recommendations by banks and dealers\nwhich were interviewed by us this morning with\nrespect to the maturity and coupon on cash\nPre les house and & A. Miller\noffering this week of $500 million taxable\nDefense Notes.\nc. Levy of Salomon Brothers and Hutzler\nLIVE Teasury could seli any of the following notes:\n1 year\n- 1/4%\n2 \"\n- 3/8%\n3 \"\n- 1/2%\n4 or 4 1/2 \"\n- 3/4%\n5 \"\n- 7/8%\nbelieved there WELB no question about a one year note at 1/4% or et five year note\n..t. 7/82 being EL success and that & five year 7/8% note might even be sold by the\nPensury at 100 1/4 to yield 0.82% which would save the Treasury B. little money.\nNo also thought that a 3/4% coupon on a four and one-half year note would be\nreasonable. He believed the market basis for a four to four and one-half year\nnote would be 0.60% to 0.65% and for B. five year note 0.70%. He mentioned that\nDate estimate of the market basis for the five year note was lower than the tax\nsulvalent murket basis for the 2 1/2% bonds of December 15, 1945, because of an\nallowance he made for the high premium on the latter issue.\nMessrs. Wills, Marckwald and Leeds of Discount Corporation:\nThey submitted the following statement of estimates covering a. one year,\n2ND year, three year, four year or five year note:\n1 Year Taxable Note Due December 1941\nCoupon\n.125%\n.0833%\n.05%\n1/18\n100.4\n100.6\n100.7\n3/8%\n100.8\n100.9\n100.10\nComparable with 0.0.0. 1% - 11-15-41 on .00% basis tax equiv.\n.32%\nU.S.H.A. 1 Year 1/ 4's on.04% basis tax equiv.\n.12%\n2 Year Taxable Note Due December 1942\nDoubon\n.275%\n.225%\n.175%\n3/81\n100.6\n100.9\n100.13\n1/2\n100.14\n100.17\n100.21\nComparable with - H.O.L.C. 2 1/4% 7/1/42-44 on .08% basis -tax equiv. .57)\nR. 1. C. 1% 7/1/42 on .06% basis -tax equiv. -38%\n3 Year Taxable Note Due December 1943\ncupón\n-425%\n.375%\n,325%\n1/3\n100.8\n100.13\n100.17\n100.19\n100.24\n100.29\nComparable with - 3 1/4% October 15, 1943-45 on 265 besis - tax eouiv, 1.44\n1 1/8% December 15, 1943\non .18% basis - tax equiv. .54%\nRegraded Unclassified\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK\n135\nOF NEW YORK\nFICE CORRESPONDENCE\nDATE TUESDAY, DECIMED 10,1940\nFILES\nSUBJECT:\n1.9.Rouse and S.A.Miller\n- 2 -\n4 year Taxable Note Due December 1944\n/\n-55%\n.50%\n-45%\n100.7\n100.16\n100.23\n100.25\n101.\n101.6\nConvirble with 4% December 15, 1944-54 on 14% basis - tex equiv. 2.78%\n1% September 15,1944\non .38% basis - tax equiv. 70%\n5 year Taxable Note Due December 1945\nboron\n.60%\n65%\n.70%\n.75%\n.80%\n06\n100.24\n100.16\n100.8\nT/M\n101.3\n100.28\n100.20\n100.12\nComparisons:\n3/15 Che March 15, 1945 at 101.6\n- .47% basis - tax equiv.\n.71%\n3/44 il Sept. 15, 1945-47 \"110.3\n- .60% basis -\n\"\n\"\n1.47%\n1/2% \" Dec. 15,1945\n\"109.13\n- .60% besis -\nn.\n\"\n1.3%\n1 1/2% June 1, 1945-47 at 103.5\n- .78% basis -\nIf\ner\n1.25%\nComments:\nA defense note would have no right value. Assuming one point premium\nright velue on outstanding five year notes, you might, therefore, justifiably\nedd .20% basis to the yield now obtainable on present 5 year tex exempt note.\n-7.12 additional .20% basis would place 8. 5 year texable defense note on\napproximately El 70% basis. To arrive at probable yielde for shorter\ntabable defense notes, 8. straight line from .70% basis for 5 years\ndescensing to zero for December 140 (there being no right value) was drawn,\n12765 the yields above were thereby indicated.\nPrices derived from probable yield on taxable notes, based on current\nmirket level.\nVills believed that there would be some resistance in the market to a\ntelable note and thought E. 3/4% coupon on & five year note would be too thin,\nsecondin to their estimate that such en issue would sell in the market on E basis\nDetails 0.00% and 0.70%. He also thought that a 3/45 note for four and one-half\nSMITH rould be stretching it. He said the new note issue will be an experimental\nor = the murket will be watching it closely. While it might be possible that\n-- I'Lye year issue would be taken, 8. 7/8% five year note would be & greater\nTHE und would pave the way for future issues. He believed that some allowance\nthat Dy crüe for & possible increase in texes next year which would make vulnerable\nnote put out on the basis of present market levels. Owing to the \"smoke\"\nAccountrying & long taxable note, his recommendation would be to put out & short\nmarry,\nRegraded Unclassified\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK\n137\nOF NEW YORK\nOFFICE CORRESPONDENCE\nDATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940\nCONFIDENTIAL FILES\nSUBJECT\nA.G. Rouse and S.A.Miller\n3\nMessrs. Morris and Schlioting of Bankers Trust Company\nSubmitted the following ostimates:\n1 Year\n2 Year\n3 Year\n4 Year\n4 1/2 isar\n5 Year\nCoupon\n1/4%\n3/8%\n1/2%\n3/4%\n3/4%\n7/8%\nEstimated\n0.58%\n0.66% = 101.\nWorket\n0.08 - 0.10 -\nI\n+50 .55%\n0.60%\n0.70% = 100.28\nRasis\nMr. Morris stated that his first choice would be B. five year 7/8% note\nen he Telt 1% would be too generous and 3/4% too close. He thought, however, that\n* four year 3/4% note might be stretched to four and one-half years. Mr. Schlicting\nstated that he thought 8 five year 7/8% might be too rich and his first choice\nwould be a four and one-half year 3/43 which should \"hit it on the добе\". Mr. Morris\nmid that a one year 1/4% note would be no problem and that the same would be true\nfor a two year 3/8% or & three year 1/2%. He said that he did not believe there\nwould be any resistance in the market to the innovation in the type of securities\nbeing issued and there would not be too much selling of the tax-exempt issues\nbecause as time goes on more banks will need the tax exemption. Both Mr. Morris\nand Kr. Schlicting believed the total amount of subscriptions received for the\ntaxable note should compare favorably with the amount of subscriptions received\nIn the past for tax-exempt notes.\nMessrs. Garner and Richmond of Guaranty Trust Company\nMr. Garner stated that short paper is attractive to them; however, the\nevount of their taxable securities income is increasing and an increase in taxes\nLa probable mext year. He believed that the question of \"Right\" value was also\nà factor in pricing a new note as it would make B. difference of about 1/4 of B point\nin the price of & five year note. Both Mr. Garner and Mr. Richmond believed the\nTreasury could sell & one year 1/4%, a four year, or possibly a four and one-\nhalf year 3/4% or B. five year 7/8%. However, a. four and one-half year 3/4%\nnote looked thin to them although it would not be impossible for it to sell\nin the market at a yield as low AE 0.58%. They believed it might be wiser\nfor the Treasury to add an extra 1/8% to the coupon in order to insure success\nuntil the market can be tested for this kind of an issue. While they believed a\nfour and one-half year 3/4% note might be too thin, they also believed that\nfive year 7/86 note might be B. little rich and Mr. Garner said that it might\nbe desirable to put out a short issue to conform with present legislation\nwhich provides for payment of the notes at maturity with taxes. If this were done,\nLt, would permit the Treasury to get away from cumbersome financing at an early\ndate provided it could obtain the necessary approval of Congress. In any event,\nthey would put out either a one year or a five year note as there appeared to\nbe little reason for doing anything in between. Although a one year 1/4% note\nwould not enjoy as wide distribution 88 B five year note, it would be taken\nor the larger banks. They would subscribe for such an issue if for no other reason\nRegraded Unclassified\nEDERAL RESERVE BANK\n138\nOF NEW YORK\nOFFICE CORRESPONDENCE\nDATE TUESDAY, DECEDED 10,1940\nFILES\nSUBJECT:\n40,Rouse and S.A.Miller\nto jut some deposits to work and to cover the cost of deposit insurance. They,\nof course, would also take a four or four and one-half year 3/4% note or a five\nyear 7/8% note.\nMr. Green, Vice President of Chase National Bank\nThe Treasury could sell a one year 1/4%, a four and one-half year\n3/4% or 8. five year 7/8% note. Based on the current market yield of 0.70% for\nthe HOLC 1 1/2s of 1945-47, 8. five year 3/4% taxable note would look too thin. He\nalso believed a four and one-half year 7/8% note would be safer than E. 3/4%\nnote as there undoubtedly will be a lot of market resistance to EL new taxable\nissue. He believed, however, that the Treasury should sell B. short note in\nenticipation of taxes, pending such time as the Treasury could put out a long bond.\nno said be realized, of course, that B. short issue would wind up in E. few large\nbanks, which would not be as desirable as the wider distribution of & longer note.\n/nother objection he saw to the one year maturity was that 1941 was pretty well\nfilled up with other maturing issues which might make it more desirable to put out\n= two year maturity as there are relatively few issues maturing in 1942.\nMessrs. Burgess and Kane of National City Bank\nThe bond market feels pretty much like the stock market in 1929, or\nLas other words it is EL \"hectic bull market\". This should be taken into consideration\nIn new Treasury financing. Furthermore, if there is any question of the authorities\nDeling with excess reserves in the near future, a five year 3/4% note issue at\nthis time might look very bad later. Therefore, they would recommend B. four\nme one-half year 3/4% note or a five year 7/8% note, recognizing that either might\n2 et little full. While there is something to be said in favor of a one year 1/45\nnote, such an issue would add more fuel to the fire in the keen demand for longer\nnaturities of short issues at a higher yield. Notwithstanding their recommende tion\nof t. four and one-half or five year note, they believed it would be no problem\nfor the Treasury to sell a one year 1/4%, 8. two year 3/8%, B. three year 1/2% or\nN. four year 5/8% note. Their preference, however, would be for 8 note maturing in\nWree years or longer. They also commented on the need for the Treasury to give\nconsideration to the earning requirements of investors as the return on investments\nis getting much too small to provide a. livelihood.\nMr. Devine of 0. J. Devine and Company, Inc.\nA five year 3/4% note would go very well and sell in the market on\nEL 0.65% basis equivalent to E price of 100 1/2. However, others in his offics\nthink that a five year note should carry a 7/8% coupon. He also said the Treasury\ncould sell a one year 1/4%, a two year 3/8% & three year 1/2% and a four year 5/8%,\nalthough his office thinks that the three and four year issues should carry a coupon\n1/8% higher. Re believes that, under existing conditions, the question of paying\noff maturing taxable notes with taxes in one year is merely something to talk\nabout and that, owing to the state of the market, the maturity should be made\nIf Long as possible, in this case five years.\nRegraded Unclassified\nLIKM 0.40\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK\nOF NEW YORK\n139\nFFICE CORRESPONDENCE\nDATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10,1940\nCONFIDENTIAL FILES\nSUBJECT:\nMessrs. E.G.Rouse and S.A.Miller\nROM.\n- 5 -\nThe above mentioned views of the banks and dealers were telephoned\nto Undersecretary of the Treasury Bell shortly after 11:00 a.m. today.\nOur recommendation was, briefly, that while most of the banks and\ndealers recommend a 7/8% coupon on a five year note, our estimates indicate\nthat a five year 3/4% note should sell in the market to yield around 0.60%;\nthat we believed such an issue would be well received but that, for reasons stated\nin the memorandum presented to the Treasury at the meeting on Monday, if the\nTreasury decides to use the National Defense authorization we would prefer to see\nit issue a one year 1/4% note, which is the shortest maturity that could be\nmade taxable.\nSAM:FD\nRegraded Unclassified\n140\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATEDecember 12, 1940\nTO Mr. D. 1. Bell\nFROM W. H. Hadley\n3/48 DEFENSE NOTES\nSubscriptions by 25 Largest Commercial Banks and\n5 Largest Savings Banks in the New York District\nMaximum Allowable\nBank\n(1/2 Cap, & Surplus)\nSubscription\n1.\nGuaranty Trust\n$130,000,000\n$100,000,000\n2.\nChase National\n100,000,000\n100,000,000\n3.\nNational City\n65,250,000\n65,250,000\n4,\nFirst National\n55,000,000\n55,000,000\n5.\nIrving Trust\n51,467,500\n10,000,000\n6,\nCentral Hanover\n40,500,000\n40,500,000\n7.\nBankers Trust\n37,500,000\n37,500,000\n8,\nManufacturers Trust\n37,373,000\n37,373,000\n9.\nChemical Bank\n35,000,000\n35,000,000\n10. Bank of Manhattan\n20,000,000\n20,000,000\n11. J. P. Morgan, Inc.\n20,000,000\n20,000,000\n12. New York Trust\n18,750,000\n18,750,000\n13. Savings Bank Trust\n16,248,000\n16,000,000\n14, Corn Exchange\n15,000,000\n5,000,000\n15, United States Trust\n14,000,000\n5,000,000\nRegraded Unclassified\n141\nBank\nMaximum Allowable\nSubscription\n16. City Bank Farmers\n$ 10,000,000\n$ 10,000,000\n17. Marine Trust,Buffalo\n7,500,000\n7,500,000\n18. Public National\n7,000,000\n7,000,000\n19. Commercial National\n7,000,000\n7,000,000\n20. Fidelity Union Trust, Newark\n6,750,000\n6,750,000\n21. Brown Bros. Harriman\n6,632,000\n6,000,000\n22. Brooklyn Trust Co.\n6,337,500\n6,337,500\n23. Manufacturers & Traders Trust,\nBuffalo\n6,250,000\n6,250,000\n24. Marine Midland\n5,000,000\n5,000,000\n25. Lincoln Alliance, Rochester\n3,400,000\n3,400,000\nSAVINGS BANKS:\n1.\nAgency Bank, Montreal\n37,500,000\n25,000,000\n2.\nBowery Savings Bank\n22,100,000\n22,000,000\n3.\nImmigrant Industrial\n21,490,000\n21,000,000\n4.\nDrydock Savings\n12,700,000\n10,000,000\n5. Union Dime Savings\n11,750,000\n10,000,000\nNote:\nThe above banks are listed in the order of the maximus allowable subscription\nand not according to relative size of the banks.\nRegraded Unclassified\n142\nDecember 18, 1940\nMr. D. 1. Bell\nI. 1. Hadley\n3/45 was NOTES\nSubscriptions W 25 Lergest 0 oroial Banks at\n5 Largest Savings is the Bee York Matriet\nMaximum Allowable\nlook\n(1/2 Can. & Purplus)\nAubscription\n1.\nGuaranty Trust\n$130,000,000\n$100,000,000\n2.\nChase National\n100,000,000\n100,000,000\n3.\nNational City\n55,250,000\n65,250,000\n4.\nFirst National\n55,000,000\n55,000,000\n6.\nIrving Trust\n51,467,500\n10,000,000\n6.\nCentral Hanover\n40,500,000\n40,500,000\n1.\nBeakers Trust\n37,500,000\n37,500,000\n8.\nNanufacturers Trust\n37,373,000\n37,373,000\n9.\nChemical Bank\n$5,000,000\n36,000,000\n10. Bank of Manhatten\n20,000,000\n20,000,000\n11. J. P. Norgen, Inc.\n20,000,000\n20,000,000\n12. Bew York trest\n18,750,000\n18,750,000\n18. Savings Bank Trust\n16,248,000\n16,000,000\n14. Gora Exchange\n15,000,000\n5,000,000\n15. United States Trust\n14,000,000\n5,000,000\nRegraded Unclassified\n143\nMaximum Allowable\ntask\nDebecription\n16. City Bank Farmers\n$ 10,000,000\n$ 10,000,000\n17. Marine Trust,Buffalo\n7,500,000\n7,600,000\n10. Public National\n7,000,000\n7,000,000\n19. Commercial National\n7,000,000\n7,000,000\n20. Fidelity Union Trust, Newark\n6,750,000\n6,750,000\n2. Brown Bros. Harriman\n6,632,000\n6,000,000\n22. Brooklyn Trust Co.\n6,337,500\n6,337,500\n25. Nanufacturers & Traders Trust,\nBuffale\n6,260,000\n6,250,000\n24. Marine Midland\n5,000,000\n5,000,000\n25. Lincoln Allience, Rechester\n3,400,000\n3,400,000\nSAVINGS BANKS:\n1.\nAgency Bank, Mentreal\n37,500,000\n26,000,000\n2. Bovery Savings Bank\n22,100,000\n32,000,000\n8.\nImmigrant Industrial\n21,490,000\n21,000,000\n4.\nDrydook Sevings\n12,700,000\n10,000,000\n8. Union Dine Savings\n11,750,000\n10,000,000\nMate:\nthe above banks are listed in the order of the maximum allowable subscription\nand not according to relative sise of the banks.\nRegraded Unclassified\n144\nFEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO\nDecember 12, 1940\nHon. D. W. Bell\nUnder Secretary of the Treasury\nTreasury Department\nWeshington, D. C.\nDear Dan:\nIn line with our telephone conversation I am setting\nout below the subscriptions entered by the various banks men-\ntioned to the current offering of Treasury notes:\nChicago\nContinental Illinois National Bank &\nTrust Company\n$ 42,500,000\nFirst National Bank\n15,000,000 65m\nCity National Bank & Trust Company\n3,500,000\nHarris Trust & Savings Bank\n2,500,000 - 14A M\nNorthern Trust Company\n4,500,000\nDetroit\nDetroit Bank\n$ 3,925,000\nManufacturers National Bank\n3,000,000\nNational Bank of Detroit\n12,875,000\nIndianapolis\nIndiana National Bank\n$ 4,500,000\nMilwaukee\nFirst Wisconsin National Bank\n$ 9,000,000\nAll of the above subscriptions are for the maximum\namounts permissible with the exception of the First National Bank of\nChicago, whose capital and surplus is $65,000,000, and the Harris\nTrust & Savings Bank, whose capital and surplus is $14,000,000.\nEnjoyed hearing from you and hope that this gives you\nthe desired information.\nVery truly\nal yours, Sihh\nAlfred T. Sihler\nB\nAssistant Vice President\nRegraded Unclassified\nSTANDARD FORM No. 14A\nAPPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT\nFROM\nThe White House 145\nMARCH 10. 1926\nMashington\nTELEGRAM\nOFFICIAL BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT RATES\nDEC. 28, 1940\nVIA NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS.\nCLEAR\nTO: THE PRESIDENT.\nFROM: HENTOS MORGENTHAU, Jr.\nI an pleased to inform you that first public offering of fully\ntaxable notes has been a great cussess.\n(Copy for Mrs. Klotz as requested by Secretary Morganthau.)\nRegraded Unclassified\nCOPY 2\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n140\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nCONFIDENTIAL\nDATE December 12, 1940\nTO\nSecretary Morgenthau\nFROM\nMr. Hase all\nSubject: Employment in the Aviation Manufacturing Industry\n1. Employment in the aviation manufacturing industry has\nmultiplied more than four times in the last twenty months\nand has doubled in the last nine months. In November 1940,\nmanufacturers of airplanes employed approximately 120,700\nfactory workers, and manufacturers of airplane engines\napproximately 34,300 factory workers,s total of approx-\nimately 155,000 for the entire industry. Included in these\nfigures are the employees of manufacturers of parts for\nairplanes and airplane engines.\n2, For the industry as a whole employment rose by approx-\nimately 7,100 factory workers in November. The largest\nincrease in employment -- approximately 2,150 factory\nworkers -- occurred at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.\nConsolidated Aircraft Corporation added 1,300 factory\nworkers to its rolls during the month, raising its total\nemployment to 12,355. In January of this year Consolidated\nemployed only 2,837 factory workers.\n3. The increase in employment during November was not\nexperienced by all plants in the industry, however, there\nbeing important decreases at two of the large plants. At\nthe United Aircraft Corporation employment decreased by\n800 during the month. At the Boeing Aircraft plant in\nSeattle there was 8. decrease of 1,040 factory workers.\nBoeing reported that this decrease in employment Was due\nto \"between contracts and laok of materials\".