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DIARY

Book 273

June 15 - 18, 1940

-AAllison Engineering Company
See War Conditions: Airplanes (Engines)
Appointments and Resignations

Book

Page

273

260

Mead, George J.: Letter of appreciation on the
occasion of transfer to National Defense Council -

6/18/40
Argentina
See Latin America

-BBelgium

See War Conditions

Blast Furnaces
See War Conditions

Bolivia

See Latin America
Business Conditions
Haas memorandum on situation for week ending
June 15, 1940

150

-CCanada

For delivery of planes across border, see War Conditions:
Airplanes

China

See also War Conditions

Transportation: Keeshin reports show "operation on a
constantly improving scale" - 6/17/40
Colombia

170

See Latin America
Coordinators
See War Conditions
Correspondence

Mrs. Forbush's resume - 6/17/40

-FForeign Funds Control
See War Conditions
France

See War Conditions

178-A

-GBook Page

Gaudin, A. (Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Purvis will bear in mind offer of services 6/18/40

273

Germany

216

For discussion after capitulation of France,
Gold

see War Conditions: Foreign Funds Control

See Latin America

See War Conditions: Roumania (also Polish gold);
Purchasing
Mission (transfer of French gold);
Switzerland
Great Britain
See War Conditions: United Kingdom

Greenland

See War Conditions

-JJenkins, Newton (Chicago, Illinois)
Financial Editor Vanderpoel transmits article;
believes Jenkins "fifth columnist"; HMJr forwards
to Federal Bureau of Investigation - 6/18/40

295

-LLatin America

FDR asks Treasury "as well as other departments concerned

with economic relations for advice relative to actions

which United States Government should take" 6/15/40

49

Argentina: Credit of $20- to $25 million discussed by
Argentine Minister of Finance, Buenos Aires, Cochran,
HMJr, and Jones - 6/18/40

Bolivia: Gold situation discussed by representatives of

Treasury, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Federal
Reserve Board, and State Department - 6/17/40
Colombia: New financial measures established - 6/18/40

345

139

303-A

-MMachine Tools

See War Conditions: Airplanes

Mead, George J.

See Appointments and Resignations
Mexico City

Presence of Germans in: Federal Bureau of Investigation

report - 6/18/40

283

-NNavy

Book

Page

273

283

See War Conditions
Netherlands
See War Conditions

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company

Federal Bureau of Investigation report acknowledged 6/18/40

Norway

See War Conditions

-PPoland

For shipment of gold, see War Conditions: Roumania

-R-

Research and Statistics, Division of
Projects for May

316

Roumania

See War Conditions

-SShipbuilding
See War Conditions: Navy

Silver (Tientsin)

See War Conditions: China
Soong, T. V.
See War Conditions: China
Switzerland
See War Conditions

-UU.S.S.R.

See War Conditions
United Kingdom
See War Conditions

-Von Karman, Professor
HMJr informs Baruch Von Karman worked for Treasury

only two days - 6/18/40

264

-

War Conditions

Book

Page

273

123

Airplanes:
Bombers (B-17's)
FDR and HMJr decide they can spare ten to

Great Britain after capitulation of France 6/17/40

a) Memorandum from Chief of Staff, Secretary

of War, opposing transfer to British of
twelve Flying Fortress type of planes -

6/18/40

209

b) "Lay off" - FDR tells HMJr; "only adding
fuel to fire" - 6/20/40: See Book 274,
page 181

c) Resume of action by office of Chief of
Staff - 6/25/40: See Book 275, page 267

Albemarle, Tornado, together with jigs and tools,
offered by Beaverbrook - 6/18/40
a) Answer to Kennedy

210
212

Canada: Delivery to Canada of planes purchased by
British and French - memorandum from Foley and
Young to HMJr - 6/17/40

68

a) If title passes in the air as they cross

Canadian border and if contracts are so
written, State Department will be satisfied
1) HMJr tells Schwarz to "give out
the story"
2) Discussion at group meeting
b) For Foley's opinion see Book 274, page 200

74
75

c) Hull's letter of instructions based on

Engines:

Foley's opinion - 6/19/40: See Book 274, page 30

Allison Engineering Company: Progress report 6/17/40

66

Hispano-Suiza: Will arrive in United States
June 29th addressed to Ford Company
a) HMJr tells American Embassy, Bordeaux,
hopes French Government will permit

56

royalties to be settled after war as in

case of Rolls Royce - 6/20/40:
See Book 274, page 166

Rolls Royce:

Merlin III's, X's, XX's: War Department advised
Baker, of Anglo-French Purchasing Board, approves

release of details and tool drawings - 6/17/40
a) Woodring asks HMJr to put in writing
instructions which will govern Woodring
in his contact with Purchasing Board 6/18/40

105

184

b) Woodring informs HMJr plans will be released
to Knudsen or representative - 6/19/40:
See Book 274, page 153

c) Resume of all steps: See Book 274, page 156
Purvis-Treasury-Knudsen correspondence concerning

"intention of Allies to join in production in
United States" - 6/17/40

a) British will take over 2700 intended for
French: Purvis' letter to Knudsen - 6/18/40

108
183

-W - (Continued)
War Conditions (Continued)

Book

Page

Airplanes (Continued)
Machine Tools: French orders after capitulation

to be taken over by British in spite of telegram

from National Machine Tool Builders Association
to all members recommending that domestic orders

be moved up - 6/18/40
a) HMJr discusses with Knudsen - 6/18/40

273

Belgium:

204,208
272

Anglo-Belgian financial agreement: Final text 6/15/40

38

Financial situation as of June 10th: Report from
American Embassy, Brussels

Blast Furnaces: Map of distribution in United States 6/18/40

China:

Silver (Tientsin): Great Britain and United States
discuss disposition of - 6/18/40
Soong proceeding to United States as representative
of Chiang Kai-shek - 6/17/40
Coordinators: HMJr tells Treasury group there are too

335
271

339
178

many - 6/17/40
Exchange market resume - 6/15/40, et cetera
Foreign Funds Control:

Conference; present: HMJr, Bell, White, Stewart,
Cochran, Foley, Gaston, and Bernstein - 6/17/40
a) HMJr fears Germans will set up "overall
trading corporation"
b) HMJr also concerned about money transferred
to various consulates for propaganda purposes

c) "Piece-meal freezing" - HMJr's reaction to
d) "Overall freezing" suggested by Bell followed
by granting of general licenses back to the
British

74

54,136,343

84

87

87
88

92

Conference in Hull's office; present: Hull, Welles,

Berle, Grady, Feis, Dunn, Pasvolsky; HMJ, Bell,
Gaston, Foley, Cochran, White, Stewart, Viner, and
Bernstein - 6/17/40
a) Freezing of funds in all of Europe discussed
b) HMJr asks FDR for appointment

64

65

c) Foley recommends "freezing everything except
France:

Great Britain" - 6/17/40

79

Capitulation; Treasury staff discusses next step 6/17/40

a) Hostilities to be continued by Navy, Air Force,

72,84

and Army of North Africa; United States asked

not to freeze credits in Monaco - 6/18/40

267

Bank of France representative and Federal Reserve Bank

of New York discuss situation in face of capitulation -

6/17/40

For transfer of gold after capitulation,
see War Conditions: Purchasing Mission

145

- W - (Continued)
War Conditions (Continued)

Book

Page

273

305

Greenland: State Department requests cutter to take
Consul Penfield up East Coast; HMJr asks FDR for
advice - 6/18/40
a) Discussed at 9:30 meeting - 6/18/40
b) FDR orders armament - 6/19/40:

358

See Book 274, page 117

Navy: Shipbuilding: Proposed contracts transmitted to
HMJr; he asks Compton why - 6/17/40
a) Compton and HMJr discuss - 6/19/40:

69

See Book 274, page 105

b) Negotiation of contracts without competitive
bidding to save time: HMJr's memorandum to
FDR - 6/27/40: See Book 276, page 248

c) Navy letter concerning certification of percentage
of special additional facilities to be charged
to cost of performing contracts covered by

Vinson-Trammell Act, and answer - 6/28/40:
See Book 277, pages 53, 58, and 71
Netherlands: Anglo-Netherlands financial agreement 6/17/40

115

Norway: American Embassy, Stockholm, reports on

economic and financial developments, April 9th
to date - 6/15/40

44

Purchasing Mission:

Vesting Order: Official sales of British-owned
dollar securities - 6/15/40, 6/17/40
French contract taken over by British: Purvis tells
HMJr - 6/17/40

a) FDR tells HMJr to continue same assistance

to British
French transfer of gold to pay for balance of orders

outstanding in United States discussed at conference;
present: HMJr, Ballantyne, Purvis, Cochran, White,
Bernstein, Viner, Bell, Nelson, Foley, Young,
Bloch-Laine, and Leroy-Beaulieu - 6/18/40
a) French gold in London: Kennedy report 6/18/40

37,163
124
123

192
262

Roumania: Gold reserve transfer (plus Polish gold) delay explained by American Legation, Bucharest 6/18/40

180

Switzerland: Arrival of gold shipments in Yugoslavia via
Swiss
airplanes reported by American Legation, Belgrade 6/17/40

U.S.S.R.: War supplies awaiting shipment to Federal Bureau of Investigation report - 6/18/40

United Kingdom:

Anglo-Belgian financial agreement: Final text - 6/15/40
Military Situation: Reports from London transmitted by
Lothian and Butler - 6/15/40, etc.
Anglo-Netherlands financial agreement - 6/17/40
Yugoslavia: Arrival of gold shipments via Swiss airplanes
reported by American Legation, Belgrade - 6/17/40

113

283

38

71-A,E,H;
342-A,C
115
113

- W - (Continued)

Wright Aeronautical Corporation
Federal Bureau of Investigation report acknowledged 6/18/40

- -YYugoslavia
See War Conditions

Book

Page

273

283

1

WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON
JUN 15 1940

The Honorable,

The Secretary of the Treasury.
lity dear Mr. Secretary:
The proposed license agreements covered
by the attached drafts dated May 28 and May 29,
1940, prepared under your supervision and in

collaboration with the indicated licensors and
representatives of interested services and de-

partments of the Government, have been examined

by this office. Such agreements seem to be
satisfactory and designed to accomplish the contemplated objective.
Sincerely yours,

Harry Nothing
HARRY H. WOODRING,

Secretary of War.

2 Incls.:
License Agreements -

Wright Aero. Corp.,
United Aircraft Corp.

n

JUN 15 1940

The Honorable,

The Secretary of the Treasury.
my dear Mr. Secretary:
The proposed license agreements covered

by the attached drafts dated May 28 and May 29,
1940, prepared under your supervision and in

collaboration with the indicated licensers and
representatives of interested services and do-

partments of the Government, have been examined

by this office. Such agreements seen to be
satisfactory and designed to accomplish the cantemplated objective.
Sincerely yours,

(Signed) Harry H. Woodring.
HARRY H. WOODRING,

Secretary of Nar.