\n4. Two charte are attached to this memorandum. The first\nshows total employment in the industry and the employment\nof selected companies since January 1937. The attached\ntables give the figures plotted on the chart. The second\nchart presents total employment in the industry by\ngeographic areas for December 1938, December 1939, and\nNovember 1940.\nAttachments\nRegraded Unclassified\nEmployment in Aviation Manufacturing Industry\n(Airplanes and Airplane Engines)\n147\n1937-1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\n: 1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nAirplanes\nJanuary\n22,100\n23,700\n25,251\n58,000\nFebruary\n60,500\nMarch\n24,100\n24,200\n27,875\n64,500\nApril\n67,000\nMay\n73,000\nJune\n25,200\n22,800\n35,973\n80,000\nJuly\n90,000\nAugust\n97,448\nSeptember\n23,400\n22,050\n41,425\n105,362\nOctober\n115,241\nNovember\n120,650\nDecember\n23,800\n24,450\n52,800\nAirplane Engines\nJanuary\n5,500\n6,500\n6,989\n13,900\nFebruary\n15,800\nMarch\n6,000\n6,600\n7,825\n17,300\nApril\n18,600\nMay\n20,800\nJune\n6,600\n6,900\n8,727\n22,900\nJuly\n25,400\nAugust\n27,019\nSeptember\n6,400\n6,772\n9,289\n28,981\nOctober\n32,633\nNovember\n34,314\nDecember\n6,600\n6,847\n12,600\nTotal Industry -- Airplanes and Airplane Engines\nJanuary\n27,600\n30,200\n32,240\n71,900\nFebruary\n76,300\nMarch\n30,100\n30,800\n35,700\n81,800\nApril\n85,600\nMay\n93,800\nJune\n31,800\n29,700\n44,700\n102,900\nJuly\n115,400\nAugust\n124,467\nSeptember\n29,800\n28,822\n50,714\n134,343\nOctober\n147,874\nNovember\n154,964\nDecember\n30,400\n31,297\n65,400\nOffice of the Secretary of the Treasury,\nDivision of Research and Statistics.\n148\nEmployment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations\n1937-1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\n:\n1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nBell Aircraft Corp.\nJanuary\n615\n222\n654\n859\nFebruary\n865\nMarch\n850\n290\n912\n896\nApril\n840\nMay\n873\nJune\n808\n440\n1,410\n1,192\nJuly\n1,480\nAugust\n1,963\nSeptember\n718\n235\n703\n2,413\nOctober\n3,355\nNovember\n3,449\nDecember\n213\n606\n799\nBoeing Aircraft Co. - Seattle\nJanuary\n1,834\n1,493\n2,380\n5,137\nFebruary\n4,942\nMarch\n1,726\n1,700\n2,749\n4,759\nApril\n4,198\nMay\n5,190\nJune\n1,249\n1,736\n2,989\n5,882\nJuly\n6,571\nAugust\n6,926\nSeptember\n1,109\n1,798\n3,985\n6,940\nOctober\n6,391\nNovember\n5,351\nDecember\n1,380\n2,285\n4,749\nConsolidated Aircraft Corp.\nJanuary\n3,169\n2,540\n968\n2,837\nFebruary\n3,477\nMarch\n3,246\n2,518\n819\n3,807\nApril\n4,349\nMay\n5,040\nJune\n3,099\n2,104\n832\n5,821\nJuly\n6,743\nAugust\n7,836\nSeptember\n2,617\n989\n1,408\n9,289\nOctober\n11,018\nNovember\n12,355\nDecember\n2,580\n981\n2,540\n149\nEmployment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations\n1937-1940\n(continued)\n:\n:\n:\n:\n: 1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nCurtiss-Wright Corp. - Buffalo\nJanuary\n1,241\n2,211\n3,802\n4,380\nFebruary\n4,744\nMarch\n1,500\n2,347\n2,939\n5,016\nApril\n5,213\nMay\n5,698\nJune\n1,933\n2,310\n2,848\n6,314\nJuly\n6,531\nAugust\n6,597\nSeptember\n2,202\n2,736\n1,562\n6,824\nOctober\n7,682\nNovember\n7,889\nDecember\n2,007\n3,491\n3,447\nDouglas Aircraft Co., Inc.\nJanuary\n5,591\n6,328\n4,334\n11,952\nFebruary\n12,077\nMarch\n5,961\n6,173\n4,177\n13,119\nApril\n14,033\nMay\n14,656\nJune\n6,653\n4,672\n5,445\n14,957\nJuly\n14,662\nAugust\n14,898\nSeptember\n5,532\n4,028\n6,318\n14,219\nOctober\n14,158\nNovember\n14,787\nDecember\n6,771\n4,110\n10,362\nLockheed Aircraft Corp.\nJanuary\n910\n1,577\n2,305\n5,157\nFebruary\n4,768\nMarch\n1,094\n1,594\n3,509\n4,362\nApril\n4,400\nMay\n5,016\nJune\n1,338\n1,797\n5,699\n5,591\nJuly\n6,599\nAugust\n7,296\nSeptember\n1,383\n1,997\n5,324\n7,582\nOctober\n8,517\nNovember\n10,675\nDecember\n1,428\n2,123\n5,156\n150\nEmployment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations\n1937-1940\n(continued)\n:\n:\n:\n:\n:\n1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nGlenn L. Martin Co.\nJanuary\n1,364\n1,814\n2,905\n10,984\nFebruary\n9,407\nMarch\n1,716\n1,892\n4,092\n9,133\nApril\n9,010\nMay\n9,357\nJune\n2,044\n2,134\n6,029\n9,133\nJuly\n9,513\nAugust\n11,200\nSeptember\n2,032\n2,341\n10,070\n10,019\nOctober\n11,414\nNovember\n12,950\nDecember\n1,818\n2,777\n11,174\nNorth American Aviation, Inc.\nJanuary\n829\n1,713\n2,223\n4,049\nFebruary\n4,324\nMarch\n889\n1,935\n2,457\n4,154\nApril\n4,371\nMay\n4,336\nJune\n841\n2,400\n3,125\n4,782\nJuly\n4,918\nAugust\n4,916\nSeptember\n1,272\n2,685\n2,992\n5,111\nOctober\n5,828\nNovember\n6,054\nDecember\n566\n2,530\n3,795\nUnited Aircraft Corp.\n(excluding Pratt & Whitney)\nJanuary\n2,350\n2,245\n1,826\n2,757\nFebruary\n3,051\nMarch\n2,444\n2,16g\n1,766\n3,468\nApril\n3,735\nMay\n3,912\nJune\n2,497\n1,972\n1,952\n4,282\nJuly\n4,823\nAugust\n5,016\nSeptember\n2,439\n1,880\n2,123\n5,445\nOctober\n6,010\nNovember\n5,251\nDecember\n2,338\n1,774\n2,588\n151\nEmployment of Selected Aircraft Manufacturing Corporations\n1937-1940\n(continued)\n:\n:\n:\n:\n: 1937\n:\n1938\n: 1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nVultee Aircraft, Ino.\nJanuary\n364\n742\nFebruary\n938\nMarch\n440\n959\nApril\n1,008\nMay\n1,334\nJune\n560\n533\n2,127\nJuly\n2,618\nAugust\n2,857\nSeptember\n430\n288\n3,531\nOctober\n3,652\nNovember\n3,749\nDecember\n334\n662\nRegraded Unclassified\n152\nEmployment of Selected Airplane Engine Corporations\n1937-1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\n:\n1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nAllison Engineering Co.\nJanuary\n218\n262\n454\n1,114\nFebruary\n1,261\nMarch\n229\n297\n466\n1,610\nApril\n1,958\nMay\n2,766\nJune\n238\n339\n558\n3,254\nJuly\n3,917\nAugust\n4,595\nSeptember\n238\n382\n642\n5,282\nOctober\n6,280\nNovember\n6,295\nDecember\n266\n439\n901\nContinental Motors Corp.\n(Airplane Engine Division)\nJanuary\n151\n153\n134\n288\nFebruary\n344\nMarch\n153\n152\n138\n358\nApril\n368\nMay\n378\nJune\n162\n144\n171\n388\nJuly\n398\nAugust\n382\nSeptember\n135\n146\n203\n567\nOctober\n732\nNovember\n855\nDecember\n152\n142\n243\nLycoming Division of Aviation Manufacturing Corp.\nJanuary\n849\n729\n519\n581\nFebruary\n638\nMarch\n889\n704\n521\n657\nApril\n711\nMay\n765\nJune\n901\n549\n573\n819\nJuly\n873\nAugust\n970\nSeptember\n756\n514\n644\n1,080\nOctober\n1,459\nNovember\n1,320\nDecember\n762\n506\n689\n153\nEmployment of Selected Airplane Engine Corporations\n1937-1940\n(continued)\n:\n:\n:\n:\n:\n1937\n:\n1938\n:\n1939\n:\n1940\n:\n:\n:\n:\nPratt & Whitney Aircraft\nJanuary\n1,931\n2,567\n2,264\n5,642\nFebruary\n6,549\nMarch\n2,119\n2,489\n2,659\n7,158\nApril\n7,541\nMay\n7,765\nJune\n2,384\n2,555\n3,066\n8,504\nJuly\n9,121\nAugust\n9,449\nSeptember\n2,471\n2,384\n3,394\n9,406\nOctober\n9,794\nNovember\n10,377\nDecember\n2,61g\n2,227\n5,022\nWright Aeronautical Corp.\nJanuary\n2,254\n2,607\n3,398\n5,411\nFebruary\n6,081\nMarch\n2,515\n2,705\n3,771\n6,537\nApril\n6,984\nMay\n7,882\nJune\n2,800\n2,930\n3,997\n8,682\nJuly\n9,491\nAugust\n10,151\nSeptember\n2,690\n3,184\n4,026\n10,726\nOctober\n11,240\nNovember\n11,950\nDecember\n2,608\n3,374\n5,141\nRegraded Unclassifie\nEMPLOYMENT IN THE AVIATION MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, BY REGIONS\n/\nFactory Wage Earners\n-\n⑈\nMINN\nuna\n5\n**\n;\nS DAE\nare\nWYO\nNov, - 1030-2000 Pacific 61,500\n-\nwith\nNew\nIRANS\nCOMM\n:\nPTAM\nNEAR\n-\n(Lk.\nMICH\nIND\nOHIO\nDEG\n-\n-\nMO\n1\nEANS\nMount\nn\nCentral and Southern\ne\nDec 1938- 2,300\n: $ *\nAllia\nDec. 1939- 400\nDel\nNov 1940\n000\n-\nN.MES\nNov. Dec\n1940-71.5000\nST\nSELA\nTEXAS\nTEHR-\nARE\n\"\nBA-\nCALIF\n-\nN\nLA.\nPCA\nTotal U.S.\nDAL IV38 - 21,300\nDec. 1939-65400\nNov. 1940-155000\nincluding Parts Companies\n14 all 15th Secretary of the Transary\nRegraded Unclassified\n-\nat\n1\n-\n155\nEMPLOYMENT IN AVIATION MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY\nSTRICTLY COMMENTIAL\nFactory Wage Earners\n1937\n1938\n1989\n1940\n1941\n.\nN\na\nM\na\n*\n9.\nM\na\n-\nM\nJ\n.\nN\n4\nM\na\nJ\nE\n#\nJ\n$\n$\nM\nE\n,\nEMPLOYEES\nEMPLOYEES\nThousands\nThousands\nTotal Industry (Aircraft and Enginee)\n140\n140\n120\n120\n100\n100\n80\n80\n60\n60\n40\n40\n20\n20\n0\no\n.\n-\n,\nM\nM\nJ\n.\nM\n,\nM\na\nJ\na\nN\nJ\nM\nM\n7\n#\nN\n4\nM\nM\nJ\n.\nN\nJ\nM\nM\nJ\n1937\n1938\n1939\n1940\n1941\nSelected Aircraft Manufacturing Companies\nSelected Airplane Engine Companies\nEMPLOYEES\nEMPLOYEES\nThousands\nThousands\nThe Deuglas Aircraft Ca.\nStann L.Martie Ca.\nWright Carp.\n01\n15.0\n15.0\nH t\n12.5\n125\n11\n10,0\n10.0\n#:\n7,5\n7.6\n\"\n5.0\n0.0\n\"\n2.5\n25\n\"\na\na\n1937\n1938\n1939\n1940\n1941\n1937\n1938\n1939\n1940\n1941\n15.0\n17.5\nD\nBoxing Amount Ca\nPrast and Whitney Aircraft\n1937\n1938\n1939\n1940\n1941\n0,5\n12.5\n16.0\nConsolidated Aircraft Corp.\n10.0\n12.5\n:\n1.1\n7.5\n19.0\n5.0\n9.0\n7.5\n+\n7.5\n2.5\n5.0\ne\no\nz.a\nHERT\nres\n-\n1939\n1948\n1941\n1937\n1938\n1959\n1140\n1941\n12.5\nLockheed Aircraft Corp.\nCurtim Wright Corp.\na\nI 1 the I\n1987\n1938\n1921\n1140\n1991\n--\n19.0\n12.5\nAllison Engineering Ca.\n1.5\n7.5\n16.0\nse\ns.e\n7.5\nLS\n2.5\n5.8\ne\na\n25\n1937\n1938\n-6.6\n1930\n1945\n1941\n1937\n1938\n1939\n1940\n1941\n10.0\nUnited Aircraft Corp.\nNerth Americas Aviation, Inc.\na\nI I I I\n1987\n1988\n1939\n1940\n1941\n7.5\n7.5\n76\nLycoming Devision of\ndelation Manufacturing Corp\n1.0\n5.0\n:\n1.5\n2.5\n1.5\ne\nB\na\n1937\n1938\n1039\n1940\n1941\n1437\n1938\n1939\n1948\n1941\n1981\n1934\n1948\n1141\n5.0\n5.0\nso\n- Carp\nVultae Aircraft Corp.\nCertinatial leurs\nI 5 I\n2.5\n2.5\n25\ne\nD\na\n1997\n1938\n1929\n1940\n1941\n1937\n1434\n1939\n1940\nI\n1987\n-\n1981\n-\n1441\nRegraded Unclassified\nDecember 12, 1940\n156\nRECENT MOVEMENTS IF AXIS FUNDS\nRUSTIN TO SOUTH AMERICA. It 16 reported that since September some $4,600,000\nof Germen funds have been transferred to South American banks, and that approxi-\nmtely $2,300,000 has returned from Argentina and Peru to the account of the\nReichsbank In New York. During the same period there was transferred from Italian\naccounts in the United States approximately $13,000,000 to South America, of which\n$10,000,000 went to the Italian Embassy in Brazil from the Italian Foreign Exchange\nCostrol Funds in New York and in addition, $4,500,000 was sent in cash by courier.\nla 4. result of recent return transfers of less than $1,000,000 the net amount of\nItelian funds transferred to Latin America since September amounts to more than\n$16,000,000. Recent information indicates that the Bank of Brazil expects to re-\ncaste $10,000,000 for credit to a Japanese account as part of the Japanese program\ndesigned to centralize dollar exchange operations of the Yokohama Specio Bank with\nthe Bank of Brasil.\nGERRAN FUNDS. The flow of German funds in this country appears principally to have\nbeen to the accounts of Swedish banks here, $1,500,000 being transferred to such ac-\ncounts from German accounts since November 25. About $1,350,000 is known to have\nbeen transferred to Swiss accounts here, while $750,000 has returned from Swiss to\nServez accounts. Cash withdrawals from German consular accounts since December 1\nhave ascunted to $850,000. Of this amount $650,000 was withdrawn by the Consul\n(enoral is liev York, who paid $530,000 to cover interest payments on German bonds.\nThe remining $120,000 is apparently still in the consulate. The German Embassy\nis Tashington recently received $200,000 by draft from the Reichsbank, Berlin, and\nortained this amount in notes of $20 to $1,000 denominations. There is some indi-\ncaties that cash deposits are being made by the Reichsbank by way of South America,\nNational City Bank having recently received $180,000 by this method.\nITALIAN FUNDS. Transfers of Italian funds, excluding those to South America, have\nbeen principally to Spanish, Swedish, and American accounts and transfers from\nto Italian accounts have been noted. It has also been recently reported\nthat the Italian Attache at Tokyo has carried $800,000 in American currency from\nShanghai to Japan. Further reports indicate that substantial Italian Government\nfunds have been converted into cash which is being kept on diplomatic premises.\nPUNDS. Japanese Institute, Inc., a Japanese oultural organization, is\ncons to have been receiving its principal income from the Japanese Consul General\nto lien look, The various Japanese consular officers throughout the World are ap-\nparently being supplied with funds from the Japanese consular accounts with the\nBank of Imerica.\nPORTUGUESE GOLD. Since October 2, 1940, $33,000,000 in gold has arrived here from\nPartugal and been sarrarked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for account of\nthe Bank of Portugal. It is not clear that this WELS actually the Bank of Portugal's\nXII gold, since on October 2 the amount of gold under earmark in New York for that\nbenk's account amounted to $70,000,000, about equal to the Bank of Portugal's gold\nDate and bullion reserves as shown in its bank statement. A detailed statement with\nregard to gold imports from Portugal in comparison with the gold reserves of Portugal\nis outsined in the menorandum of December 9, 5 copy of which is attached.\nRegraded Unclassified\n157\nDecember 9, 1940\nMr. Cochran\nMr. Hawkey\nSubject: Gold shipped here by and for account\nof the Bank of Portugal.\nMore than $70 million in gold has arrived here from Portugal since the\nbeginning of July, 1940, shipped by and for account of the Bank of Portugal. Since\nall of the gold was earmarked upon arrival in New York, that Bank's gold balance here\nrose from $30.1 million as of July 3 to $109.8 million at the close of December 5.\n(About $6.0 million of this increase resulted from the purchase of gold from the\nU. 8. Stabilization Fund.)\nOn October 10, I wrote you B. memorandum in which comparison was made between\nthe Bank's gold in New York and the asset item \"Encaisse-or\" (gold coin and bullion)\non the Bank's own weekly statement. At that time, the most recent statement available\nwas dated August 21, and it could not be asserted definitely that the Bank's gold in\nNew York was of B. greater value than its \"Encaisse-or\".\n(\nTie have now received the Bank's statement as of October 2, listing an \"Encaisse-\nor\" of $69.1 million. On the same date, its gold balance in New York amounted to\n$70.5 million and since October 2, the Bank of Portugal has shipped another $33.3\nmillion in gold to New York. (All of this has arrived; there 10 no gold in transit\nat present.) We have no \"Encaisse-or\" figure available for dates subsequent to\nOctober 2, but since this item has moved upward less than $2.0 million in the past\nsix years, it is very likely that little or no change has taken place since early\nOctober.\nThe foregoing information is tabulated below (in millions of dollars):\nPeriod-\nImports\nGold bal-\n\"Encaisse-\n1940\nfor account of\nance here\nor\" 3/\nBk. of Port. 1/\n(At end of each period)\n$30.1 (July 3)\n$68.8 (July 3)\nJuly 4 - 31\nr 7.1\n37.8\n68.9\nAug. 1 - Sept. 4\n16.7\n55.3\n68.9\nSept. 5 - Oct. 2\n15.2\n70.5\n69.1\nOct. 3 - 31\n21.1\n97.6 2/\n(69.1) Carried\nNov. 1- - Dec. 5\n12.2\n109.8\n(69.1) Forward\nAll from Portugal, except $1.4 million from England in July.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 2 -\n158\nDuring October, the Bank of Portugal also purchased $6.0 million in gold\nfrom the U. S. Fund.\nAccording to 1931 law, the Bank values its gold at .066567 fine grams per\nescudo; conversion of escudo value into dollars hence made at the rate of\n$.0748 per escudo.\nThe apparent conclusion is that the Bank of Portugal has sent to the United\nStates at least $33.3 million of gold not shown in its \"Encaisse-or\". Since only\n$14.6 million of Bank of Portugal gold arrived here during the first half of 1940\n(of which $2.1 million came from Portugal and about $12.5 million from England), it\nmay be further concluded that most of the \"extra\" gold was shipped in the past five\nmonths.\nThis \"extra\" gold may be any of the following:\ni) The Bank of Portugal's own gold. In addition to the gold listed under\n\"Encalsse-or\", there 1s reason to believe that the Bank carries some\ngold in its asset item \"Disponibilites or a l'etranger et autres reserves\"\n(liquid gold exchange assets abroad and other reserves). Here is some\nevidence; in the week ended March 20, 1940, the Bank purchased alightly\nless than $5.0 million in gold from the U. S. Fund in order to strengthen\nits gold reserves. In that week, its \"Encaisse-or\" changed not oven a\nfraction of one escudo. \"Disponibilites, etc.\", however, rose $4.9\nmillion (using the rate of $.0748).*\nAbout e. year ago, the largest amount of gold that could have been\nincluded under \"Disponibilites, etc\". was $22.0 million. In the Bank's\nstatement for December 30, 1949, this item was valued at 536.3 million\nescudos. Examination of the Bank's annual report for 1939 reveals that\n242.2 million escudos of the above represented the Bank's holdings of\nthe Government of Portugal's 3% sterling obligations. Therefore, the\nmaximum amount of gold that could have been included under this item\nwas 294.1 million escudos worth, or $22.0 million. (The Bank's holdings\nof dollars were negligible at that time.)\n2) Gold held by the Portuguese Treasury. The Federal Reserve Bulletin, in\nits table \"Gold Reserves of Central Banks and Governments\", uses only the\nBank's \"Encaisse-or\" figure, converted at $.0748. But the Portuguese\nBank's annual report for 1939 shows a table of the Treasury's liquid\nasseta at the end of November, 1939, wherein appeared 430.2 million\nescudos worth of gold in bars, equivalent to $32.2 million.\nFor all we know, the Bank of Portugal may have exchanged its\nholdings of Portuguese Government sterling bonds for Treasury gold,\nshipping the latter to New York.\n* The dollar funds used in this purchase were remitted to the Federal\nby various banks in New York. Indication that the Bank of Portugal\nacquired such dollars during that same week is given in the Bank's\nstatement, wherein Portuguese bank deposits at the Bank of Portugal\nrose 100 million escudos, or slightly more than $4. million.\nRegraded Unclassified\n159\n-3-\n3) Gold of some foreign bank or government, in the shipment and earmarking\nof which the Bank of Portugal acted really 8.8 intermediary. Unless we\nreceive further evidence that a third party's interest was involved, it\nwould seem inadvisable to question the Bank of Portugal for what appear\nto be shipments of \"extra\" gold. The information presented under the\npreceding two points suggests that Portugal does own gold beyond that\nshown in the \"Encaisse-or\" asset item of the Portuguese Bank statement.\nRegarding the markings on gold bars already shipped here, from Portugal,\nI think you will agree that these cannot be offered as proof of owner-\nship, since many Continental assay marks constitute good delivery in\nEurope's gold markets.\nRegraded Unclassified\n160\nMEMORANDUM\nDecember 12, 1940.\nTO:\nThe Secretary\nFROM: Mr. Sullivan\nI attach hereto summaries of various\nnewspaper articles on taxation.\nT-S\nΓ\nRegraded Unclassified\n161\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 9, 1940\nTO yr. Sullivan\nFROM Mr. Blough\nThe following items of interest relating to taxes appeared in\nthe newspapers of December 9, 1940:\n1. New York Times, page 1, column 3\nAn article entitled \"Labor laws, taxes, handicap program, Navy\nreport says\" reports that Rear Admiral Ray Spear, Chief of the Bureau\nof Supplies and Accounts, in his annual report for the year ended\nJune 30. 1940, cites certain Federal laws as hampering naval expansion\nefforts. Contractors are mentioned as being loath to undertake\nexpension of plant facilities \"due to the restrictions on the\nemployment of surplus and plant expansion in the form of & limitation\non the profit and the excess profit taxes. It is reported that\nninety-nine contracts having a money value of $33,577.165 showed\nexcess profite amounting to $3,704,220 while contracts of $20,344,135\nshowed losses. Accordingly, it is indicated that profit limiting\nprovisions such as those under the Vinson-Trammel Act are not needed.\nIt is noted that the Act of June 28, 1940, amending the Vinson-Tramel\nAct did much to expedite the defense program but came too late to\naffect fiscal year 1940 procurement.\n2. New York Herald Tribune, page 21, column 1\nAn article entitled \"Treasury due to press tax exempt fight\"\nreports that Mr. Foley's speech last Friday is the beginning of\nanother administration move to end tax-exempt securities. The author\nsays that a constitutional amendment 1s the \"best and possibly only\nmeans of effecting this reform.\"\n3. The Wall Street Journal, page 2, column 1\nAccording to the article entitled \"Defense notes expected to be\nannounced today.\" the new defense notes soon to be issued may be subject\nto Federal income taxes.\nRB\nRegraded Unclassified\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n162\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 9, 1940\nTO Mr. Sullivan\nFROM Mr. Blough\nThe following items of interest relating to taxes appeared in\nthe newspapers of December 5-7, 1940:\nDecember 5, 1940\n1. Journal of Commerce, December 5, 1940, page 3, column 4\nAn article entitled \"Eccles urges need of Congress action on\nBritish credite\" reports a speech by Mr. Eccles before the National\nIndustrial Conference Board. Mr. Eccles recommended that steps\nshould be taken to close the gap between income and outgo, but that\ntaxes should not be raised to a point that would close the gap\nentirely before reaching the condition of full production and\nemployment. Other recommendations, including restoration of the\nprinciple of undistributed profits taxation, were also made.\n2. Journal of Commerce, December 5, 1940, page 7. column 7\nAn article entitled \"State barrier taxes, U. S. tariffs scored\"\nreports Professor Medlar of Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts,\nas condemning taxes which act as trade barriers including national\nprotective tariffs because they increase the consumers' bill for the\nbenefit of special interest groups. Chain store taxes were also\ncondemned as harmful to free enterprise.\n3. New York Herald Tribune, December 5, 1940, page 41, column 6\nAn article entitled \"Rigid economy drive is urged on taxpayers\"\nreports an address by A. Vedder McGee of the Taxpayers' Federation, Inc.,\nto the effect that New York State taxpayers should insist upon rigid\neconomy in state and local budgets. Otherwise, state and local taxes\ncombined with increased taxation needs for national defense may lead\nto confiscatory taxation.\nDecember 6, 1940\n1, New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 14, column 1\nAn article entitled \"35 billion outlay seen for defense\" reports\nan estimate prepared by the Department of Agriculture to the effect\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 2 -\n163\nthat the national defense program as now rojected will involve\nan expenditure of about 35 billion dollars in the next five years.\nThe article is based on a report entitled \"The impact of war and\nthe defense program on agriculture\" which indicates that if all the\nexpenditures were to be cared for by increased taxation and decreased\nspending for other purposes, the effects on our domestic economy\nwould be relatively small.\n2. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 14, column 2\nAn article entitled \"Flexible tax plan urged by Anderson\" reports\nthe study made public by the T.N.E.C., \"Taxation, Recovery and Defense\"\nby Dr. Dewey Anderson. The report advocates, among other things, a\nvalue added tax and a flexible tax system easily adaptable to meet\nchanging conditions.\n3. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 25, column 7\nIt is reported by the American Automobile Association that gasoline\ntaxes will yield $1,160,000,000 this year or $130,000,000 more than in\n1939. Of this increase, approximately $55,000,000, or 42 percent, is\naccounted for by the increase in the Federal gasoline tax rate which\nbecame effective last July 1.\n4. New York Times, December 6, 1940, page 37, column 1\nIt is reported that the Fortnightly Review of Fuller, Rodney and\nCompany states that defense spending and accompanying deficits will make\ne. new tax law inevitable.\n5. Journal of Commerce, December 6, 1940, page 13, column 3\nAn article entitled \"Repeal of state margarine taxes urged by\nJanssen\" reports the recommendation of the President of the National\nAssociation of Margarine Manufacturers with respect to the tax on\ncleomargarine.\n6. Wall Street Journal, December 6, 1940, page 3, column 2\nAn article entitled \"Marked uptrend in recent years cause heavy\nexcess profits levy\" reports the profit position of the chemical industry.\nThe article indicates that chemicals have had a marked upward trend in\nearnings in recent years, which has been accelerated by the present peak\nvolume of operations. This will, it is reported, result in most instances\nin heavy excess profits tar liability.\nRegraded Unclassified\n164\n- 3 -\n7. New York Herald Tribune, December 6, 1940, page 21, column 7\nAn article entitled \"Super-tax is proposed on large land holdings\"\nreports the recommendation by the National Catholic Welfare Council\nto the House Migration Committee for super-tax on large land holdings\nas a step in solving the problem of destitute migratory workers.\nDecember 7, 1940\n1. New York Times, December 7, 1940, page 3, column 5\nAn article entitled \"Canada passes bills to reduce luxuries\" reports\nthat Canada has passed a 25 percent excise tax on large categories of\nCanadian lurury manifactures and suspends imports from the United States\nof virtually all similar articles until after the war as a measure of\nexchange economy.\n2. New York Times, December 7, 1940, page 32, column 5\nAn article entitled \"Tax exempts' end linked to defense\" reports an\naddress by Mr. Foley, General Counsel of the Treasury, that the further\nIssuance of tax-exempt securities interferes with the effectiveness of\nthe defense program. He urged municipalities to cooperate in ending the\nissuance of tax-exempt securities so that their securities would not have\npreference over Federal issues.\n3. New York Herald Tribune, December 7, 1940, page 1, column 3\nAn article entitled \"Tax framers turn to levy on small incomes\" reports\nthat as a result of the President's decision against resorting to a\nmamifacturers' sales tax, the possibilities of increased income taxes\non the lower and middle income brackets are receiving the attention of\ncongressional and governmental experts.\n4. Wall Street Journal, December 7, 1940, page 2, column 2\nAn article entitled \"Anderson urges broad revision of tax structure\"\nreports that Professor Benjamin M. Anderson of the University of California\nand former Chase National Bank economist, has recommended tax revision in\nthe form of broadening the income tax base by a lowering of exemptions.\nAs a spur to private capital flow, he also recommends that the rates of\ntax in higher brackets be reduced.\nRB\nRegraded Unclassified\n165\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 9, 1940\nMr. Sullivan\nTO\nMr. Blough\nFROM\nThe following items of interest relating to corporation taxes and their\neffect on corporation profits appeared in the newspapers of the week beginning\nDecember 2, 1940 1/1\n1. New York Herald Tribune, December 2, 1940, page 1, column 3.\nAn article entitled \"Increase to 30 percent in Corporation Taxes Fore-\ncast\" revorts Senator George as stating that the corporation income tax rate\nmight be boosted as high as 30 percent before the national defense program\nis paid for. He indicated that increase in the corporation tax to that rate\nnight possibly harm business to some extent, but added that there appears to\nbe no alternative.\n2. Fall Street Journal, December 3, 1940, page 3. column 2.\nAn article entitled \"Invested Capital Base to be Used by Most Companies\nfor 1940 Year\" reports that the majority of concerns in the paper industry\nwill elect to use the invested capital base for the 1940 excess profits tax.\nIt 1a reported that, because the paper industry as a whole, earned much less\nthan 8 nercent on invested capital over the past four years, most companies\nin the industry probably will elect to make their 1940 tax returns on the\ninvested cavital base.\nThe outbreak of the European War in September produced a record-breaking\ndemand for both paper and pulp. In 1939, 11 companies had earnings equal to\nonly 5. percent of invested capital. Earnings for this year will probably\nrange from 5 percent upward to as much as 27 percent. A majority of the\ncomunies in the paper industry are expected to have to pay out part of their\n1940 earnings in excess profits taxes.\n3. Wall Street Journal, December 4, 1940, page 3, column 1.\nAn article entitled \"More Firms Study Capital Revisions as Tax Benefits\"\ndiscusses the tax saving possibilities of retiring existing preferred stock\nissues and replacing that amount of capital with bonds or debenture issues.\nSuch a change would result in reducing the income tax but might increase the\nexcess profits tax. General Motors, for example, has outstanding 1,8 million\nshares of preferred stock callable at $120 per share. If this issue were\nreplaced by bonds, it is estimated that, with no saving of interest, the total\ntax liability of the corporation would be reduced by $2.2 million.\n1/ This supplements my memorandum of December 5. 1940, commenting on similar\nItems in the New York Times of December 1, 1940.\nRegraded Unclassified\n166\n- 2 -\n4. The New York Times, December 8, 1940, Section 3, page 1, column 3.\nAn article entitled \"Makers of Machinery Show Rise of 72 Percent in\nProfits in Year\" discusses the earnings of 73 concerns of machinery parts\nand equipment for factory construction, mining, road building and automo-\ntive and aircraft production during the first nine months of 1940 as com-\npared with the similar period in 1939. It is stated that the increase of\n72.1 percent would have been even greater were it not for the heavier tax\nschedules under the second Revenue Act of 1940. The generally declining\ntrend of profits in the third quarter of 1940 is attributed to the effect\nof taking from that quarter's earnings all the taxes applicable to the\nfirst nine months of the year including, in many instances, provisions for\nexcess profits taxes.\nRB\nRegraded Unclassified\n167\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 7. 1940\nTO\nMr. Schwars\nFROM\nMr. 31ough\nRB\nThe National Industrial Conference Board's study on corporation\nprofits and taxes published in its Economic Record of November 23,\n1940, together with the press release and an Associated Press item\nrelating thereto, have been reviewed.\nThe study is misleading in many respects. The main points which\nshould be noted are the following:\n1. Exaggerated increases in Federal income tax\nfor 1940 as compared to increases in net in-\ncome are shown.\n2. Tax recerve data are used instead of tax\ncollection or tax limbility data.\n3. Combined date for net income and deficit\ncorporations are used instead of separate\ndata.\n4. Portions of the analysis relate to certain\nselected corporations without any indication\nas to the criteria used in the selection.\n5. No distinction is made between direct and in-\ndirect or shiftable and nonshiftable taxes\nin analyzing the tax burden.\n6. Federal income taxes are not clearly dis-\ntinguished from state and local taxes.\n1. Increased Federal income 1940 over 1939 in relation\nto increased income\nThe study reports that for the 116 companies analyzed, net income\nfor the first nine months of 1940 increased 48 percent as against a.\ntax increase of 131 percent. This increase exceeds the maximum\nincrease possible for the Federal income tax of any one of the 116\ncompanies. If a corporation's net income in 1940 increased 48 percent\nover 1939, the maximum possible increase in Federal income tex would\nhave amounted to 97 percent, not 131 percent. The exaggerated tax\nRegraded Unclassified\n168\n- 2 -\nincreases reported by the National Industrial Conference Board are\nobviously not correct for any one company. Their results are pro-\nbably due to the erroneous and misleading use of data discussed below.\nThe sttached tables indicate the maximum possible percentage increase\nin tax for certain increases in 1940 net income over 1939.\n2. Use of tax reserve data\nThe amounts of income taxes reported for 1940 in the study are\ncorporate tax reserves, that is, estimates by the corporation of what\nthe tex liability for 1940 will be. Since these figures are estimates,\nthey may, of course, contain a large margin of error.\n3. Grouping of net income and deficit corporations\nIt is reported that increased corporate income taxes (exclusive\nof excess profits taxes) absorb 37 cents out of every dollar gained in\nearnings during the first nine months of 1940. Other statements are\nalso made showing 8. disproportionate rise in income taxes over BB\nagainst income.\nAssuming an accurate estimate of tax liability, the relations\nindicated are meaningless because profitable and deficit corporations\nare grouped. Grouping of this type may yield fantastic results. For\nexample: In an industrial group in 1939 the profitable corporations,\nlet us say, showed net income of $1,000,000 on which was paid an\nincome tax of $200,000. The deficit corporations reported deficits of\n$500,000. On the basis of the Conference Board. type of analysis. this\nindustrial group would show for the year a net income of $500,000 and\nincome taxes amounting to $200,000. In 1940, let us say, the profit-\nable corporations become twice 28 profitable and with no increase in\nrates pay twice as much tax, that 1s, $400,000. The deficit corpore-\ntions, let us say, report a deficit of $1,450,000. The picture,\naccording to the Record for this group in 1940, would show a net\nincome of $550,000. and income taxes amounting to $400,000. That is,\nIt would be argued that while profits for the industrial group\nincreased only $50,000 or 10 percent, texes increased from $200,000\nto $400,000 or 100 percent; that, in 1940, taxes took almost 75 per-\ncent of the net income of the industrial group and that the tax\nincrease absorbed four times the increase in profits. Further comment\nis not necessary on this type of fallacious reasoning.\n4. Selection of corporations\nIt is stated that in a tabulation of 20 companies Federal govern-\nwent taxes would take 72 cents out of every dollar of increased income.\nNo indication is given, however, of how profitable these 20 corporations\nRegraded Unclassified\n169\n- 3 -\nare. If, for example, by selection, corporations which had been\nearning 40 or 50 percent on their invested capital were chosen, no\nserious inequity would result even if the fact stated were true.\n5. Inclusion in tax burden of shiftable taxes recaptured\nthrough price adjustments\nConsiderable importance is attached to the finding that in some\ninstances \"Stockholders\n......\nhave a smaller amount available for\ndividends than that allowed for Federal taxes.\" The implication\nthere is that taxes amount to more than 50 percent of net earnings\nof the corporation. Obviously these data, if they relate, as they\nproperly should, to net income corporations only, contain taxes\nother than income taxes. The bulk of Federal taxes paid by corpora-\ntions are not borne by them since they may be included as a cost item\nand recaptured through price ijustments by the corporation. These\ntaxes should be considered in the same manner as any other cost and\nhave no more effect on amounts available for dividends than do other\ncosts. Since these taxes may be recaptured in price, they give no\nindication to what extent taxes have detracted from amounts which\nwould otherwise be available for dividend payments.\n6. Identification of Federal with Federal, state and local\nincome taxes\nThe statistics themselves do not indicate whether the reserves\nare on behalf of Federal income taxes exclusively or also contain\namounts for state income taxes, franchise taxes based on income, etc.\nThe implication is, however, that the percentage increases are in no\nsmall part attributable to the increased Federal income tax rate,\nsince no mention is made of taxes other than the Federal income and\nexcess profits taxes.\n170\nTable 1\nFederal corporation income taxes, Revenue Acts of 1939 and 1940 1/\nand amount of net income remaining after income tax, for\nselected amounts of net income\nNet\nincome\n:\nIncome tax\n:\nIncome re- : Income tax\n:\nIncome re-\nbefore : Revenue Act :maining after: Revenue Act :maining after\nincome taxes\n:\nof 1939 1/\n: income tax\n:\nof 1940 1/\n: income tax\n$1.00\n$ .18\n$ .82\n$ .24\n$ .76\n1.25\n.225\n1.025\n.30\n.95\n1.14\n1.50\n.27\n1.23\n.36\n1.75\n.315\n1.435\n.42\n1.33\n2.00\n.36\n1.64\n.48\n1.52\n.90\n.162\n.738\n.216\n.684\n-75\n.135\n.615\n.18\n-57\n.50\n.09\n.41\n.12\n.38\n1/\nComputed at the rate of 18 percent for 1939 and 24 percent for 1940.\nDoes not include excess profits tax.\n171\nTable 2\nComparison of percent increase and net income 1940 over 1939 with\npercent increase in Federal income tax 1/ and percent increase\nof net income after Federal income tax\nIncrease in net :\nIncrease in\n:\nIncrease in net\nincome before :\nFederal\n:\nincome after\nFederal income taxes:\nincome taxes\n: Federal income taxes\n100%\n166.7%\n85.4%\n75\n133.3\n62.2\n50\n100.0\n39.0\n25\n66.7\n15.9\n0\n33.3\n(Decrease)\n7.3\n(Decrease) 10\n20.0\n(Decrease)\n16.6\n(Decrease)\n25\n0\n(Decrease)\n30.5\n(Decrease)\n50\n(Decrease)\n33.3\n(Decrease)\n53.7\nComputed at the rate of 18 percent for 1939 and 24 percent\nfor 1940. Does not include excess profits tax.\nRegraded Unclassified\n172\nDecember 12, 1941\nMy dear Mr. Stimson:\nI an forwarding herewith, a memorandum (see 12/9)\nfrom Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles\nfor Canada. This seems very important to me,\nand I would like to have your advice and help.\nMay I hear from you at an early date?\nVery sincerely,\n(Signed) H. Morganthau, Jr.\nHonorable Henry L. Stimson,\nSecretary of War\nEnce:\nMemo and attachment.\nBy Memenger 11°7\nRegraded Unclassified\n173\nDecember 12, 1941\nMy dear Mr. Stimson:\nI an forwarding herewith, a memorandum\nfrom Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles\nand would like to have your advice and help.\nfor I Canada. This seens very important to me,\nMay I hear from you at an early date?\nVery sincerely,\n(Signed) H. Morganthau, Jr.