2 Incle.
License Agreements -

Wright Aero. Corp.,
United Aircraft Corp.

years

2

3

Draft of May 28, 1940

AGREEMENT made and entered into as of the

day of

19 .

by and between WRIGHT AERONAUTICAL CORPORATION, a corporation organized

And existing under the laws of the State of New York, with offices at
Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America, (horeinafter referred to

as "Wright"), party of the first part, and

.
,

a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the

(hereinafter referred to as the "Licensee"), party of the second part:
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements of the

parties hereto, each doos agree with the other as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this agreement, the Wright

engine is defined AS the current single row radial-aircooled geared and/or direct drive Model

engine such as is

now being sold by Wright to the United States of America, designed in
the English inch measurement system, and in accordance with specifica-

tions satisfactory to the Government of the United States.

Wherever the term "Engine" is used in this agreement, it shall be
interpreted to mean the bare engine fully equipped, including magnetos,

carburetors and spark plugs or the like, but exclusive of all optional
accessories which are not necessary for the ordinary and usual operation
of the engine.

Engine "Type" shall be understood and defined as referring to the

general configuration of the engine without specific reference to size
or ordinary details, as for example, "Vee" type, single row radial type,

double row radial type, in-line type, air cooled type, water cooled type,
etc.

The word "Model" shall be understood and defined as referring to an

engine of a particular type with a given number of cylinders and a given
piston displacement.
II. NON-EXCLUSIVE LICENSE: Wright hereby grants to Licensee for

the term of this agreement a non-exclusive right and license to manufacture, assemble, use and sell Wright

engines and spare parts

therefor to the Government of the United States or any of its departments,
including all features applicable to said engine covered by United States

letters patent or applications for patents now pending or hereafter apwhich are owned or controlled by Wright.

plied for

III. DESIGN DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS: ?right will furnish to

the authorized representative or representatives of Licensee at the
plant of Wright at Paterson, Now Jersey, United States of America, within
two months from the date of execution of this agreement, drawings, speci-

fications and information regarding assembling, testing and servicing of
the Wright

ongine as indicated below:

(1) Assembly drawings of tho licensed ongine and parts therefor.
(2) . Drawings and/or acceptance specifications for all component

parts of the licensed ongine purchased by Wright from third parties in

finished form, and acceptance specifications and description of all finished accessories, normally purchased by Wright from third parties for
application to the licensed engine.

(3) Inspection instructions for finished parts.
(4) Assembly instructions, assombly inspection specifications and
engine test specifications.

(5) Fuel and oil specifications.
(6) Engine operating instructions, overhaul and service nanuals,

tolerance charts, drawings and specifications for special tools, accessories, etc. used in maintenance and overhaul activities.
(7) Installation drawings and data showing general requirements for
arrangement of cowlings, fuel and oil supply systems, air intakes and
heaters, vontilation of accessory compartments, ongine mounts.

(8) Drawings or specifications of all special tools, jigs, fixtures, etc. designed by Fright and used in the current assembly and test
of the licensed engine.

All drawings, specifications and data referred to above shall be
copies of current drawings, specifications and instructions and other data

when designed or propared by Wright and employed by Wright in current

assembly and overhaul activities. Four copies of the data shall be
supplied. Two copies shall be delivered in Van Dyke or carbon back

typewritten form, whichever is appropriate to the particular information supplied, in English text and dimensions as used by Fright, and
two copies shall be delivered in blueprint form.
Wright further agrees to furnish to the authorized representative
or representatives of Licensee at the plant of Wright at Paterson, New
Jersey, United States of America, at a compensation to be agreed upon
and within one month from the date of receipt by Fright from Licensee

of an order therefor, additional sets of the drawings and specifica-

tions and other data referred to in this Article.
Two copies of the drawings, specifications and other data, sinilar
to that above roferred to, of improvements, modifications and changes
in Wright

engines, shall, during the period hereof, be sup-

plied by Wright without additional compensation, it being understood
that changes in design and specification shall be delivered within one
month after three months' periods of accumulation.
IV. DETAILED MANUFACTURING DRAWINGS AND PRODUCTION DATA: Wright

will furnish to the authorized representative or representatives of
Licensee at the plant of Wright at Paterson, New Jersey, United States

of America, within three months from the date of execution of this agreenent, detailed drawings, specifications and information regarding the
manufacture of component parts, as manufactured by Wright, for the

engine, and suitable information for the purchase of parts not 80 namfactured. Said manufacturing drawings and information shall be as follows:

(1) Detailed drawinge of engine parts including tolerance speci-

fications for finished parts.
(2) Material specifications including heat treating specifications.

-4-

6

6

(3) Bills of material, production drawings, process sheets,
material test specifications.

(4) Drawings and specifications of all special tools, jigs, fixtures, etc. normally designed by Wright and used in the manufacture,
assombly and test of parts in process.

(5) Inspection spocifications used in manufacturing, including
drawings of inspection, tools, jigs and fixtures normally designed by
Fright.

All drawings, specifications and data referred to above shall be
copies of current Wright drawings, specifications and instructions and
other data normally designed or prepared by Fright and employed by

Wright in current manufacturing activities. Four copies of the data
shall be supplied. Two copies shall be delivered in Van Dyke or carbon

back typewritten form, whichever is appropriate to the particular
information supplied, in English text and dimensions as used by Fright,

and two copies shall be delivored in blueprint form.
Wright further agrees to furnish to the authorized representative
or representatives of Licensee at the plant of Wright at Paterson, Now
Jersey, United States of America, at e compensation to be agreed upon,

within one month from the date of the receipt by Wright from Licensee

of an order therefor, additional sets of the drawings, specifications
and other data referred to in this Article.
Two copies of the drawings, specifications and other data, similar
to that above referred to, of improvements in the methods of manufacture
of Wright

engines, shall, during the period hereof, be supplied

by Wright without additional compensation, it being understood that
changes in design and specification shall be delivered within one month
after three months' periods of accumulation.

-V. SERVICES OF ENGINEERS IN LICEN. EE'S FACTORY: During the term

hereof Wright undertakes and agrees to render all reasonable manufactur-

ing and technical assistance and servicing information and data in connection with the manufacture, assembly, testing and servicing of the
engine, and to that end, and at the request of Licensee, Wright
agrees to furnish Licensee with the services of a reasonable number, not
to exceed

), of competent and experienced engineers to assist

(

Licensee in the manufacture, assembly, testing and servicing of Wright
engines and/or parts therefor.
Licensee agrees to pay to Wright in a manner to be agreed upon the

cost of the services of any such engineer or engineers, together with all
reasonable traveling and living expenses from the time he or they leave

Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America, until their return there-

-

to, plus per cont ( %) thereof. It is further agreed that all
liability for injuries to or death of any or all of such engineers, and
for damages of any kind and chargeable against Wright, which may arise
from any cause occuring in the course of the employment of such engineers

while they are with or employed by Licensee, shall be paid by Licensee.
VI. PAYMENTS: Licensee agrees to nake payments to Wright at

Paterson, New Jersey, United States of America, as follows:

A. Partial Payments:
(a) The sun of

upon delivery to the authorized

representative or representatives of Licensee at the
Plant of Wright at Paterson, Now Jersey, of the design
drawings, specifications and information provided for

in Article III hereof.
(b) The sum of

upon delivery to the authorized

representative or representatives of Licensee at the

7

8

-6-

plant of Wright at Paterson, Now Jersoy, of the manu-

facturing drawings and production data provided for in
Article IV hereof.

B. Royalties:
(a) Semi-annually during the first year of this agreement,
whichever of the following anount is the greater:

(1) the sun of

or

(2) the sun of

for each direct drive
engine manufactured, assembled or sold

by Licensee, and the sun of
geared

for each

engine manufactured, assembled or

sold by Licensee.

(b) Semi-annually during the remaining years of this agreement,
whichever of the following suns is the greater:
(1) the sum of

or

(2) the sun of

for each direct drive

engino, manufactured, assombled or sold by Liconsee,
and the sum of

for each geared

engine manufactured, assembled or sold by Licensee.
C. Other Payments:

Licensee agrees to reinburse Wright for royalties which
Wright is required to pay in the amounts and in the manner shown
on Schedule A hereto attached.

D. Conditions of Paynont:

9

-7-

VII. REPRESEPTATIVES OF LICENSEE AT WRIGHT PLANT: During the term

hereof Licensee may send not more than

( ) technicians or

representatives to the plant of Wright at Paterson, New Jersey, United
States of America, to observe and study the methods employed by Wright

in the manufacture, assembly and servicing of the

engine upon

the following conditions: (1) Licensee shall pay all salaries and wages
of such technicians or representatives and shall bear all traveling, living and other expense which may be incurred in this connection; (2)

Wright shall not be required to admit such technicians or representatives

to portions of their factory where work of a secret or confidential
nature is in process or where prohibited from doing so by virtue of requirements made by the Government of the United States in connection

with contracts for the building and developing of aircraft engines and/or
accessories therefor; (3) whenever such technicians or representatives

are stationed for instruction purposes, they will be under a responsible
and capable leader who will secure conformance to the rules and regulations

of Wright; (4) Wright will not be liable for injuries to or death of any
or all such representatives while at the plant of Wright, or for injury,
damage or loss to their property: and (5) Licensee will indemnify and
hold Wright harnless from any such liability.
VIII. RESTRICTION OH PATENTS: It is understood between the parties

hereto that no patent will be obtained or applied for by Licensee or by
another with its inducement or consent, on Wright engines. or any draw-

ings or parts thereof either as existing at present or as they may hereafter be improved or developed by Wright without the express written consent of Wright.
IX. ASSIGNMENT OR TRANSFER: Licensee shall not assign, transfer or

sell, or permit the use of the rights hereby granted, without the written

-10
-8-

consent of Wright and shall not disclose or suffer to be disclosed to
another, (except to the Government of the United States), any informa-

tion or any designs, drawings or other data which it receives or is
entitled to receive hereunder, and will, at its own expense, use every
effort and take the necessary proceedings to protect Fright against such
disclosure.

X. MAINTEFANCE OF RECORDS: License shall at all times during the
continuance of this agreement, keep accurate and separate accounts con-

taining full entries and particulars of sales of all engines and parts
provided for hereunder, and of all engines and parts fabricated and/or
assembled. Wright shall have access during reasonable business hours,

not to exceed two investigations per annum, to the books and records of

Licensee that pertain to the subject matter of this agreement, in order
to determine what sums, if any, are due it hereunder.
XI. PREVENTION OF PERFORMANCE 3Y WRIGHT: Wright shall not be

deemed to have breached this agreement by reason of its failure to perform

any of its obligations hereunder, provided such failure shall be due to

strikes, fire, acts of God or a public enemy, riots, incendiaries, interference by civil or military authorities, compliance with orders of the
President of the United States or other governmental agencies, delays in

transit or delivery on part of transportation companies or any act or
failure to act of Licensee or other cause of the same or different nature
beyond control or without fault of Wright.
XII. CANCELLATION OF AGREEMENT: Wright may revoke or terminate

this agreement if Licensee shall fail to make payment of any sum required
under this agreement and shall not remedy and make good such failure

or failures within thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing to it
by Wright of & written notice of such failure.