\nSecretary of War\nHonorable Henry L. Stimson,\nBy Measenger\nRegraded Unclassified\n174\nDecember 12, 1941\nMy dear Mr. Stimson:\nI am forwarding herewith, a memorandum\nfrom Philip Young to me, in regard to rifles\nfor Canada. This seens very important to me,\nand I would like to have your advice and help.\nMay I hear from you at an early date?\nVery sincerely,\n(Stgned) H. Morgesthau, Jr.\nHonorable Henry L. Stimson,\nSecretary of War\nBy Messengué\nRegraded Unclassified\nDecember 12th, 1940.\n175\nSICRET,\nCANADA'S FOPEIGN EXCHANGE POSITION\nI. Forecast of future payments to be made by Canada which require\ngold or U. S. dollars.\n4. For vurchases from the United States by the Canadian Govern-\nment or any of its agencies.\nFor the second year of war (September 1, 1940-August\n31, 1941), Canadian purchases for wer purposes in the United\nStates are estimated at $325,000,000. (Can.) and for the nine\nconths' period from December 1, 1940, to August 31, 1941,\nthey are estimated st approximately $275,000,000. (Can.).\nThese figures include estimates of purchases made or to be\nmade by government agencies and contractors who have war con-\ntracts from the Canadian Government or war contracts placed\nin Canada for account of the British Government. The industrial\nrelations of Canada and the United States are 60 close that\nthere is some United States content in nearly all Canedian\nmanufactured products and consequently it is exceedingly\ndifficult to made any precise estimate of aggregate Canadian\nwar purchases in the United States, including those used in-\ndirectly as well as directly for wer purposes. It is believed,\nhowever, that the figures given above are underestimates rather\nthen overestimates.\n1. War purchases classified by major commodity items and by\nperiods.\nAn examination of commitments (1) made or to be made by\nCanadian Government agencies or by contractors to such agencies\nRegraded Unclassified\n-2-\n176\nhas resulted in the segregation of most of the estimated\nexpenditures by major items, as follows:\nDec. 1/40 to Sept. 1/41 to Mar.1/42 to\nAug. 31/41\nFeb.28/42\nAug.31/42\n(In millions of Canadian dollars)\nIron & Steel (pri-\nmary castings &\nforgings, scrap\n& ore)\n$65.9\n$45.2\n$45.2\nMachine Tools\n29.3\n7.2(2)\nnil\nOther capital\nadvances\n5.9\n14.8\n17.6\nAircraft (includ-\ning engines and\nother parts)\n55.0\n23.5(3)\n16.5(3)\nPetroleum & products,\ndirect & indirect\n22.2\n14.9\n14.9\nNon-ferrous raw\nmaterials, mechan-\nical transport\ncomponents & mis-\ncellaneous\n58.2\n59.4\n70.8\nTotal, segregated\n$236.5\n$165.0\n$165.0\nOf which\nfor Canadian\nGovt. orders\n$176.0\n$123.7\n$123.7\nfor British\nGovt. orders\n60.5\n41.3\n41.3\nEstimate of in-\ndirect purchases,\nunnegregated\n38.5\n?\n?\nGrand Total\n$275.0\n$165.04\n$165.01\nN.B. (1) While this breakdown has been based on commitments,\nit is believed to give a reasonably accurate estimate\nof the payments or expenditures required during the\nperiods covered.\n(2) If skilled labour can be made available, this amount\nmay increase in each case to, say $25,000,000.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-3-\n177\n(3) This amount may be lower than required if the\nwar continues for a longer period and present\nplans have to be extended.\n2.\nProjected monthly payments through August, 1941.\nThe following breakdown by months, while necessarily\nsomewhat arbitrary, represents the best estimate that can\nbe made at this time:\n1940 - September\n$ 15,000,000.\nOctober\n17,000,000.\nNovember\n18,000,000.\nDecember\n19,000,000.\n1941 - January\n21,000,000.\nFebruary\n25,000,000.\nMarch\n29,000,000.\nApril\n31,000,000.\nMay\n36,000,000.\nJune\n40,000,000.\nJuly\n38,000,000.\nAugust\n36,000,000.\nTotal\n$325,000,000.(can.)\n3.\nSegregation as between unpaid balance on orders already\nplaced and orders being negotiated.\nThis information is not available, and in view of the\nnature of many of the purchases, particularly the indirect\npurchases by contractors, it would be exceedingly difficult to\nobtain figures that were at all reliable.\n4.\nEstimate of payments required on Capital Account.\nThe estimate of commitments or payments on Capital Account\nRegraded Unclassified\n-4-\n178\nis included under the second and third items of the table in\nSection 1 above; that is to say, it is covered by the amounts\nshown for purchases of \"machine tools\" and for \"other capital\nadvances\". It is possible that some small portion of the amounts\nshown for iron and steel purchases should also be regarded as\ncapital.\nB.\nFor merchandise imports from the United States other than those\nincluded in the above government orders, through August, 1941.\nFor the second year of war, these are estimated at\n$550,000,000. (Can.). The breakdown by months necessarily\nsomewhat arbitrary in character, is as follows:\n1940 - September\n$ 48,000,000.\nOctober\n57,000,000.\nNovember\n57,000,000.\nDecember\n44,000,000.\n1941 - January\n39,000,000.\nFebruary\n37,000,000.\nMarch\n45,000,000.\nApril\n43,000,000.\nMay\n48,000,000.\nJune\n46,000,000.\nJuly\n42,000,000.\nAugust\n44,000,000.\nTotal\n$550,000,000. (Can.)\nC.\nFor invisible imports from the United States.\nFor the second year of war, invisible imports from the\nUnited States are estimated as follows:\n-5-\n179\nInterest\n$ 95,000,000.\nDividends\n160,000,000. (1)\nTourist and travel expenditures\nin United States\n25,000,000\nFreight and miscellaneous (Net)\n55,000,000.\n$335,000,000. (Can.)\n(1) The estimato of dividends payable includes those\nof wholly-owned subsidiary companies, and 1s there-\nfore higher than estimates previously published by\nthe Dominion Bureau of Statistics.\n(2) This compares with a figure of $55,000,000. for the\ncelendar year 1940.\nIt should also be noted that during the second year of\nwar Canadian obligations, payable either solely or optionally\nin U. S. dollars, mature in the amount of $70,000,000. In-\ncluded in this total is & $20,000,000. Dominion of Canada\n1-1/4% note issue due May 1, 1941, which it is believed is\nheld largely or wholly by banks. Based on the experience of\nthe recent past, slightly over 70 per cent. of the amount of\nsuch issues are held by residents of the United States. If\nthis percentage continues to be applicable, and if no refunding\nis possible, fifty to fifty-five million dollars would be re-\nquired to meet these maturities.\nThese maturities (Approximate net amounts) may be allocated\nby months as follows:\n1940 - September\n$ 1,000,000.\nOctober\n1,000,000.\nNovember\n3,000,000.\nDecember\n2,000,000.\n1941 - January\n2,000,000.\nFebruary\n1,000,000.\n-6-\nMarch\n$ 1,000,000.\n180\nApril\n1,000,000.\nMay\n23,000,000.\nJuno\n3,000,000.\nJuly\n15,000,000.\nAugust\n2,000,000.\nTotal $55,000,000.\nD.\nFor imports (visible and invisible) from other areas with\nwhich Canada has an adverse balance which must be settled\nin gold or U. S. dollars.\nEstimate of Imports for second year of war.\nMerchandise imports\n$45,000,000.\nImmigrant remittances and other\ninvisible debit items\n10,000,000.\n$55,000,000. (Can.)\nRegraded Unclassified\n-7-\n181\nII.\nForecast of Canadian dollar (U.S.) receipts during the second year\nof war.\nA.\nFor merchandise exports to the United States\nEstimate of merchandise exports\nother than gold.\n$450,000,000.\n(This includes silver at\n$9,000,000.)\nEstimate of export of non-\nmonetary gold.\n212,000,000.\nTotal\n$662,000,000. (Can.)\nB.\nFor invisible items with the United States\nEstimate of invisible credit items in transactions with\nthe United States.\nIntorest & dividends receivable $30,000,000.\nTourist receipts\n150,000,000.\n(1)\nTotal\n$180,000,000. (Can.)\n(1) This includes an estimate of $25,000,000. for tourist\nexpenditures from Canadian dollar accounts. It may also\nbe noted that it assumes a. substantial increase in tourist\nreceipts as compared with the calendar year 1940. The\nbest estimate of U.S. tourist expenditures in Canada during\n1940 runs from $100,000,000. to $110,000,000. of which per-\nhaps $20,000,000. to $25,000,000. was made from Canadian\ndollar accounts.\n(For attempt at monthly breakdown, see Table I attached hereto,\nand for general summary of Canada's balance of payments with\nU.S., see Appendix B.)\nC.\nFor exports (visible and invisible) to other areas which will\nbe paid for in U.S. dollars or gold.\nEstimate of exports end other credit items for second year\nof war.\nMerchandise exports\n$50,000,000.\nDividends & other invisible credits\n15,000,000.\n$65,000,000. (Can.)\nRegraded Unclassified\n-8-\n182\nD. Estimated Canadian gold production during second year of\nwar.\nApproximately 5% million ounces, valued at $211,750,000. (Can.).\n(Included as exports under II.A. above)\nE. Estimated Canadian silver production during second year of war.\n22g million ounces, valued at approximately $9,000,000. (Can.).\n(Included as exports under II.A. above)\n-9-\nIII. Assets of Canada possibly convertible into dollar exchange.\n183\nA. Gold (as at Dec. 9, 1940)\n....\n$137,000,000. (U.S.)\nB. Dollar balances\n1. Official (as at Dec. 9. 1940)\nForeign Exchange Control Board -\nLong .... $183,000,000.\nShort\n...\n14,000,000.\nNet\n$167,000,000.\nMinister of Finance\n22,500,000.\n$189,500,000.(U.S.)\n2. Private (as at Sept. 30/40) about\n(1)\n30,000,000.\n(held against import commitments)\nTotal Gold and Dollar balances (net)\n$356,500,000.(U.S.)\nNOTE. (1) The amount of gold shown under III.A. as an asset of\nCanada is the amount of gold owned by the Government of\nCanada and held in the Exchange Fund. In addition,\n11,135,127 ounces of gold valued at $426,927,487. (can.)\nwas formerly held by the Bank of Canada for account of the\nBank of France and is now in the custody of the Custodian\nof Enemy Property.\nAll gold reserves of the Bank of Canada were sold to the\nForeign Exchange Control Board under the terms of the Foreign\nExchange Acquisition Order.\n(2) The U.S. dollar balances shown under III.B.1 as assets of\nCanada as at December 9. 1940, do not include $101,885,000 (U.S.),\nwhich was formerly in an account in the Bank of Canada in the\nname of the French Republic and is now under the custody of the\nCustodian of Enemy Property.\n-10-\n184\n(1) Under the Foreign Exchange Acquisition Order (Order-in-\nCouncil P.C.1735. dated April 30, 1940) residents of Canada\nwere required to sell to the Foreign Exchange Control Board\ntheir holdings of foreign currency and balances, except\nsuch amounts as could be demonstrated to be necessary for\nthe carrying on of normal business transactions. The figure\nof $30,000,000. does not include foreign balances of banks\nand insurance companies; any balances held by these institutions\nsurplus to the requirements of their foreign position was sold\nto the Board under the above Order, and further surpluses\naccumulating to their credit are subject to transfer on a\nquarterly or half-yearly basis. An analysis of the foreign\nposition of Canadian banks and insurance companies is included\nin Appendix A to this memorandum.)\n0. Long-term investments in the United States\n1. Securities\nUnder the Foreign Exchange Control Order (Order-in-\nCouncil P.C.2716, dated September 16, 1940) all foreign\nsecurities which, or any right, title or interest in or to\nwhich, were in the possession, ownership or control of &\nresident of Canada at the time the order came into effect\nwere required, unless the Board should otherwise direct,\nto be declared forthwith to the Foreign Exchange Control\nBoard. Any non-resident of Canada becoming a resident\nof Canada subsequent to September 15, 1939. was required\nforthwith to make a similar declaration to the Board in\nrespect of foreign securities owned by him at the time of\n-11-\n185\nhis becoming a. resident. Citizens of the United States\nresident in Canada have been exempted from the requirement\nof making such declarations.\nThe figures shown below have been computed from the data\ngiven on the declaration forms filed with the Board under the\nabove requirements, up to September 15, 1940, but do not\ninclude the holdings of banks, insurance companies, trust\nand loan companies, etc. Foreign securities held by these\nfinancial institutions have been regarded as held against\ntheir foreign liabilities but data in respect of them will\nbe found in Appendix A to this memorandum.\n(a) Listed Stocks (Stocks listed on any recognized Stock\nExchange, with valuations based on market quotations as\nat December 31, 1939, which are substantially higher than\nexisting market valued)\nNo. of issues\nValuation as at\nheld in excess\nDecember 31/39,\nof $500,000.\nIndustrial\n$228,200,000.\n92\nMines\n10,000,000.\n5\nRails\n8,300,000.\n5\nUtilities\n47,500,000.\n15\nInvestment companies\n7,100,000.\n3\nInsurance companies\n7,700,000.\n4\nBanks and Trust Co's\n4,000,000.\n2\nTotal\n$312,800,000.(U.S. 126\n-12-\n186\n(b) Listed and Unlisted Bonds (Valued on basis\nof market quotations as at December 31, 1939.)\nIndustrial\n$14,400,000.\nRails\n7,900,000.\nUtilities\n15,500,000.\nU. S. Government\n......\n7,000,000.\nState and Municipal\n2,000,000.\nReal Estate\n1,300,000.\nTotal\n$48,100,000.(U.S.)\n(c) Unlisted Stocks\nNo attempt has been made to value holdings reported\nin a large number of miscellaneous unlisted stocks -\nsome 3,500 items - a great many of which are believed\nto be valueless or practically BO, On the basis of a\nrough guess, total value is estimated for this purpose\nat, say, $20,000,000. to\n.....\n$40,000,000.(U.S.)\nAggregate value of all securities (on above bases)\n$380,900,000. to $400,900,000.\nN.B.(1) Sales of the above securities made by their\nholders from dates of declaration up to December 9.\n1940, total $35,000,000., and there have been maturities\nof approximately $2,500,000., leaving a total holding as\nat December 9. 1940, estimated on the bases of valuation\nindicated at approximately $343,400,000. to $363,400,000.\nFrom this total should be deducted brokers' loans of\n$10,000,000., leaving a net balance of roughly $333,000,000.\nto $353,000,000.\no0o\no0o\no0o\nRegraded Unclassified\n-13-\n187\nGeneral note. The figures given above as representing\nholdings of U. S. securities by Canadian residents (with\nthe exceptions noted) are as indicated the result of the\ncompilation of declarations made to the Foreign Exchange\nControl Board on Form M. It may be that certain residents\nhave not filled out this return or have not disclosed all\ntheir holdings, but as such offences under the Foreign\nExchange Control Order are subject to substantial penalties,\nit is not believed that the error in the figures due to\nfailure to report can be of significant proportions.\n2. Direct Investments\nThere is no estimate available of the real value of\nCanadian direct investments in the United States. The\nnominal book value, according to balance sheets at\nDecember 31, 1938, as estimated by the Dominion Bureau of\nStatistics (which is probably substantially in excess of\nreal or market value) is as follows:\nType of Industry\nMerchandising, sales, etc.\n$6,800,000.\nManufacturing\n93,000,000.\nMining\n10,600,000.\nPetroleum products\n9,900,000.\nUtilities, transportation and\nmiscellaneous\n206,800,000.\nTotal\n-14-\n188\nThese figures can be broken down by class of\ninvestment as follows:\nTotal Bonds Stocks Other\n(Millions of dollars)\nIncorporated subsidiaries\nwholly owned\n$ 93.5 $41.5\n$20.0\n$32.0\nIncorporated subsidiaries\npartly owned\n5.7\n2.6\n0.7\n2.4\nBranches or agencies\n0.1\n0.1\nUnincorporated operations\n10.1\n10.1\nCompanies in which Canad-\nians have a majority\ninterest\n8.2\n8.2\nRailway investment in\nwholly owned subsidiaries 133.7\n67.4\n63.3\n3.0\nRailway investment in part-\nly owned subsidiaries\n72.1\n35.1\n36.9\n0.1\nAdvances & other forms\n3-7\n-\n3,3\n0.4\n$327.1$154.8 $124.2\n$48.1\nN.B.(1) Many subsidiaries represent holdings in source\nof raw materials.\n(2) Railway investment which is taken at par or\nother nominal valuation includes:\nSoo Line\n$36,000,000.\nSpokane & International\n4,000,000.\nDuluth South Shore\n30,000,000.\nGrand Trunk Western\n86,000,000.\nCentral Vermont\n41,000,000.\n$184,000,000.\nIt is obvious that these figures in no way represent\nreal or marketable values.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 15 -\n189\nD. Long-term investments in Latin America\n1. Securities\nEstimate based on data compiled from\ndeclarations on Form M, with market valuations\nas at December 9. 1940.\nGovernment Bonds Market Value Par Value\nArgentina\n-\n$2,600,000.\n$3,600,000.\nBrazil\n2,000,000.\n15,000,000.\nOther\n....\n1,800,000.\n12,700,000.\n(U.S.)\nTotal\n....\n$6,400.000/ $31,300,000.\nOther securities - believed to be negligible\nin amount.\n2. Direct Investments\nThere is no estimate available of the real\nvalue of Canadian direct investments in Letin\nAmerica. The nominal or book value, as at December\n31, 1938, is estimated by the Dominion Bureau of\nStatistics at $175,600,000.(U.S.) This estimate\nincludes the following items:\nBolivian Power\n$6,000,000.\nMonterey Railway\n6,000,000.\nVenezuela Electric\n3,800,000.\nPorto Rico Light & Power\n....\n3,100,000.\nMassey-Harris (Buenos Aires)\n:\n3,000,000.\nBrazilian Traction &c.\n....\n75,000,000.\nInternational Petroleum\n...\n70,000,000.\n$166,900,000.(U.S.)\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 16 -\nE. Long-term investments elsewhere\n190\n1. Australasia\nPar Value\nAustralian Covernment bonds\npayable in U.S. dollars\n...\n$4,400,000.\nAustralian Government bonds\npayable in sterling\n.....\n1,900,000.\nNew Zealand Government bonds\npayable in sterling\n.....\n300,000.\nTotal bonds\n$6,600,000. (Can.)\nDirect investments at nominal\nbook value\n$13,700,000. (Can.)\nThese include\nFord of Canada $8,700,000.\nMassey-Harris 3,900,000.\n$12,600,000.\n(Can.)\nTotal nominal value of in-\nvestments in Australasia\n$20,300,000.(can.)\n2. Africa\nPar Value\nSouth African Government\nbonds\n$ 600,000.\nDirect investments at nominal\nbook value\n5,900,000.\nThese include\nFord of Canada $3,300,000.\nMassey-Harris 2,600,000.\n$5,900,000.\nTotal nominal value of in-\nvestments in Africa\n....\n$6,500,000. (Can.)\n3. British Asia\nPar Value\nBonds\n$ 600,000.\nDirect investments at nominal\nvalue\n5,500,000.\nTotal nominal value of in-\nvestments in British Asia\n$6,100,000. (Can.)\n4. Non-British Asia\nPar Value\nGovernment bonds\n$1,400,000.\nDirect investments at nominal\nvalue\n500,000.\nTotal nominal value of invest-\nments in Non-British Asia\n$1,900,000.(Can.)\n- 17 -\n191\n5. United Kingdom\nSecurities - as at September\n15, 1939, based on Form M\nreturns.\nGovernment bonds at par value\n$17,000,000.\nStocks and corporation bonds\n15,000,000.\nTotal\n$32,000,000. (Can.)\nDirect investments, according to\nDominion Bureau of Statistics\n$16,000,000. (Can.)\nTotal\n$48,000,000. (Can.)\n6. Europe (excluding United Kingdom)\nInvestment in Government bonds,\nas indicated by Form M returns,\nat par value\n$ 5,500,000.\nInvestment in stocks, say ..\n5,000,000.\nLoans made at close of last\nwar by Dominion Government to\nGovernments of Greece and\nRoumania, probably valueless\nbut par value\n30,854,000.\nDirect investments, according\nto estimates of Dominion\nBureau of Statistics\n...\n8,000,000.\nTotal\n$49,354,000.(0an.)\nThe direct investments include holdings by\nthe Massey-Harris Company in France and the\nFalconbridge Nickel Company in Norway. They do\nnot include European holdings of the Aluminium\nCompany or the International Nickel Company, as\nthese two companies are controlled in the United\nStates.