In the event of any such revocation or termination of this agreement, Wright shall be entitled to receive any and all moneys due it up
to the date of such revocation or ternination, and such revocation or
termination shall also be without prejudice to any claim which any party
hereto may have against any other for damages in respect to any prior
breaches of this agreement.

In the event that this agreement shall be so revoked or so termi-

nated, Licensee further agrees forthwith to deliver to Wright any and all
working drawings, blueprints, specifications or other papers or data,

and all copies thereof in its possession or under its control, applicable
for use in connection with the manufacture of the licensed engines, and
which the Licensee is not obligated to deliver to the Government of the
United States or any of its departments.
XIII. CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT: This agreement shall be con-

strued and the respective rights of the parties hereto upon its expiration or cancellation pursuant to its terms, shall be determined under
and pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, United States of
America.

XIV. INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED BY LICENSEE: In the event that

Licensee shall perfect any improvement, modification or invention which
may be used in connection with the panufacture of the licensed engine

and/or parts therefor, it agrees forthwith to communicate the same to

Wright, to grant to Wright, its successors and assigns, the right to use
and apply the same in the manufacture of the licensed engine and/or parts
therefor, whenever the same are or may thereafter be manufactured by

Wright, its successors or assigns, and the right to include the same in
any engine offered for sale by .rright or its successors or assigns,
without charge or account thereof, and to execute any and all necessary

instruments to effectuate this purpose, the cost of such instruments, if
any, to be borne by Wright, but there shall be no additional cost to

-10-

12
#right on account of the use of any such improvement, modification or
invention, and any of the same may be used by Licensee in connection

with products manufactured by it without payment of any kind.
XV. NOTICES: Notices required under this agreement shall be sent

by registered mail to the respective parties at the following addresses:
Wright Aeronautical Corporation

Paterson
New Jersey

U. S. A.

(Licensee)

XVI. LIGITATIONS: Licensee shall not have power to bind Wright by

any guarantee or representation that it may give or in any other respect

whatsoever, or to incur any debts or liabilities in the name or on behalf
of Wright, and the parties hereto shall not be deemed partners or joint
adventures
XVII. EXPIRATION OF AGREEMENT: Unless sooner Cerminated pursuant

to the provisions of Article XII hereof or extended by mutual agreement,
this. agreement shall cease and terminate three years from the date first
above written and upon the expiration thereof all obligations of Wright
and Licensee hereunder shall cease and terminate. The provisions of this

Article shall not relieve either party of any obligations existing pursuant to the terms of this agreement at the expiration date thereof.
XVIII. GRANT TO VENDORS: Wright hereby agrees to grant to vendors

of all raw, semi-fabricated, and/or fabricated materials used or applicable to the heroin licensed engines the right to use for a compensation

to be mutually agreed upon, all patterns, dies, jigs, and/or fixtures
owned or controlled by Wright which are necessary for the purpose of such

fabrication at the plant of the vendor at which such patterns, dies, jigs,
and/or fixtures aregenerally located, whenever such fabrications of

THE
-11-

13

materials may be desired by the Licensee, provided the Licensee gives

Wright reasonable (30 days where practicable) notice prior to the commencement of the fabrication of such material, and provided such use by

the Licensee does not conflict with Wright's requirements for materials

fabricated by such patterns, dies, jigs, and/or fixtures. It is understood and agreed that Wright has the undisputed right to change at any

time and from timo to time any or all of the above-mentioned patterns,

dies, jigs, and/or fixtures to provide for normal changes in dosign
and/or manufacturing processes instigated by Fright.
XIX. ARBITRATION: Any dispute arising hereunder shall be submitted

to arbitration at the election of either of the parties heroto, upon
written notice given to the other party hereto asking for such arbitration and designating an arbitrator selected by it. Within two (2) weeks
from the giving of such notice, the other party hereto shall select an

arbitrator and notify the first party of such election. The two arbitrators 80 selected shall select a third arbitrator within one month from

the giving of the first above mentioned written notice. In case either
of the partios fails to appoint an arbitrator within the time as set
forth above, the other party shall have the right to appoint the socond
arbitrator, and in case the two arbitrators first appointed are unable

within the time set forth, to agree upon the third arbitrator, the third
arbitrator shall be chosen by the Arbitration Association of America or

its officers or board or conmittee authorized to act for it in such
matters. The arbitration shall be conducted in Now York City under the

rules of the Arbitration Association of America. The decision of the
arbitrators shall be final and binding on the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement

to be signed in thoir respective corporate nones by their respective

officers thereunto duly authorized, and their corporate seals to be

14

- 12 -

hereunto affixed, and to be attested by their respective Secretaries
or other officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year
first above written.
WRIGHT AERONAUTICAL CORPORATION

ATTEST:

By

LICENSEE

ATTEST:

By

15

Draft of May 29. 1940
.

day of

AGREEMENT this

1940, between UNITED AIRCRAFT

CORPORATION. a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the

state of Delaware, having its principal place of business in the town

of East Hartford, State of Connecticut, (heroinafter referred to as
,

"United"), party of the first part and
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of

(hereinafter referred to as "Licensee"), party of

,

the second part.

In consideration of the payments to be made by Licensee to United
in the amounts and manner hereinafter provided, and of the mutual prom-

ises herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Article I. Definitions
The following definitions shall apply to the terms employed in this
agreement wherever such terms are so employed, respectively, unless a

different meaning be clearly indicated by the context:
(a) The term "licensed engines" shall mean

(b) The term "licensed parts" shall mean any spare or replacement
part for licensed engines.