\n-18-\n192\nIV. Forecast of Canada-United Kingdom balance of payments\nfor the second year of war.\nA. On Merchandise Account\nU. K.'s \"warlike\" expenditures in Canada $823,000,000.\nU. K.'s other expenditures in Canada\n338,000,000.\nTotal\n...\n.$1,161,000,000.(Can.)\nLess U. K. exports to Canada\n161,000,000.(can.)\nCredit balance in Canada's favour\n$1,000,000,000.(Can.)\nB. On Service items\nNet debits against Canada\nInterest & dividends (net)\n$62,000,000.\nExpenditures of Canadian armed\nforces in U. K.\n75,000,000.(Revised)\nFreight & miscellaneous services (net)\n20,000,000.\nTotal debit against Canada\n$157,000,000.\nIf we combine visible and invisible items, the\nabove estimates show a net total credit in Canada's\nfavour of $843,000,000. A summary of Canada's\nbalance of payments with the United Kingdom and\nwith the sterling area as a whole is given in\nAppendix D.\n-19-\n193\nV.\nProposed basis of settlement of the Canada-United Kingdom\nbalance of payments on Current Account.\nCanada has undertaken to assist the United Kingdom\nin meeting the latter's debit balance in her trans-\nactions with Canada, to the maximum practicable extent\nof Canada's capacity, by the repatriation of Canadian\nsecurities held in the United Kingdom. The remainder\nof the deficit will have to be met by the United King-\ndom by the transfer of gold or cash.\nDuring the first year of war, Canada agreed to\nprovide approximately $200,000,000. (Can.) in this way,\nand did BO provide about $193,000,000. For the six\nmonths' period, August 1, 1939. to January 31, 1940.\n(1)\nCanada agreed to provide $150,000,000.\nand hoped\nthat in the succeeding six months' period it would\nbe possible to increase this amount somewhat, possibly\nup to $200,000,000.\nThe normal process 1s that the Foreign Exchange\nControl Board accumulates sterling until a suitable\nopportunity occurs for the calling and redemption of\ne Dominion Government direct or guaranteed issue pay-\nable in London. In addition, there have been sales,\ndirectly in the Canadian market, of British holdings\nof Canadian provincial or municipal bonds or of\nprivate corporate securities, but the narrowness of\nthe Canadian markets limits the amount of securities\nthat can be so absorbed.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-20-\n134\nIt need not be emphasized that there are practical\nlimits to Canada's capacity to assist the United Kingdom\nby the repatriation of securities. From the standpoint\nof Canada, such repatriation involves the same problems\nAE B direct war expenditure - the money must be raised\nin Canada - en equivalent amount of securities or the\nidentical securities must be absorbed by Canadian 10-\nvestors. For this reason it is necessary to look at\nthe total burden assumed by Canada as a result of the\nwar. Canada's direct war expenditure during the\npresent fiscal year ending March 31, 1941, is expected\nto approximate $900,000,000. and for the rext fiscal\nyear will rise substantially - it may run from\n$1,200,000,000. to $1,500,000,000. To this must be\nadded non-war expenditures of the Dominion Government\nof approximately $450,000,000. (excluding the cost of\nfinancing an enormous surplus of wheat) and provincial\nand municipal expenditures of approximately $600,000,000.\nA comparison of the aggregate war and other governmental\nexpenditures with the national income (estimated at\nabout $5,000,000,000. for the. next fiscal year) will\nthrow light on the further amount which can be raised\nby Canadian citizens for the purpose of repatriating\nCanadian securities now held in the United Kingdom.\n(1) Note that of this amount only about $130,000,000.\nwould be available to the U. K. during the\nsecond year of war.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-21-\nVI.\nUnited Kingdom Investments in Canada.\n185\nCanadian data in regard to British investments in Canada\nare neither up-to-date nor very satisfactory. For what it may be\nworth, there are presented in the following table certain data,\npurporting to represent United Kingdom direct and portfolio invest-\nments for the year 1937, taken from a publication of the Dominion\nBureau of Statistics entitled \"The Canadian Balance of International\nPayments\" (Ottawa, 1939.). The method of valuation is more fully\ndescribed in Chapter IV of this publication but, stated briefly,\nbonds or other evidences of funded debt are taken at par value,\npreferred stock at par or stated value, and common stock at book\nvalue, while holdings in unincorporated branches or agencies are\nvalued on the basis of net assets in Canada.\nGovernment Securities\nDominion\n$317,100,000.\nProvincial\n61,300,000.\nMunicipal\n135,800,000.\nTotal\n$514,200,000.\nPublic Utilities\nRailways\n$1,065,600,000.\nOther, - Traction, light, heat,\npower, telephone, &c\n176,000,000.\nManufacturing\nWood & paper products\n$ 97,000,000.\nMetal industries\n72,000,000.\nAll other\n201,000,000.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-22-\n136\nMining\n$ 90,000,000\nMerchandising & service\n73,000,000\nInsurance.\n85,200,000\nFinance & mortgage corporations\n150,800,000\nMiscellaneous (agricultural lands, summer\nhomes, assets administered for persons\nor corporations residing outside of Canada). 160,000,000.\nTotal\n$2,684,800,000. (Can.)\nApart from considerations arising from the arbitrary basis of\nvaluation of such investments and the reduction in value of securities\npayable in sterling due to depreciation of the pound, it is, of\ncourse, necessary to reduce the aggregate amount shown above by\nthe amount of securities which have matured or which have been\ncalled for redemption or which have been resold to Canadians since\n1937. While complete data are not available here, the total amount\nof securities (chiefly government bonds and guaranteed reilway\nobligations) 80 repatriated cannot well be less than $350,000,000.\nand may well exceed this figure.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-23-\nVII. Forecast of Canada's balance of payments with the rest of the\n197\nsterling area for the second year of war.\nEstimated merchandise imports from Canada\n$113,000,000.\nEstimated merchandise exports to Canada\n87,000,000.\n$ 26,000,000. (Can.)\nAdd net balance of invisible items, in-\ncluding payments by Australia and New\nZealand on account of Air Training Plan,say 29,000,000. (Can.)\nNet credit balance in Cenada's favour\n$55,000,000. (Can.)\nUp to date, the United Kingdom has been meeting the adverse\nbalance of the rest of the sterling area with Canada, For masons\noutlined under V above, it is impossible for Canada to contribute\nto the financing of this debit balance.\n-24-\n138\nVIII. The amount of sterling balances now held by Canada in London.\nAs of December 9, 1940\nForeign Exchange Control Board -\nSpot\nL31,200,000\nFutures\n6,700,000\nL37,900,000\nMinister of Finance.\n1 350,000(1)\n$38,250,000\n(1) This does not include amounts held temporarily in the\nsinking funds of certain Dominion of Canada obligations payable\nin London, pending investment in securities to be held in such\nsinking funds.\n-25-\n199\nAPPENDIX A\nU. S. DOLLAR POSITION OF CERTAIN\nCANADIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.\n1. Canadian Life Insurance Companies, as at September 30, 1940.\nAssets\nBonds - Canadian debtor\n$ 15,400,000.(U.S.)\nU. S.\nII\n242,700,000.\nOther\nIf\n12,000,000.\nStocks - Canadian debtor\n1,000,000.\nU. S.\n#\n236,000,000.\nOther\n#\n-\nMortgages\n6,900,000.\nPolicy loans\n46,700,000.\nCash\n36,200,000.\nOther Assets\n3,700,000.\nTotal Assets\n$600,800,000.\nTotal Liabilities\n545,600,000.\nGross long position at book values\n...\n55,200,000.\nAdjust for market values (approx.)\n...\n50,000,000.\n$5,200,000.\nAdjust for non-U.S. debtors\n28,400,000.\nNet short position in U. S.\n......\n$23,200,000.\nIt will be obvious that the above adjustment for\nmarket values relates mostly to the investment in stocks.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-26-\n200\nThe investment in U. S. debtor bonds is subdivided\nas follows:\nGovernment\n$39,300,000.\nMunicipal\n19,300,000.\nRails\n41,800,000.\nUtilities\n126,700,000.\nIndustrials\n14,100,000.\nMiscellaneous\n1,300,000.\n$242,700,000.\nThe investment in stocks is subdivided as follows:\nRails\n$ 2,800,000.\nUtilities\n115,500,000.\nIndustrials\n110,600,000.\nMiscellaneous\n11,300,000.\n$236,200,000.\nThe total liabilities which are shown at $545,600,000.\ninclude the appropriate amount of the companies' surplus\napplicable to their U. S. position.\nThe all-over position of the Canadian life insurance\ncompanies, excluding assets represented by multiple\npayment bonds, is as follows:\nUnited States\nGross long position\n$55,200,000.\nLess Canadian debtor bonds & stocks\n16,400,000.\n$38,800,000. (long)\nRegraded Unclassified\n-27-\nUnited Kingdom & Sterling Area\n201\nShort\n$206,800,000.\nCanada\nShort\n58,600,000.\n$265,400,000. (short)\nBalancing figure, which represents\ninvestments in multiple payment\nbonds, and assets and liabilities\nin other currencies\n$226,600,000.\n(Note - In the above, all conversions are at\npre-war rates of exchange.)\n2. U. S. Dollar Position of Canadian Trust and Loan Companies.\nThe total U. S. dollar investments held by these companies\nis reported to amount to only about $18,000.\n3. U. S. Dollar Position of Canadian Chartered Banks (including both\nCanadian and foreign branches) as at June 30, 1940.\n(a) Total Assets and Liabilities in U. S. Dollars, as at June 30, 1940.\nin Cuban silver\nTotal such assets were $365,000,000. including\n$40,000,000.\nof which:\nCash Assets\n#\n181,000,000.\n#\n13,000,000.\nforeign securities\n53,000,000.\ncurrent loans\n100,000,000.\n#\n21,000,000.\nletters of credit\n22,000,000.\n#\n2,000,000.\nTotal such liabilities\n329,000,000.\nII\n36,000,000.\n-20-\n202\nBetween June 30, 1940, and October 31, 1940, total\nsuch assets probably declined about $23,000,000. and\ntotal such liabilities about $21,000,000. As at October\n31, 1940, total such assets would probably include\n(roughly): cash assets, $185,000,000; securities,\n$40,000,000; and current loans, $85,000,000.\n(b) Net Long Position in U. S. Dollars\nAs at June 30, 1940\nthe net spot position was\n$35,700,000. long\nfuture exchange contracts were\n1,200,000. short\nitems in transit were\n7,900,000. long\nleaving a true net position,\n$42,400,000. long\nSince June 30. 1940, the net long position has declined\nabout $2,000,000, and would now be approximately $40,400,000 -\nof which $3,000,000 is in the form of Cuban bank premises.\nNote. - In view of the size of the U. S. dollar\nbusiness and the need of maintaining adequate working\ncapital margins in order to satisfy state banking laws,\nwe would not under present conditions regard this net\nlong position as available.\n(c) Holdings of Foreign Securities, payable in U. S. Dollars.\nAs shown above, the Banks had at June 30, 1940, foreign\nsecurities payable in U. S. dollars of a total book value\nof $53,000,000. Known sales between June 30, 1940, and\nOctober 31, 1940, indicate present holdings of about\n$40,000,000.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-29-\n203\nRoughly, this total would be divided somewhat\nas follows:\nU. S. Government & State Government bonds\n$35,000,000.\nU. S. railway bonds and stocks\n......\n1,000,000.\nOther U. S. stocks\n1,000,000.\nLatin American securities (some govern-\nments, some industrials, chiefly\nCuban)\n3,000,000.\n$40,000,000.\n-30-\n204\nAPPENDIX B\nSUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS WITH THE\nUNITED STATES AS ESTIMATED FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR.\n(Millions of Canadian dollars)\nCurrent Account\nCredits\nDebits\nNet\nMerchandise - ordinary\n$450\n$550\n-$100\n- war\n-\n325\n- 325\nNon-monetary gold (net)\n212\n-\nplus 212\nTourist and travel\n(1)\nexpenditures\n150\n25\nplus 125\nInterest and Dividends\n30\n255\n- 225\nFreight and miscellaneous\nservices (net)\n-\n55\n- 55\nTotal\n$842\n$1,210\n-$368\nAdd estimated amount of tourist\nexpenditures in Canada pro-\nbably paid for from Canadian\ndollar accounts\n25\n- 393\nCapital Account\nMaturing obligations\n$55\n- 55\nCapital imports\n7\n1\n!\nTotal\n7\n$55\n- 55(7)\nTotal unfavourable balance\n$448\n(1) Includes $25,000,000. estimated to be paid for\nout of Canadian dollar accounts.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-31-\n205\nAPPENDIX C\nSUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS\nWITH COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE UNITED\nSTATES FOR WHICH PAYMENT MUST BE MADE\nIN GOLD OR U. S. DOLLARS, AS ESTIMATED\nFOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR.\n(Millions of Canadian dollars)\nCredits\nDebits\nNet\nMerchandise\n$50\n$45 plus $5\nDividends and other invisible\ncredits\n15\nplus 15\nImmigrant remittances and\nother invisible debits\n10\n- 10\n-\n$65\n$55\nplus$10\n-32-\nAPPENDIX D\n206\nSUMMARY OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS\nWITH THE UNITED KINGDOM AND STERLING\nAREA, AS ESTIMATED FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR\n(Millions of Canadian dollars)\nCredits\nDebits\nNet\n(a) With United Kingdom\nMerchandise, &c.\n...\n$1,161\n$161\nplus $1,000\nInterest & dividends (net)\n62\n-\n62\nExpenditures on Canadian\nArmed Forces in U. K.\n75\n-\n75\nFreight & miscellaneous\nservices (net)\n20\n-20\n$1,161\n$318\n-$ 843\n(b) With rest of sterling area\nMerchandise\n113\n87\nplus\n26\nInvisible items (net)\n29\n-\nplus\n29\n142\n87\nplus\n55\n(c) With Sterling area\n(including U.K.)\nMerchandise\n1,274\n248\nplus\n1,026\nInterest & dividends (net)\n62\n- 62\nExpenditures on Canadian\nArmed Forces in U.K.\n75\n- 75\nFreight & miscellaneous\nservices (net)\n20\n- 20\nOther invisible items (net)\n29\n-\nplus\n29\n$1,303\n$405\nplus\n$898\nRegraded Unclassified\nTABLE I\nESTIMATE OF CANADA'S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS WITH THE UNITED STATES FOR SECOND YEAR OF WAR\nAn attempt at Monthly Allocation of the Various Items.\n(Millions of Canadian Dollars)\nFreight &\nTotal\nTotal\nCapital\nInterest &\nOther\nCurrent a/c\nCurrent a/c\nExport\nTourist\nImports\nDividends\nCurrent\nex War\nWar\n(Net)\nincluding\nre\nExports\nGold\nNon-War\n(Net)\n(Net)\nImports\nImporte\nWar\nTourists\nSeptember\nMaturities\nTotal\n37\n17\n13\n48\n18\n5\n4\n15\n19\nIN\n1\n22\nOctober\n38\n17\n8\n57\n16\n5\n15\n17\n32\n2\n1\n35\nNovember\n38\n17\n3\n57\n12\n5\n16\n18\n34\n1\n3\n38\nDecember\n35\n17\n3\n44\n33\n4\n26\n19\n45\n1\nIn\n48\nJanuary\n33\n17\n5\n39\n19\n4\n7\n21\n28\n2\n?\n32\nFebruary\n33\n16\n5\n37\n9\n4\n4\n25\n21\n2\n1\n24\nMarch\n33\n17\n4\n45\n20\n5\n16\n29\n45\n1\n1\n47\nApril\n36\n18\n4\n43\n18\n5\n8\n31\n39\n1\n1\n41\nMay\n40\n19\n6\n48\n19\n5\n7\n36\n43\n2\n23\n68\nJune\n42\n19\n14\n46\n32\n5\nlos\n40\n48\n2\n3\n23\nJuly\n42\n19\n30\n42\n19\n4\n26\n38\n12\n4\n15\n31\nAugust\n43\n19\n30\nhills\n10\n24\n34\n36\n2\n15\n5\n2\n9\n450\n212\n125\n550\n225\n55\n43\n325\n368\n25\n55\n448\nNote.-Allocation of individual items by months is necessarily subject to\na considerable margin of error.\n2\nRegraded Unclassified\n208\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 12, 1940\nTO\nSecretary Morgenthau\nFROM\nMr. Cochran\nSTRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL\nAt 5:30 this afternoon the Secretary telephoned me from his residence in\nregard to the conversation which he had had with Sir Frederick Phillips. Sir\nFrederick had asked me this morning to make an appointment with the Secretary which\nwould permit a brief but private talk. At the Secretary's suggestion, Sir Frederick\nhad come to the Treasury at 12:30 and had ridden home with the Secretary.\nPhillips explained that the British could not sell us the French gold held\nin Canada because the Prime Minister of Canada has so far objected to it. Part of\nthis objection comes importantly from consideration of the large French population\nof the Dominion. Furthermore, the British are very conscious of the fact that they\nare running $600,000,000 behind on their annual account with Canada. An officer of\nthe Canadian Government is in Washington, however, and Phillipe planned to nake a\nfurther attempt through him today to overcome the objection of the Prime Minister.\nThe Secretary's press statement of today was discussed. At his press COD-\n\"erence the Secretary had made the point that be was against any loan to Great\nBritain which violated even the spirit of the Johnson Act; furthermore, the British\nhad not yet asked for any loan, Phillips said that he is now definitely asking for\nfinancial assistance. The Secretary replied that while he had consistently been\nopposed to lending funds to Great Britain in circumstances such 8.6 exist at present,\nhe would favor making 8. gift of such assistance. In his relations with the press\nand with his colleagues in the Government the Secretary has purposely taken the\nposition of pushing the British as far as possible. That is, he wanted it to be knowne\nthat be vas calling upon them to put forth their best efforts and vsa demanding from\nthem a frank and full expression of their financial end economic situation. It is\nthe Secretary's view that his plan of getting assistance for Great Britain can best\nbe achieved through this approach, and be is therefore pushing it. Phillips asked\nIf he could cable this idea to his Government. The Secretary replied in the negative,\nstating that this was just his own personal feeling.\nPhillips' attitude seemed to change remarkably 80 the conversation developed.\nEe affirmed his desire to let us have everything, considering the position which the\nSecretary has taken, The Secretary was such gratified over this conversation, feeling\nthat he had made more progress in the fifteen minutes drive home, than he had made\nsince Phillips' arrival in the United States.\nThe Secretary talked briefly with Phillips on the question which is to come\nbefore our Group tomorrow morning, namely, that of marketing British-owned American\nsecurities in this country. It is the Secretary's desire that this question should\nbe gone into thoroughly with Gifford and the British brought to realise the necessity\nif the most efficient system possible for carrying out the marketing of such securities\nB.M.\nRegraded Unclassified\n209\nHSM\nGRAY\nBucharest\nDated DECEMBER 12, 1940\nRec'd 7:42 a. me, 13th\nSecretary of State,\nWashington.\n805, December 12, 5 p. m.\nAn official of the Ministry of National Economy\ncalled at the Legation recently to discuss the question\nof the period of validity of United States Treasury\nlicenses for the unblocking of Runanian funds. HE\nstated that the United States Treasury had hitherto\nfollowed 8 policy of limiting licenses to a validity\nof only a few days usually five days; that Rumanian\nbudgetary legislation required that all payments bE\napproved for separate organizations including the\nMinistry of Finance, the Ministry of National Economy\nand the National Bank; and that this process was\ninevitably tine-consuning and difficult to Expedite\nEspecially in VIEW of the recent reorganization of the\nRunanian Government. HE inquired whether the Legation\ncould recommend that the United States Treasury if it\ndecided to issue a particular license at all, could not\nmake\n210\nhsm -2- No. 806, December 12, 5 P. me, from Bucharest\nmake it valid for a longer period such as twenty days.\nWhile the official in question was informed that\nthe Rumanian Legation at Washington was the proper\nchannel for such a request, I an bringing the foregoing\nto the Department's attention for such action, if any,\nthat it may SEE fit to take.\nGUNTHER\nDDM\nYOURABAT\nBECEIVED\nGVO DEC GW DEC 17 LMT IS 10\nRegraded Unclassified\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n211\nINTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 12, 1940\nTO\nSecretary Morgenthau\nFROM Mr. Cochran\nconfidential\nRegistered sterling transactions of the reporting banks were as follows:\nSold to commercial concerns\ni 71,000\nPurchased from commercial concerns\nL134,000\nAbout 693,000 of the registered sterling purchased from commercial concerns rep-\nresented dividend payments received by American firms.\nIn the open market, sterling was again quoted at 4.03-3/4 throughout the day.\nTransactions of the reporting banks were as follows:\nSold to commercial concerns\n1 5,000\nPurchased from commercial concerns\n1 5,000\nAs for the other currencies, there was a continued improvement in the Canadian\ndollar and Cuban peso discounts. Closing quotations were:\nCanadian dollar\n13-1/2% discount\nSwiss franc\n.2321\nSwedish krona\n.2385\nReichsmark\n.4005\nLira\n.0505\nArgentine peso (free) .2363\nBrazilian milreis (free).0505\nMexican peso\n.2070\nCuban peso\n9-1/4% discount\nThe yuan in Shanghai was again unchanged at 5-15/16¢.\nTe purchased $50,118,000 in gold from the earmarked account of His Britannic\nMajesty's Government.\nNo new gold engagements were reported to us today.\nThe Bombay gold price was unchanged at the equivalent of $33.83, and silver was\n3/15# higher at the equivalent of 42.874.\nIn London, the prices fixed for spot and forward silver were both unchanged, at\n22-7/8d and 22-13/16d respectively. The dollar equivalents were 41.54$ and 41.42#.\nHandy and Harman's settlement price for foreign silver was unchanged at 34-3/44.\nThe Treasury's purchase price for foreign silver was also unchanged at 35#.\nRegraded Unclassified\n-2-\n212\nBe made four purchases of silver totaling 225,000 ounces under the Silver\nPurchase Act. Of this amount, 175,000 ounces represented sales from inventory,\nand the remaining 50,000 ounces consisted of new production from foreign countries,\nfor forward delivery.\nThe Federal Reserve Bank's report of December 4, listing deposita of banks\nin Asia with the New York agencies of Japanese banks, showed that such deposits\ntotaled $100,455,000, a decline of $10,345,000 since November 27. As usual,\nnearly all of the change in deposits took place on the books of the Yokohana\nSpecie Bank's New York agency. The latter's reported dollar liabilities to and\ndollar claims on Japanese banks in Asia stood as follows on December 4:\nDecember 4\nChange from Nov. 27\nLiabilities: Deposits\n$89,796,000\n- $10,124,000\n#\n: U.S. Treas. bills, comm. paper, etc\n30,426,000\n-\n935,000\nClaims\n: Loans\n$37,566,000\n- 4,391,000\n\"\n: Other - mainly Jap. import bills\n18,429,000\n+\n4,783,000\nIt will be observed that $4,391,000 of the decline in deposits apparently were used\nto reduce loans. No definite explanation was provided for the other $5,733,000\nwithdrawn from deposit, although the agency stated that this represented ordinary\ndisbursements from several branch accounts. Such funds may have been used in the\npurchase of American goods, or transferred to other banks in this country or abroad.\nRegarding the $4,783,000 net purchase of Japanese import bills, the agency empha-\nsized that these were bought for its own account, and that Asiatic deposits were\nnot used in the operation. With the exception of $36,925,000 which Japanese banks\nin China had on deposit with the Yokohama agency (off $1,048,000 from November 27),\npractically all of the agency's figures shown in the above table refer to Japanese\nbanks in Japan and Manchuria. The agency's foreign currency liabilities and claims\nremained negligible.\nWe have also learned, from the Federal's letter of December 5 to the Secretary\nreporting its investigation of the Yokohama agency's accounts, that at the present\ntime the agency holds no American long-term securities for foreign account. Such\nholdings, consisting mainly of U.S. Treasury bonds held for account of the head\noffice, rose to a value of $66.6 million by the end of 1939. The entire amount has\nbeen liquidated since then, the bulk of the sales having been made during the past\nfive months.\nCONFIDENTIAL\nRegraded Unclassified\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n213\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nRegraded Unclass\nDATE\nDes13,1940\nSecretary Morgenthau\nTO\nBe H. Foley, Jr.\nFROM\n12-12-40\nIn addition to Walter Stone, editorial writer for the Scripps-Howard\nnewspaper chain, and myself the following were present at a conference\nheld in my office this afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30 o'clock, Assistant\nSecretary Sullivan, George Hear, Director of Research and Statistics,\nHenry Murphy, Assistant Director of Research and Statistics, and C. L. Kades.\nMr. Stone stated that the Scripps-Uoward newspaper desired to institute\nan aggressive editorial campaign directed at securing the elimination of tax\nexempt securities. He further stated that he expected to carry on this can-\npaign through editorials and news articles which would appear in the various\nnewspapers comprising the chain, and that he desired material for such\neditorials and articles. Mr. Stone asked if be could be supplied with a\nseries of hypothetical cases showing the tax avoidance resulting from invest-\nment in state and municipal securities, as distinguished from investment in\nbusiness enterprise, after taking into consideration not only Federal income\ntaxes but state income and intangible personal property taxes. It was agreed\nthat this could be done and that the material would be submitted to him from\ntime to time beginning within a week. A committee was appointed to collect\nthe necessary information consisting of Mr. Murphy AB chairman, Mr. Kades and\nMr. Ecker-Racz of Mr. Blough's Tax Research Division.\nMr. Stone also said he would be interested in ascertaining who was\nfinancing the Conference for State Defense and the other pressure groups\nopposing the elimination of tax exempt securities, and Mr. Sullivan and I\nindicated that we would be glad to cooperate with him in such an undertaking.\nMr. Stone also suggested the advisability of the Federal Government con-\nsenting not only to the imposition of state income taxes upon the interest of\nFederal securities but also to the intangible personal property texation by\nthe states of such securities in private hands at the Bane extent as the\nstates taxed their securities. This suggestion was explored at some length\nthe object being to take away from the opponents of the proposal to sliminate\ntax exempt securities the argument that states not having an income tax would\nbe discriminated against if the Federal Government subjected its securities\nonly to state income taxation. Such opposition, for example, smanates from\nGovernor Bricker of Ohio for this reason.\nAfter exploring generally the entire problem of tax exampt securities,\nMr. Stone raised the question whether the Treasury was going to do anything\nabout income taxation so far as community property was concerned and Mr. Sul-\nlivan stated that it was not thought desirable to do anything about eliminat-\ning this inequity at this time for fear it wight jepardise the success of the\nproposal to eliminate tax exempt securities.\n214\nI asked Mr. Stone if he thought it would be desirable for the\nTreasury to retain a newspaper man having editorial experience to put\nthe material in the form in which he wanted it. Mr. Stone said he did\nnot think this was necessary as the information he needed was of the\ncharacter which could be supplied adequately by economists, lawyers\nand accountants.\n9.10.7L\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n215\nINTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION\nDATE December 12, 1940.\nTO\nSecretary Morgenthau\nFROM\nE. H. Foley, Jr.\nHere is some additional material that you might want to glance\nover in connection with the memorandum on the \"Johnson Act Conference\" which\nI sent to you this afternoon.\nE.10.7h.\nAttachments\n(CONFIDENTIAL)\n216\nC\n0\nOctober 1, 1939\nP\nY\n7:10 p.m.\nThe President called me awhile ago, and I told him that we\nhad been asked by the State Department to prepare something for Key\nPittman on the Neutrality Bill.\nWe felt that the consideration fell into two matters:\nOne, whether the credit clause in the cash-and -carry plan now\nunder consideration was contrary with the Johnson Act, and that we in\nthe Treasury felt that, and were of the view that, the opposite was the\nfact. Particularly in view of a memorandum in the Treasury's files of\na conference in my office in 1934 at which Senator Johnson was present.\nWhen we had asked the Senator the specific question relative to short-\nterm credits, the Senator had answered that the elimination of short-term\ncredits had not been considered part of the purpose of his Bill.\nThe President said, \"That's wonderful! That's finel\"\nAnd the second part, with reference to the question of the\nextension of 90-day credits, I felt that the President shouldn't do\nanything to urge it. That the whole history was that it had been\nintroduced in the House for the direct purpose to restrict the powers\nof the President as to the extension of any such credits, and that we\nin the Treasury felt that the President should let the pressure come\nfrom outside on this.\nThe President said, \"I an in complete agreement with you, and\nRegraded Unclassified\n217\n- 2 -\nthat is exactly the way I feel, and Cordell agrees absolutely.\"\nI told him that Cordell didn't talk that way to me this morning.\nHe gave me the impression that he would like to see this included.\n\"So would I\", said the President, \"but I am not going to do anything\nabout it. The Pressure will have to come from elsewhere.\"\nHe asked me to send over to him the memorandum, and the memorandum\non the conference in my office, and while he didn't tell me 80 in so many\nwords, I got the impression that he will see that it is sent and gets to\nKey Pittman.\n(Dictated via telephone by\nthe Secretary to McGuire)\nThe original sent to the Secretary's office for the Secretary's diary.\nRegraded Unclassified\n218\n0\nP\nOctober 1, 1939\nI\nMEMORANDUM\nRe: Credits to Belligerents\nSection 7 of the Senate neutrality bill relates to financial\ntransactions with belligerents. It continues the existing provisions\nof the neutrality statute which prohibits the making of loans and\ncredits to belligerents and persons acting on their behalf. It is\nalso to be noted that the existing neutrality law authorizes the\nPresident, when he finds it in the interest of the United States, to\nexempt from this prohibition \"ordinary commercial credits and short-\nterm obligations in aid of legal transactions and of a character\ncustomarily used in normal peacetime commercial transactions.\" The\nSenate Committee apparently felt that the existing provision could\nbe strengthened, without sacrificing American interests, by limiting\nthe discretion of the President and by confining to a more limited\ncategory the permissible forms of short-term commercial credits.\nAccordingly, the Senate bill provides that (1) the short-term commercial\ncredits may not be for a period more than 90 days without renewal;\n(11) if any belligerent or person acting for a. belligerent defaults\non any such 90-day credit, no new commercial credit may be extended;\nand (111) the President report to Congress every six months full in-\nformation as to each commercial credit which has thus been permitted.\nRegraded Unclassified\n- 2 -\n219\nIt is thus entirely clear that Presidential authority to permit\nshort-term commercial credits to belligerents has been a part of the\nneutrality law continusously since February, 1936, and that the only\nchanges which the Senate bill makes in the existing law are in the\ndirection of additional restrictions on the Presidential discretion\nto permit short-term commercial credits.\nIt has been charged that the provision in the present bill\nrelating to short-term commercial credits to belligerents is inconsistent\nwith the Johnson Act of 1934, and is the opening wedge for the granting\nof loans to belligerents. I think that an examination of the history\nof the Johnson Act and the Neutrality Act will show these charges\nto be unfounded.\nJOHNSON ACT\nThe Johnson Act provided in part as follows:\n\"That hereafter it shall be unlawful within\nthe United States or any place subject to the\njurisdiction of the United States for any person\nto purchase or sell the bonds, securities, or other\nobligations of, any foreign government or political\nsubdivision thereof or any organization or association\nacting for or on behalf of a foreign government or\npolitical subdivision thereof, issued after the passage\nof this Act, or to make any loan to such foreign\ngovernment, political subdivision, organization, or\nassociation, except a renewal or adjustment of existing\nindebtedness while such government, political sub-\ndivision, organisation, or association, is in default\nin the payment of its obligations, or any part thereof,\nto the Government of the United States. ***,*\nWithin a few weeks after the passage of the Johnson Act a\nnumber of problems arose necessitating the interpretation of that\nstatute. On April 27, 1934, a conference was held at the Treasury\n- 3 -\n220\nDepartment attended by Senator Johnson, the Attorney General, the\nSecretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and a number of\nother officials of the State, Treasury and Justice Departments.\nDuring the conference, Senator Johnson was asked if he thought that\nthe statute applied to such every-day commercial instruments as time\ndrafts, bankers' acceptances, etc. Senator Johnson stated that he did\nnot think that the statute could be interpreted in any such manner\nand that it was not the intention of the statute to interfere in any\nway with ordinary commercial transactions. It also appeared to have\nbeen the view of the participants in the conference, including Senator\nJohnson, that the Johnson Act did not apply to time drafts, acceptances,\netc., employed in connection with ordinary commercial transactions.\nA memorandum of the conference is in the Treasury Department's files.\nA copy of the memorandum is attached.\nOn the same day the State Department issued the following\npress release:\n\"Enquiries have been received at the Department of\nState as to whether the Act of Congress approved April\n13, 1934, to prohibit financial transactions with foreign\ngovernments in default on their obligations to the\nUnited States, applies to ordinary commercial 'acceptances\nor time drafts,' such as are used by foreign governments\nto finance the current requirements of their embassies\nand consulates in the United States.\n\"The Department of State and the Attorney General\nare in agreement that such instruments do not constitute\n'obligations' within the purview of the Act.\n\"Certain other questions that have been presented\nregarding the interpretation of the Act are under con-\nsideration. #\nOn May 5, 1934, the Attorney General, in response to a request\nRegraded Unclassified\n221\n- 4 -\nfrom the Secretary of State, rendered an opinion on a number of questions\nrelating to the Johnson Act, which opinion stated in part as follows:\n\"1(2) To what types of transactions does the\nAct apply?'\n\"The Committee Reports (s. Rept. 20 and House Rept. 974,\n73d Cong.) recite that the bill was introduced following an\ninvestigation by the Senate Committee on Finance and the\nrevelation therein that 'billions of dollars of securities\n*** * offered for sale to the American people' were overdue\nand unpaid; that some of these 'foreign bonds and obligations\n*** were sold by the American financiers to make out-\nregeously high profits'; and stated a purpose 'to prevent\n& recurrence of the practices which were shown by the\ninvestigation to be little less than a fraud upon the\nAmerican people * * * to curb the rapacity of those engaged\nin the sale of foreign obligations * *,'\n\"This, I think, is indicative of a purpose to deal\nwith such 'bonds' and 'securities' and with 'other\nobligations' of like nature, observing the rule of\nejusdem generis - that is, obligations such 88 those which\nhad been sold to the American public to raise money for\nthe use of the foreign governments issuing them - not\ncontemplating foreign currency, postal money orders,\ndrafts, checks and other ordinary aids to banking and\ncommercial transactions, which are 'obligations' in 8\nbroad sense but not in the sense intended. It was\nobviously not the purpose of the Congress to discontinue\nall commercial relations with the defaulting countries.\"\n*****\n\"(4) Does the Act apply to acceptances or time\ndrafts?'\n\"This question appears to be sufficiently answered\nby the comments under Question No. 2, supra. It appears\nproper to add, however, that such transactions must be\nconducted in good faith, in order to be within the law,\nand not as mere subterfuges to circumvent its purpose.\"\nIn other words, the Attorney General found that while the\nJohnson Act prohibited the sale of bonds and securities of countries\nRegraded Unclassified\n222\n- 5 -\nin default it did not prohibit those ordinary short-term commercial\ncredit devices customarily used in international trade. The entire\ntext of the opinion of the Attorney General was quoted in a State\nDepartment press release dated May 5, 1934 which also included the\nstatement that the State Department concurred in the Attorney General's\ninterpretation of the Johnson Act. Unquestionably this opinion has\nbeen relied upon by American business interests in their commercial\ntransactions with defaulting countries and persons on their behalf.\nIn the light of this background and at this late date, the Johnson\nAct should not be construed as making illegal short-term credit\ntransactions with defaulting governments relating to otherwise per-\nmissible trade and commercial transactions.\nNEUTRALITY ACT\nIn February, 1936, Congress in amending the then existing\nNeutrality Act included the following provision:\n\"SEC. la. Whenever the President shall have\nissued his proclamation as provided for in section 1\nof this Act, it shall thereafter during the period of\nthe war be unlawful for any person within the United\nStates to purchase, sell, or exchange bonds, securities,\nor other obligations of the government of any belligerent\ncountry, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of\nany person acting for or on behalf of such government,\nissued after the date of such proclamation, or to make\nany loan or extend any credit to any such government\nor person: Provided, That if the President shall find\nthat such action will serve to protect the commercial or\nother interests of the United States or its nationals,\nhe say, in his discretion, and to such extent and under\nsuch regulation as he may prescribe, except from the\noperation of this section ordinary commercial credits\nand short-term obligations in aid of legal transactions\nand of a. character customarily used in normal peace-\nRegraded Unclassified\n223\n- 6 -\ntime commercial transactions.