(c) The term "affiliated company" shall mean (1) any corporation of
which a majority of the outstanding share capital shall, from timo to

time, be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by United or by a

corporation of which a najority of tho outstanding share capital shall,

from time to time, be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by
United, and shall also mean (2) any corporation of which a majority of

the outstanding share capital shall, from time to time, be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by another corporation which contomporanoously shall own or control a majority of the outstanding share capital
of United, and shall also nean (3) any corporation which, from time to

time, shall own or control, directly or indirectly, a majority of the
outstanding share capital of United.
(d) The words "United States" shall include the Government of the

United States or any of its departments, agencies or instrumentalities

Article II. Rights Granted
Section 1. United hereby grants to Licensee, upon the terms and

conditions and subject to the limitations and right of termination herein
set forth, a non-exclusive right or license to manufacture, assemble, use
and sell to the United States licensed engines and licensed parts for the
term or period beginning as of the date of this Agreement and continuing

for three years and thereafter until Licensee shall have made final
delivery to the United States of all licensed engines and licensed parts
required to be delivered under all contracts entered into between the
United States and the Licensee therefor in carrying out the national
defense program in relation to the procurement of aircraft as contenplated by the message of the President of the United States to the
Congress on May 16, 1940, (House Document No. 751, 76th Congress, 3d

Session) or any extension of such program having continuity therewith.

Section 2. The right or liconse granted by Section 1 hereof includes
the right at all times during the term or period of this Agreement to use

(but only in connection with the exercise of said right or license) any
and all inventions relating to the licensed engines or any part or
portion thereof or to any licensed parts which may from time to time be

covered by United States letters patent, or applications therefor, owned
or controlled by United or any affiliated company.

-3-

17

Article III. Drawings, Specifications, Manufacturing

17

Equipment, Etc.

( ) days from the day and year first

Section 1. Within

above written, United shall deliver to Licensee, f.o.b. East Hartford,
Connecticut, two (2) complete sets of Van Dyke prints (capable of re-

production). or, if Van Dyke prints are not available, two (2) complete

sots of blueprints of all detailed-pert drawings, bills of material,
specifications and mensurements covering the licensed engines and licensed

parts: two (2) complete sets of operation sheets for the manufacture of
the licensed engines and licensed parts; and two (2) complete sots of
blueprint drawings of changes in the licensed engines or licensed parts,

additional specifications and the like; Provided, that nothing herein
shall be construed to obligate United to furnish any details of construction, specifications or manufacturing process of any parts purchased by
United for use in licensed engines and not manufactured by United or an

affiliated company or under license granted by United or an affiliated
company.

Section 2. Whenever requested by Licensee, United shall deliver to
(

it, within

) days after such request is made, two (2) complete

sets of drawings and specifications of any and all special manufacturing

equipment (including patterns, dies, machines, tools, jigs, fixtures,
gages and the like) for which drawings or specifications are owned or con-

trolled by United on the day and your first above written.
Article IV. Improvements
Section 1. Whenever during the term or period of this Agreement,
Unitod shall nako any improvement or change in the design, or construc-

tion of licensed ongines, United shall give prompt written notice
(

thereof to Licensee, and, within

) days thereafter, shall

furnish to Licensee f.o.b. East Hartford, Connecticut, full particulars of

10

-44
such improvement, together with drawings and specifications completely
disclosing the same.

Section 2. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require
United to disclose to Licensee any improvement or change in design or
construction which when applied to licensed engines creates an engine of

a model substantially different from licensed engines.

Section 3. The right or license granted by this Agreement shall
for all purposes be deemed to extend to and to cover, without any other

act by either of the parties hereto, all improvements in the design or
construction of licensed ongines which, when applied to licensed engines,

do not create a nodel of engine substantially different from licensed
engines.

Article V. Special Agreements of United
Section 1. So far as it reasonably can, United agrees to make

available to Licensee at the plant of Licensee such of its engineers,
production experts, and technical personnel as may be necessary and which

Licensee may request from time to time to assist Licensee in the manu-

facture of licensed engines, including the production, assembly, testing
and servicing thereof upon the condition that the Licensee will pay the
salaries and expenses of such engineers, experts, and other technical

personnel, including their travelling expenses in each direction between

the plant of United at East Hartford, Connocticut, and the plant or
plants of Licensee.

Section 2. United agrees to pornit Licensee to cause
engineers and

()

( ) production experts to visit the plant of

United at East Hartford, Connecticut, for the purpose of observing or
studying the methods of manufacture and assembly of licensed engines at

all tinos during the term or period of this Agreement: Provided, That
(1) such engineers and experts shall not recoive any componsation or salary

-519
from United, (2) none of the expenses of such engineers and experts

shall be upon United and (3) Licensee will save United harmless from

any claim or claims on account of the death of or any injury or accident to any such ongineer or expert while present at the plant of
United.

Section 3. United warrants that all drawings, Van Dyke and blue-

prints, bills of material, specifications and engineering data furnished by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall accord with
its current practice in the United States of America and shall accurately
reflect its best judgment in the pronisos, but no other warranty of any
nature shall extend thereto or be inplied therefron.
Section 4. So far as it reasonably can, United agrees to assist
Licensee in developing its sources of materials entering into the manufacture of licensed engines and in the procurement of such standard
manufacturing equipment AS may be required by Licensee for use in the
manufacture of licensed enginos.

Section 5. United agrees to grant to vendors of all raw, senifabricated and fabricated materials used in or applicable to the panu-

facture of licensed ongines the right to use all patterns, dies, jigs
and fixtures owned or controlled by United or any affiliated company,
at the plant of the vendor whore the same are usually located, and which
are nooded to fabricate such materials whonovor Licensee desires to have

such materials fabricated: Provided, such use by License does not

conflict with the uso by United of such patterns, dies, jigs and fixtures.
Article VI. Payments
Section 1. License agrees to nake payments to United at East

Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America, as follows:
(1) The sum of

upon delivery to the authorized repro-

sontative or representatives of Liconsee at the plant of

20
- 6- -

United at East Hartford, Connecticut, of the design drawings,

bills of material, specifications, measurements and other

information which United agreed to deliver in Article III
hereof.

(2) The sum of

upon delivery to the authorized

representative or representatives of Licensee at the plant
of United at East Hartford, Connecticut, of the drawings and

specifications which United has agreed to deliver in Article
IV hereof.

(3) A sun oqual to the salaries paid by United to any and all of
its officers and employees for the period or periods in which
they may respectively be occupied in assisting the Licensee,
its agents and employees, in the manufacture of licensed

engines herounder, as provided in section 1 of Article V
of this Agreement, whether such time is spent at United's

plant, or in Licensee's plant, or elsewhere.
(4) A sum equal to the amounts expended by United for postage,

telegrans, telephone calls, express and similar miscellaneous
office expenses.

(5) A sum equal to royalties which United is required to pay in
amounts and in the manner shown on Schedule A hereto attached.

Section 2. The reimbursement of United for expenditures included

under paragraphs (3). (4) and (5) of Section 1 shall be made in the following mannor:

-721

Article VII. Special Agreements of the Licensee

Section 1. Licensee recognizes the validity of any and all United
States patents and patent rights now or at any time hereafter owned or
controlled by United covering licensed engines or licensed parts, and
Licensee shall not at any time during the continuance of this Agreement

dispute, or cause to be disputed, the validity of said patents.
Section 2. Licensee shall comply with all of United's reasonable
requirements as to marking ongines manufactured, used, sold or otherwise
disposed of under the right granted by this Agreement, and among other

things shall attach to each licensed engine so manufactured by it such
appropriate legend to the effect that such engine was manufactured under

license from United as may be necessary in order to protect the validity
of the patents involved. Licensee shall not, however, employ any of
United's trademarks or any colorable initation thereof on any engines or

parts thereof without the prior written consent of United.
Section 3. Licensee shall not make, manufacture, license,

sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, during the term of this Agreement
or at any time after its termination, any type, model or design of
aeronautical engine or part thereof embodying any one or more of the

basic principles of design or manufacture employed in and peculiar to
the design or manufacture of licensed engines or licensed parts, other
than such engines or parts thereof as may be manufactured either under

this Agreement or pursuant to other rights, if any, expressly granted
in writing to Licensee by United.
Section 4. Whenever Licensee shall make any changes in the design

or construction of licensed enginee or licensed parts, License shall,
as soon as practicable thereafter, furnish to United, without cost to
it, full particulars of such changes, together with drawings and specifications completely disclosing the same. Whon such disclosure shall

22

-8- -

have been made all rights in and to such changes shall, subject to

the rights granted by this Agreement, but without any other act of either
of the partics hereto, pass to and vost in United to the sano extent
for all intents and purposes as if such changes had been nade by United

Nevertheless, if deened necessary by United to protect its interests
therein, Licensee shall, upon United's request, nake prompt and due
applications for United States patents covering any such changes and

shall diligently prosocute such applications to a conclusion, and upon
the granting of any such patents shall (unless they be granted directly
to United or its noninee) duly assign the sane to United or its nominee
without requiring the payment of any fee or royalty with respect thereto:
Provided, that the cost of obtaining such patents shall be for account
of United.

Section 5. Licensee shall not at any tino disclose to any person
any design data, technical information or other information of any
character relating to the design or manufacture of licensed engines or
parts thereof, whether such information be received from United or any

of its officers, agents or enployees or shall be information derived
from experience gained by Licensee in manufacturing licensed engines

or parts thereof; and Licensee shall not at any tine disclose any such
information to any person other than officers or departments of the

Government acting in discharge of their legal duties.
Section 6. Licensee shall furnish United one set of all drawings
nade by Licensee relative to the licensed engines and parts thereof as
and when such drawings are completed.

20

=9

23

VIII. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. If at any time the licensee shall be in default in
making any payment hereunder at the time and in the manner herein pro-

vided therefor, and any such default shall continue for a period of sixty
(60) days after notice thereof shall have been given by United to
Licensee in the manner herein provided, then United shall have the right,

at its option if it has complied with its obligations under this Agree
ment, to terminate the same by giving notice of such termination to

Licensee. Upon the giving of such notice, this Agreement and all rights
of Licensee hereunder shall immediately terminate, except as horeinefter
provided.

Section 2. Upon the termination of this Agreement, eithor at the
expiration of the term or period of the license hereby granted, or upon

notice as provided in section 1 of this Articlo VIII, all rights to
manufacture licensed engines, or licensed parts, shall immodiately cease,

except that Licensee may thereafter ship, soll, or otherwise dispose of
to the United States any licensed engines or licensed parts manufactured

or in course of manufacture by it at tho date of termination. No such
termination shall rolieve United or Licensee of their respective obligations existing on the date of such termination. Upon any tormination of
this Agreement, Liconsee shall forthwith return to United any and all

drawings, blueprints, bills of materials, specifications, operation sheets,
and engineering data thon in its possession with respect to licensed
engines and liconsed parts: Provided, That Licensee shall have the right

to retain two sets of drawings, one set for the United States and one
set for overhaul and maintenance purposes.