\"\nIt will be noted that this provision, which has been the law since\nFebruary, 1936, specifically authorized the President to permit short-\nterm ordinary commercial loans to belligerents and persons acting on\ntheir behalf. The debate in Congress reveals no feeling that this\nprovision was inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of the\nJohnson Act. The view of Congress was quite the contrary. The House\nreport on this provision in the 1936 amendment stated:\n## * * It is the law now under the Johnson Act\nthat it is unlawful to sell bonds, securities, etc.,\nin this country of any foreign country that is in\ndefault of its indebtedness to the United States.\nThis covers most of the greater powers in Europe.\nThis section, however, goes much further and makes\nit unlawful, as before stated, to all belligerent\ncountries. Now, there is a provision in this section\nthat if the President shall find that such action\nwill serve to protect the commercial or other interests\nof the United States or its nationals, he may, in his\ndiscretion, and to such extent and under such regulation\nas he may prescribe, except from the operation of\nthis section ordinary commercial credits and short-time\nobligations in aid of legal transactions and of a\ncharacter customarily used in normal peacetime commercial\ntransactions. There is also another provision that\nthis section does not apply to renewal or adjustment\nof indebtedness which may exist on the date of the\nPresident's proclamation. The only discretion given\nthe President under this section is in reference to\nsuch credits used in normal peacetime commercial trans-\nactions.\"\nBy specifically prohibiting in the Neutrality Act the extension of\n\"any credit\" (which words do not appear in the Johnson Act) Congress,\nin view of the purposes of the Neutrality Act, apparently intended\nthereby to prohibit even short-term commercial credits unless the\nRegraded Unclassified\n224\nC\no\nP\nY\n-7-\nPresident found that the making of such short-term commercial credits\nto belligerents was in the public interest, in which event, such credits\nwould be lawful.\nNo change was made in this provision of the Neutrality Act when\nthe Neutrality Act was otherwise amended in 1937. When the neutrality\nlegislation wes considered in the House of Representatives last July,\nit was proposed to circumscribe further the President's power to\npermit short-term commercial credits to belligerents by limiting such\ncredits to 90 days without renewal, and requiring the President to\nmake periodic reports to Congress of such transactions. These\nlimitations on the power given to the President by the existing\nstatutory provision are included in the Senate bill, and in addition\nthe Senate bill prohibits further 90-day credits if a belligerent\ndefaults on prior 90-day credits given to it.\nOriginal and 1 copy taken to White House by Foley 8:30 p.m.\n1 copy to Attorney General at Washington Hotel by Shelley (returned\n1 copy sent to Secretary by Bernstein\napproved and original run given to Attorney General.)\n1 copy to Viner\n1 copy to Bell\n1 copy to Cochran\n1 copy to Bernstein\n1 copy to Pehle\n1 copy to Foley\nBailie returned copy after reading it.\nRegraded Unclassified\n225\nC\n0\nP\nY\nOctober 2, 1939\nSecretary of the Treasury\nMr. Foley\nAs you know, we have ruled that neither the Johnson Act,\nnor the provisions of the Neutrality Act relating to the making\nof loans and the extension of credit to belligerent countries,\napply to the Government or any agency thereof. The Attorney\nGeneral has concurred in this view. Nothing in the Neutrality\nBill, which has been reported out in the Senate, necessitates\na change of this view.\n(Initialed) E. H. F., Jr.\nJWP:mgt 10/2'39\nInitialed JWP and BB\nRegraded Unclassified\n226\nC\no\nP\nOctober 24, 1939\nY\nTo:\nSecretary Morgenthau\nFrom: Messrs. White and Foley\nSenator Wagner inquired by telephone as to the Department's position\non Taft's amendment to the Neutrality Bill to limit the atabilization fund's\nholdings of the currency of any belligerent to no more than $50,000,000 at\nany one time. Tie feel that the Department should indicate to Senator Wagner\nits opposition to Taft's amendment for the following reasons:\n(1) When Congress extended the stabilization powers it was fully\nconscious of the possibility or probability of a war in Europe.\nThere is accordingly no need at this time for Congress to re-\nconsider the problem and to limit the stabilization powers.\n(2) Senator Taft questioned the Secretary about the use of the\nstabilization fund in the event of war. The Secretary said that\nbefore he would use the stabilization fund to assist any\ncountry in prosecuting that war he would come up before the\nproper committee and ask for guidance. This procedure would\npermit greater flexibility than Taft's proposal in dealing with\nan emergency situation in which it might be greatly in the\ninterests of this country to purchase the currency of a belliger-\nent in amounts greater than $50,000,000. By going to the con-\ngressional committees the Treasury could ascertain the views of\nCongress without the publicity and delay involved in getting\nnew legislation.\n(3) If we do not indicate our opposition to Taft's amendment, there\nis likelihood that other amendments would be offered prohibiting\nthe stabilization fund from purchasing any belligerent currency\nand in effect mullifying its use during the war.\nIf you agree with the foregoing, we can give these views to Senator\nWagner orally.\n(Initialed) E.H.F.Jr.\nH.D.W.\nAPPROVED: October 25, 1939\n(Initialed) H.M.Jr.\nOriginal was left with Senator Wagner by White and Foley\nRegraded Unclassified\n227\nC\n0\nThe original copy was pulled. The following note appeared\nP\non it \"Please talk to me. H.M.Jr.\", and \"White House\".\nY\nOct. 30, 1939\nSecretary Morgenthau\nMr. Foley\nAs I stated to you in my memorandum of October 2, 1939, it is our\nview, concurred in by the Attorney General, that the Johnson Act and the\nprovisions of the present neutrality law relating to the making of loans\nand the extension of credit to belligerent governments do not apply to this\nGovernment or agencies thereof.\nThe pending neutrality bill contains similar language and it would\nhave been appropriate to interpret it in a similar manner but for the state-\nment made by Senator Pittman on the floor of the Senate late in the evening\non October 27, 1939. Senator Pittman indicated that he and the other\ndrafters of the bill construe its provisions to prohibit the making of\nloans or the extension of credit to belligerent governments by governmental\ncorporations, such as R. F. C. and the Export-Import Bank. A discussion\nof this matter appears in the attached excerpts from the Congressional\nRecord. On October 17, 1939, Senator Barkley said on the floor of the\nSenate that his offhand view WBB that the credit provisions of the pending\nbill applied as rigidly to the R. F. C. and any other agency of the Govern-\nment as to any private person in this country.\nSenator Pittman made the statements in question notwithstanding the\nfact that on October 27, the Senate voted down an amendment introduced by\nSenator Taft, which was designed to prohibit the making of loans and the\nextension of credit by the Government or agencies thereof. You will note\nfrom the discussion of the matter which appears in the excerpt from the\nCongressional Record that Senator George pointed out that Senator Pittman's\nconstruction \"covers precisely one of the amendments offered by the dis-\ntinguished Senator from Ohio, which was voted down by this body yesterday.\"\nUnless Senator Pittman can be persuaded to take some appropriate 8.0-\ntion that would nullify the effect of this statement I an fearful that we\nwill be unable to hold that the R. F. C. and the Export-Import Bank have\nlegal authority under the now-pending legislation to make loans of the type\nwhich have been considered to an American corporation acting on behalf of\nbelligerent governments, collateralised by American securities owned by\nsuch belligerents.\n(Initialed) E. H. F., Jr.\nJWP:BB:mgt 10/28/39\nRegraded Unclassified\nEXCERPT\nCONGRESSIONAL RECORD\nRegraded 2289 Unclas\nSENATE\nOctober 27, 1939 Page 1655\nMr. TAFT.\nMr. President, while this matter is being discussed I should\nlike to ask the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations one\nquestion regarding this section. On page 21 it is provided that\nwhenever the President shall have issued a proclamation it shall\nbe unlawful for any person within the United States to advance\ncredits to foreign governments. I wish to know whether or not\nthe chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations considers\nthat the word \"person\" which is also defined on page 30 as\nincluding corporations, and so forth, is broad enough to\ninclude the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Export-\nImport Bank.\nMr. PITTMAN.\nand\nThe word \"person\" expressly includes corporations,/I therefore\ntake it that it does include them.\nMR.TAFT.\nIn the Senator's opinion, it includes the Reconstruction Finance\nCorporation and the Export-Import Bank?\nMr.PITTMAN.\nThat is my opinion, and that was the opinion of those who drafted\nthe joint resolution.\nMr.GEORGE.\nMr. President, I wish to make a short statement. Particularly\nI wanted to say that my construction of the word \"person\"\nis identically the same as that given by the chairman of the\ncommittee. I think that is pertinent, because in effect it\ncovers precisely one of the amendments offered by the distinguished\nSenator from Ohio, which was voted down in this body yesterday.\nI think the word \"person\" here does include a subsidiary\nof the Government, a corporate subsidiary such as the\nReconstruction Finance Corporation, or any other corporation\nwhich is owned wholly or practically wholly by the Government\nitself.\n229\nCommissioner of Accounts\nTREASURY DEPARTMENT\n11/12/20\n& Deposits.\nWASHINGTON\nApril 28, 1934.\nCONFERENCE RE: JOHNSON BILL:\n(Public No. 151, 73rd Congress)\nThe Secretary of the Treasury called 8 conference at 11 o'clock\nFriday, April 27, 1934, for the purpose of considering some of the\ndifficulties in interpreting the provisions of the so-called Johnson\nBill, which prohibits the flotation of loans in the United States by\ngovernments in default on their indebtedness to the United States\nGovernment. Those present were the Secretary of the Treasury, the\nAttorney General of the United States, Senator Johnson of California,\nUnder Secretary Phillips and Assistant Secretary Moore of the State\nDepartment, Mr. Hackworth, Solicitor of the State Department, Mr.\nNacLean, Assistant Solicitor General, Mr. Coolidge, Mr. Oliphant, and\ntr. Bell, of the Treasury. Secretary Hull came in at 11:20.\nThe Secretary asked Senator Johnson to outline to the meeting\nthe objectives which he had in mind in presenting the bill to the Con-\ngress.\nSenator Johnson went into the history of the measure and stated\nthat as it was first introduced and passed the Senate more than a year\nago, he had in mind definitely the protection of the American citizen\nin his purchases of foreign securities in the United States issued by\nforeign governments which are in default on any of their indebtedness\nto the United States Government or its nationals. He stated that he\nhad definitely in mind at that time the South American governments. He\nstated that just after the bill first passed the Senate, Senator Robinson\nasked that it be laid on the table and reconsidered. At a conference be-\ntween him and Senator Robinson at a later date, he agreed to further\namendments, after which it was referred back to the Foreign Relations\nCommittee and was there amended to its present form. He thought as the\nbill now stands, its main objective W&G to preclude the flotation in this\ncountry of any securities of those governments or any subdivisions there-\nof which are in default on their indebtedness to the United States Govern-\nment.\nThe Secretary asked him just what he meant by the term \"default\" and\ndid he have definitely in mind including those governments which have\nmade token payments as & result of which the President had stated that be\ndid not consider those governments in default?\nSenator Johnson said that it was his personal opinion that if these\ngovernments did not pay the full amount due they were certainly in default\nRegraded Unclassified\n230\n2.\nas to the remaining balance. However, he realized that this was largely\nan administrative matter and the President under the powers granted by\nthe Constitution to handle foreign affairs, certainly had the authority\nto state whether or not a particular government was in default on its\nindebtedness to the United States Government. He did not think that\nthe act was intended to disturb the action already taken by the President\nin declaring those governments not in default.\nThe Attorney General stated to the Senator that he thought the\nPresident's previous action WEB quite in line with his authority, but\nsaked the Senator if he thought the President could take similar action\non future token payments in view of the act.\nThe Senator stated that his personal opinion was that the President\nhad no authority after the passage of this act to accept from our debtors\ntoken payments and then consider them not in default.\nThe Secretary then asked the Senator if he thought the bill included\nsuch everyday commercial transactions as time drafts and bankers' acceptances\netc. The Senator said he did not think it could be interpreted in any\nsuch manner and that it was not the intention of the bill to interfere in\nany way with ordinary commercial transactions. The question was then raised\n0.8 to what was meant by time drafts, acceptances, etc. lr. Coolidge ex-\nplained an ordinary commercial transaction with respect to the purchase of\ncotton in the United States by the national of some foreign government -\nthat the concern selling the cotton might draw a bill of exchange on the\npurchaser, which would be honored in thirty days more or less and that this\nbill of exchange could be sold on various terms. It was the concensus of\nopinion that such B. transaction would not fall within the provisions of the\nact.\nThe Attorney General then asked the Senator if he thought that a fair\ninterpretation of the act web that it did not intend in any way to limit\nthe ordinary everyday commercial transaction, and the Senator said that,\ncertainly, WAB the interpretation he would put on it.\nMr. MacLean, Assistant Solicitor General, then called attention to\nthe fact that France exercised 6. monopoly in tobacco, and that the organisa-\ntions in this monopoly would no doubt in the course of business sell their\ndrafts and other instruments of credit in this country. The Senator said\nthat he did not have such transactions in mind and that the words \"organisa-\ntions or associations\" in the act were not his language. It seemed to be\nthe concensus of opinion that these transactions would fall within a commer-\ncial transaction and not within the provisions of the Act.\nRegraded Unclassified\n231\n3.\nMr. Hackworth brought up the question that had been presented to\nhim just before he came to the Treasury, i.e., as to whether the oper-\nations in coupons on German bonds would fall within the provisions of\nthe act. He explained that coupons falling due on many of the German\nbonds were paid partly in cash and partly in scrip, and that later the\nscrip was purchased by a bank in Germany which was more or less under\nthe supervision of the Reichsbank and the German Government.\nSenator Johnson thought that such a transaction would clearly\nfall within the exception in the act with respect to renewal or ad-\njustment of existing indebtedness.\nMr. Coolidge said that he thought that one way in which to in-\nterpret the act was to decide whether or not any of the transactions\npassed upon involved new American money and that this should be a de-\nciding factor. This seemed to be agreed to by the Attorney General and\nMr. Hackworth.\nInitialed - D.W.B.\nRegraded Unclassified\n232\nDetember 12, 1960.\nSecretary\nLe L Felow, it.\nHere is - additional material that you night wast to glance\n- in connection with the en the Volution Act Conference which\nI - to you this afternoon.\n(Initialed) L.H.N. Jr.\n1\nAttachments :\nSent out to the Secretary at his House (by hand)\nat 6 pollo 12/12'40\n1. Momo in the Secretary's disry 10/2'39 20 telephone call from\nthe President and the Secretary's explanation of the\nTreasury's views an the Neutrality Bill,\n2. Memoranders ret \"Credits to Belligerents\". Propared at the\nsuggestion of the State Department 10/1'20 for Key Pittern\nto use in connection with the debutes on the pending\nNeutrality Bill.\n3. Foley's - to the Secretary 10/2'39 halding that neither\nthe Johnson Act not the Neutrality AST (as reported out of\nthe Senate) in regard to the miking of loans to, and the\nextension of credits to belligerent countries applied to\nthe Governments or any agency thereof. The A.G. concerted\nin that view.\n40 Messrs. White and Feley's - to the Secretary on 10/24'39\nThree reasons viry the Treasury should object to Taft's\nto the Neutrality mill to limit stabilization fund's holdings of the\ncurrency of any belligerent to as nore than $50,000,000.\n50 Feley's - to Secretary 10/30'39 relating to the Secretary that\nKey Pittuan's statement - the floor of the Senate a Date 27,1939\nwould have to be changed # w would have to hold that the me and\nthe Expert-Import Bank de not have the authority to miss lease\nto M American scrporation seting on behalf of the belligeremb\nRegraded Unclassified\n233\nOctober 1, 1939\nI\n7020 -\nthe President called - subile ego, and I told his that w\nhad been asked by the State Department to propare something to Ear\nPitteen a the Neutrality MILL\nNo falt that the consideration full into two entiers)\nCas, whether the credit clause in the eash-sad -48777 plan -\nunder consideration was controry with the Johnson sor, and that we in\nthe Treasury falt that, and were of the view that, the apposite was the\nfast. Particularly in view of a memerandem in the Treasury's files of\n& conference in my office in 1934 at which Senster Johnson was present.\nhas 90 had asked the Senster the specific question relative to short-\nterm credits, the Smater had answered that the elimination of short-term\ncredits had not been considered part of the purpose of his mill.\nthe President said, \"That's venderfull That's finel*\nAnd the second part, with reference to the question of the\nextension of 90-day credits, I falt that the President shouldn't -\nanything to urge 13. That the whole history was that 10 had been\nintroduced is the House for the direct purpose to restrict the powers\nof the President as to the extension of my mish credits, and that -\nin the Treasury felt that the President should let the pressure -\nfrom outside - this,\nThe President said, \"I as in complete agreement with you and\nRegraded Unclassified\n234\n- 2\nthat is emetly the way I feel, and Cordell agrees absolutely.\"\nI told him that Cordell didn't talk that my to - this seraing.\nthe gave no the impression that be would like to ⑉ this included,\n\"Se would IS, said the President, \"bat I as not going to de enything\nabout is. The Pressure will have to come from alsothere.\"\nBe asked no to send over to his the memorandum, and the\nas the conference in my office, and while be didn't tall me 60 in n may\nwords, I got the impression that be will 000 that 10 is sent and gate to\nKey Pitteen.\n(Distated via telephone by\nthe Secretary to MeGuire)\nThe original sent to the Secretary's office for the Secretary's diary.\nThe original of this sent to the Secretary at his house on 12/12'40\ncopied 12/12'40 by fm\nRegraded Unclassified\n235\nOctober 1, 1939\nBet Credits 11\nSection 7 of the Somete neutrality MII relates to financial\ntransactions with belligerents. It continues the existing previsions\nof the neutrality statute which prohibits the miking of leans and\ncredits to belligerents and persons acting 00 their behalf. It-is-o\nalso to be noted that the existing neutrality Law authorizes this\nPresident, when be finds 18 in the interest of the United States, to\nexempt from this prohibition \"ordinary commercial credite and short-\nterm obligations in aid of legal transactions and of a character\ncustomarily used in nermal peacetive commercial transactions.\" The\nSenate Committee apparently felt that the existing provision sould\nbe strengthened, without sacrificing American interests, by limiting\nthe discretion of the President and w confining to a mere limited\ncategory the permissible forms of short-town commercial credits.\nAccordingly, the Senate bill provides that (1) the short-torm commercial\ncredite may not be for & period mre than 90 days without renowal)\n(11) if say belligerent or person acting for a belligerent defaults\non my rush 90=day credit, 20 - commercial credit my be extended)\nand (111) the President report to Congress every als souths full in\nformation M to cash commercial credit which has the been paraltted.\nRegraded Unclassified\na s -\n236\n26 to the entirely clear that Presidential authority to permit\nshort-term commercial credito to belligerents has been a part of the\nneutrality law continuously since February, 1936, and that the only\nchanges which the Senste bill unless is the existing las are in the\ndirection of additional restrictions on the Presidential discretion\nto permit short-term consercial credito,\nIt bee been charged that the provision in the present bill\nrelating to short-term commercial credits to belligerents is investatent\nwith the Johnson Act of 1934, and is the opening wedge for the granting\nof leans to belligerents. I think that as emmination of the history\nof the Johnson Act and the Neutrality Act will show these charges\nto be unfounded.\nThe Johnson Act provided is part as follows\nThat heresfter it shall be wiseful within\nthe United States or any place subject to the\njurisdiction of the United States for any perces\nto purchase or call the bonds, securities, or other\nobligations of, any foreign government or political\nsubdivision thereof or any organization or association\nseting for w on behalf of & foreign government of\npolitical subdivision thereof, issued after the passage\nof this set, or to nake my Loan to must foreign\ngevernment, political addivision, organization, or\nassociation, encept a renowal w adjustment of enisting\nI allas 1 1\ndivision, organization, or association, Le in defauls\nin the payment of its obligations, w any part thereof,\n1 3 $ :- Mill Mates, s . a 8\nWithin a fee weeks after the passage of the Polmon we a\n- of problems aress assessitating the interpretation of that\nstatute. be April m, 1934g 6 confirmence me hold at the Treasury\nRegraded Unclassified\n- , -\nRegraded 23% Unclassified\nDepartment attended by Senator Johnson, the Attorney General, the\nSecretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and a number of\nother efficials of the State, Treasury and Justice Departments.\nDuring the conference, Benater Johnson me asked if be thought that\nthe statute applied to such every-day commarcial instruments as time\ndrafts, bankers' acceptances, etc. Benater Johnson stated that he did\nnot think that the statute could be interpreted in any sush nasser\nand that 10 was not the intention of the statute to interfere in any\nway with ordinary commercial transactions. It also appeared to have\nbeen the view of the participants in the conference, including Senstor\nJohnson, that the Johnson Act did not apply to time drafts, acceptances,\notd., employed in connection with ordinary Commercial transactions.\nA nemerandum of the conference is in the Treasury Department's files.\nA copy of the memorandum is attached.\nOn the same day the State Department issued the following\npress release:\n\"Inquiries have been received at the Department of\nState as to whether the Act of Congress approved April\n13, 1934, to prohibit financial transactions with foreign\ngovernments in default on their obligations to the\nUnited States, applies to ordinary commercial 'secoptances\nor time drafts,\" such as are well by foreign governments\nto finance the current requirements of their embassies\nand consulates in the United States.\n\"The Department of State and the Attorney General\nare in agreement that sush instruments 4e not constitute\n'obligations' within the purvice of the dor.\n\"Certain other questions that have been presented\nregarding the interpretation of the hot are under 000+\nalderation. #\nOn May 5, 1934, the Attorney General, is response to 4 request\n238\n4\nRegraded Unclassified\nfrom the Secretary of State, readered an opinion a a number of questions\nrelating to the Johnson Act, which epinion stated is part as follows:\n**(2) To what types of transactions dose the\nAct apply?*\n\"The Committee Reports (s, Sept. 20 and House Rept. 974g\n734 Comg.) resite that the bill was introduced following -\ninvestigation by the Senste Committee on Pinance and the\nrevelation therein that 'billious of dollars of securities\n... offered for sale to the American people* more overder\nand unpaid, that some of these \"foreign bonds and obligations\n... vere sold by the American financiers to sake out-\nregeously high profits's sad stated a purpose \"to prevent\ne recurrence of the practices which were shown by the\ninvestigation to be little less than a fraud upon the\nAmerican people # \" to curb the repacity of those engaged\nin the sale of foreign obligations . . 0,1\n\"This, I think, is indicative of a purpose to deal\nwith such 'boads' and 'securities' and with 'other\nobligations' of like nature, observing the rule of\neinadem generia - that is, obligations such as those which\nhad been sold to the American public to reise money for\nthe use of the foreign governments issuing then - not\ncontemplating foreign currency, postal money orders,\ndrafts, checks and other ordinary side to benking and\ncommercial transactions, which AND 'obligations' is a\nbroad sense but not in the sease intended, It was\nobviously not the purpose of the Congress to discontines\nall commercial relations with the defaulting countries.\"\n.....\n**(4) Does the Ast apply to acceptances or time\ndrafts?'\nThis question appears to be sufficiently carvered\nby the comments under Question No. 2g - It appears\nproper to add, however, that such transactions smot be\nconducted in good faith, in order to be within the les,\nand not as mere subterfuges to circumvent its purpose.\"\nIn other words, the Attorney General found that while the\nJohnson Act prohibited the sale of bonds and occurities of countries\n239\n- 5 -\nin default it did not prohibit those ordinary short-term comercial\ncredit devices customarily used in international trade. The entire\ntext of the opinion of the Attorney General we quoted in a State\nDepartment press release dated May 5, 1934 which also included the\nstatement that the State Department concurred in the Attorney General's\ninterpretation of the Johnson Act. Inquestionably this opinion has\nbeen relied upon by American business interests in their commercial\ntransactions with defaulting countries and persons on their behalf.\nIn the light of this background and at this late date, the Johnson\nAct should not be construed as making illegal short-term credit\ntransactions with defaulting governments relating to otherwise per-\nmissible trade and commercial transactions.\nSEUTRALITY ACT\nIn February, 1936, Congress is amending the then existing\nNeutrality Act included the following provisions\n\"SEC. 1a. Whenever the President shall have\nLosued his proclemation as provided for in section 1\nof this Act, it shall thereafter during the period of\nthe war be unlawful for my person within the Maited\nStates to purchase, sall, or exchange boads, securities,\nor other obligations of the government of any belligerent\ncountry, or of any political subdivision thereof, or of\nany person acting for or or behalf of such government,\nLossed after the date of such proclemation, or to mine\nany loan OF extend any credit to ear such government\nor persons Profided, President\nand of & character customerily used\nRegraded Unclassified\n240\n-\nRegraded Unclassified\ntime commercial transactions.\"\nIt will be noted that this provision, which has been the law since\nFebruary, 1936, specifically authorised the President to permit short-\nterm ordinary commercial loans to belligerents and persons noting on\ntheir behalf. The debate is Congress reveals no feeling that this\nprovision as inconsistent or in conflist with the provisions of the\nJohnson Act. The view of Congress was quite the contrary. The House\nreport on this provision is the 1936 assendent stateds\nso # . It is the law now under the Johnson Act\nthat it is unlawful to sell bonds, securities, etc.,\nin this country of any foreign country that is in\ndefault of its indebtedness to the United States.\nThis covers most of the greater powers is Europe.\nThis section, however, goos such further and makes\nit unlewful, as before stated, to all belligerent\ncountries. Now, there is a provision in this section\nthat if the President shall find that such action\nwill serve to protect the commercial or other interests\nof the United States or its mationals, be say, is his\ndiscretion, and to such extent and under such regulation\nas he may preseribe, ensept from the operation of\nthis section ordinary commercial credits and short-time\nebligations in aid of legal transactions and of 0\ncharacter sustomarily used in normal peacetive commercial\ntransactions. There is also another provision that\nthis section does not apply to reneval or adjustment\nof indebtedness which my exist on the date of the\nPresident's proclamation. The only diseretion given\nthe President under this section is in reference to\nsuch credits used in normal peacetine commercial trans-\nactions.\"\nBy specifically prohibiting in the Neutrality set the extension of\n\"my credit\" (which words do not appear in the Johnson Act) Congress,\nin visa of the purposes of the Neutrality set, apparently intended\nthereby to prohibit even short-term commercial credits unless the\n241\n0\n0\n?\nI\n-7-\nPresident found that the making of such short-term comercial credite\nto belligerents was in the public interest, in which event, such credits\nwould be lawful.\nNo change was made in this provision of the Neutrality Act when\nthe Neutrality Act was otherwise asended in 1937. When the neutrality\nlegislation was considered in the House of Representatives last July,\nit we proposed to circumscribe further the President's power to\npermit short-term commercial credits to belligerents by limiting such\ncredits to 90 days without renewal, and requiring the President to\nmake periodic reports to Congress of such transactions. These\nlimitations on the power given to the President by the existing\nstatutory provision are included in the Senate bill, and in addition\nthe Senate bill prohibits further 90-day credits if a belligerent\ndefaults on prior 90-day credits given to it.\nOriginal and 1 copy taken to White House by Foley 8130 P.M.\n1 copy sent to Secretary by Berustein\n1 eopy to Attorney General at Washington Hotel W Shalley (returned\napproved and original run given to Attorney General.)\n1 copy to Viner\n1 copy to Bell\n1 copy to Cookran\n1 copy to Berastein\n1 copy to Puble\n1 copy to Foley\nBuilie returned copy after reading 10.\nRegraded Unclassified\n242\nC\n0\n?\nI\nOctober 2, 1939\nSecretary of the Treasury\nMr. Foley\nM you know, we have ruled that neither the Johnson dot,\nnor the provisions of the Neutrality Act relating to the making\nof loans and the extension of credit to belligerent countries,\napply to the Government or any agency thereof. The Attorney\nGeneral has concurred in this view. Nothing in the Neutrality\nBill, which has been reported out in the Senate, necessitates -\n& change of this view.\n(Initialed) & a. For Jr.\nJUPingt 10/2039\nInitialed JMP and n\nRegraded Unclassified\n243\n0\n,\nOctober 24g 1939\nI\nTot decretary Morgentham\nFrom lears. White and Foley\nDesator Taguer inquired by telephone u to the Department's position\non Taft's assistment to the Neutrality Bill to limit the stapilization fund's\nholdings of the currency of any balligerent to no more the $50,000,000 or\nany one time. To feel that the Department should indicate to Senstor Vageor\nits opposition to faft's assistment for the following remain\n(1) When Congress extended the stabilisation premo 10 was fully\nconseious of the possibility or probability of a var in Berope.\nThere is accordingly no need at this time for Congress to No\nconsider the problem and to limit the stabilisation powers,\n(2) Benater Taft questioned the Secretary about the use of the\nedabilisation fund in the event of war. The Secretary said that\nbefore he would use the stabilization fund to assist any\ncountry in presenting that SAP be would come up before the\nproper committee and ask for guidance. This procedure would\npermit greater flexibility this Taft's proposal in dealing with\nN energency situation in which it might be greatly in the\ninterests of this country to purchase the currency of & belliger-\nat in amounts greater than $50,000,000. by going to the -\ngressional committees the Treasury sould assertain the visas of\nCongress without the publicity and duly involved in getting\nnew legislation.\n(3) If - do not indicate our opposition to Taft's assedemt, there\nis likelihood that other Amendments would be offered prohibiting\nthe stabilization fund from purchasing any belligerent currency\nand in effect mullifying its use during the will\nIf you agree with the foregoing, we can give these views to Benefot\nTaguer orally.\n(Initialed)\nH.D.W.\nAPPROVED: October 25, 1939\n(Taitialed)\nOriginal me left with Senstor Vaguer by White and poler\nThe original of this \"copied\" run was sent to the Becretary\nInsurance\nat his house on 12/12'40\n10/24(39\ncopied 12/12'40 fa\nRegraded Unclassified\n244\nRegraded Unclassifi\n0\no\nThe original copy was pulled. The following note appeared\nP\non its \"Please talk to M. H.M.Jr.\", and \"White House\",\nI\nOct. 30, 1939\nSecretary Morgenthau\nMr. Foloy\nAs I stated to you in my assorandus of October 2, 1939, it is our\nview, concurred in by the Attorney General, that the Johnson Act and the\nprovisions of the present neutrality law relating to the saking of leans\nand the extension of credit to belligerent governments do not apply to this\nGovernment or agencies thereof.\nThe pending neutrality bill contains similar language and it would\nhave been appropriate to interpret it in . similar nanner but for the state=\nsent made by Benator Pittman on the floor of the Senate late in the evening\non October 27, 1939. Benator Fittmen indicated that be and the other\ndrafters of the bill construe its provisions to prohibit the saking of\nloans or the extension of credit to belligerent governments by governmental\ncorporations, such as R. 1. c. and the Export-Import Bank. A discussion\nof this matter appears in the attached excerpte from the Congressional\nRecord. On Ostober 17, 1939, Senstor Barkley said on the floor of the\nSenate that his offhand view was that the credit provisions of the pending\nbill applied as rigidly to the B. 1. c. and any other agency of the Govern-\nsent as to any private person in this country.\nSenator Pittman made the statements in question notwithstanding the\nfact that on October 27, the Senate voted down an emendment introduced w\nSenator Taft, which was designed to prohibit the seking of loans and the\nextension of credit by the Government or agencies thereof, Yes will note\nfrom the discussion of the matter which appears in the excerpt from the\nCongressional Record that Denator George pointed out that Senater Pittman's\nconstruction \"Govers precissly one of the amendments offered by the die-\ntinguished Senster from Ohie, which was voted dom by this body yesterday.\"\nUnless Senster Pittman can be personded to take - appropriate 4-\ntion that would nullify the effect of this statement I as fearful that W\nwill be usable to hold that the 2. 7. c. and the Export-Import Bank have\nlegal authority under the now-pending legislation to nake leans of the type\nwhich have been considered to an American corporation acting - behalf of\nbelligerent governments, collateralised by American securities owned by\nsuch balligerents.\n(Initialed) L. a. 1., Jr.\nJUPelMingt 10/28/39\n245\nRECORD\nOctober 27, 1939 Page 1655\nTAXE\nMr. President, while this matter is being discussed I should\nlike to ask the chairess of the Committee OG Foreign Relations -\nquestion regarding this section. On page 21 10 is provided that\nthenever the President shall have issued a proclemation is shall\nbe unlowful for any person within the United States to advance\ncredits to foreign governments. 1 wish to know whether w not\nthe chairman of the Connittee as Foreign Relations considers\nthat the word \"person\" which so also defined GEL page 30 as\nincluding corporations, and ao forth, is broad enough to\ninclude the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Export=\nImport Bank.\nand\nPITTMAN.\nThe word \"person\" expressly includes surporations./I therefore\ntake 10 that 11 does include them.\nIn the Senstor's opinion, 10 includes the Resonstruction Finance\nCorporation and the Expert=Impert Sank?\nThat is my opinion, and that me the opinion of these the drafted\nthe joint recolution.\nMr. President, I wish to mike a short statement, Particularly\nI wented to my that my construction of the med \"yursun\"\nis identically the - as that given by the chairman of the\nconsittee. I think that is partinent, because in effect 18\ncorrer precissly - of the offered w the\nfrom Chio, which was voted down in this body yesterday.\nI think the word *perscall here does include a\nof the Government, a corporate emboidiary reth M the\nResenstruction Finance Corporation, w my other corporation\nwhich is camed wholly or practically vally w the Governmenth\nitself.\nRegraded Unclassified"
}