Section 3. In case any dispute, disagrooment, or misunderstanding
shall arise betwoon the parties hereto in connection with this Agreement,
such dispute, disagreement, or misunderstanding shall be referred to

arbitration in the State of Connecticut, in the following manner:
Ench party heroto shall promptly appoint one arbitrator, and the

two arbitrators so appointed shall promptly appoint a third arbitrator;
and the parties hereto agree to accept, abido by, and carry out any

decision arrived at by a majority of tho throo arbitrators so appointed.
The cost of any such arbitration shall bo borne by the respective

partios hereto in such proportions as a najority of the arbitrators may
determine.

Soction 4. Any notico or communication herein provided to be given
by United to Licensoe shall for all purposes be doomed to be duly given

and received, if sent by registered nail, postage prepaid, addressed to
.

Liconsoe at its principal place of business in
Any notice or communication heroin provided to be givon by Licensee

to United shall for all purposos be dooned to bo duly given and recoived,

if sent by registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed to Unitod at its
principal place of business in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Section 5. This Agreenont shall bo interpreted in accordance with
the plain English meaning of its terms, and the construction thereof shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Conneticut.

Section 6. All pronises and covenants herein contained by or in be-

half of either of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the bonefit
of the respective successors and assigns of such parties; Provided, That

the rights of Licensee hereunder shall not be assignable without the prior
written consont of United, except to the United States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties heroto have caused this instrunont to

be executed, in duplicate, by their duly authorized officers or representa-

tivos, as of the day and year first above writton.
UNITED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
ATTEST:

By

LICENSEE
ATTEST:

By

25

I photost given
toma young to 6/20/40
for To m had Balgar
June 15. 1940

of BnCom.
Panchesing

Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.

I hereby certify that I have received from Lieut. Colonel
E. R. Page, Air Corps, stationed at Wright Field, one complete
copy (c) of an inventory of certain parcels shipped to Wright
Field by the Secretary of the Treasury. I personally assisted
in preparing this inventory in company with Lieut. Colonel
Page, Air Corps, and Capt. R. J. O'Keefe, Air Corps, the only

persons to observe the contents of the above packages.

W. J. KOSSLER

Lieut. Condr., U.S.C.G.

26

Copy C
CONTENTS OF GRATE NO. 1.

'P' SECTION - Complete.
'Q' SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5702 - 5748. - Complete.
*L' SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5701 - 57100
57101 - 57200
57201 - 57300
57301 - 57400
57401 - 57500
57501 - 57600
57601 - 57700

.

.

.

#

57701 - 57707 and Subsidiary Drawings.

.

"D" SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5701 - 5790. - Complete.
ege SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5702 - 57100.
#

.

57101 - 57200.
57201 - 57296.

and Miscellaneous.
DR SECTION

Drawings Non. 5701 - 57100
.
.

.

57101 - 57198
57203 - 57299
57300 - 57411.

27

CONTENTS OF CRATE NO. 2.

'B' SECTION

Drawings Nos.
"

"

.

.

"

.

"

"

.
.

.

.

"
"

"

Miscellaneous

5701 - 5750.
5751 - 57100.
57100 - 57150.
57151 - 57200.
57201 - 57275.
57276 - 57350.
57351 - 57400.
57401 - 57450.
57451 - 57500.
57501 - 57575.
57576 - 57650.
57651 - 57731.

tyl SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5701 - 5750.

# 5751 - 57124.

Miscellaneous Replacements.
SA SECTION

Drawings Nos. 5701 - 5740.
STANDARD DRAWN SECTIONS - '2'
STANDARD EXTRUDED SECTIONS - "Y"

's' DRAWINGS. (Standards).

CONTENTS OF CRATE NO.

SHOTXON

Drawings fee. 5701 - 57100

57201 - 57200
57201 - 57309
57310 - 57422
574,24 - 57569
57570 - 57746
57747 - 57948
57950 - 571124
571125 - 5713242.

4 paroels and Miscellaneous Drawings.

29

HALIFAX AIRCRAFT

Contents of Case No. 4.

Parcel No.

1

2

4

5

6

6

6

7

7

7

7

8

8

g

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

9

10
11

Description
Drawing Office System
Complete Drawing List
Appendix 'A' and accompanying amendments 1,2, and 3.
Schedules of Parts and Tools
Major Assembly 'B' Section
Major Assembly 'C' Section

Major Assembly 'D' Section, 'F' Section & 'H' Section
Photographs of 'B' Section

Photographs of 'p', 'H'and "L" Sections
Photographs of 'C' Section (A)
Photographs of 'C' Section (B)
Jigs and Fixtures BB Section (Smalls)
Jigs and Fixtures 'B' Section (A)
Jigs and Fixtures 'B' Section (B)
Jige and Fixtures 'B' Section (c)
Jige and Fixtures 'C' Section (D)
Jige and Fixtures 'C' Section (c)

Jigs and Fixtures 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', 'H' (Smalls)

Jigs and Fixtures 'B' Section
Jige and Fixtures 'H' Section

Jigs and Fixtures ops Section
Jige and Fixtures H.P. Section (Castings)
Complete set of Buying Orders
Material Specifications

Data Sheets

The aircraft drawings are Handley-Page multi-motored airplanes.

The contents of the above four crates contain only aircraft drawings.

Keep in custom,

Page I.

Copy C

COMPLETE 138 OF PRINTS IN
CRATE.

iroel

BATCH I. (Red Labels.)

No:

CHASSIS PRXNTS. (Drawings to make complete range as
shown on

I

2

34

5

6

7

8

9

IO

II

PL. I - 149 schemes.
PL. 150 - 224,
schemes.
PD. I - 199 schemes.
PD. 200 - 507 schemes.
R. 100 - 1216 details.
CD. 800 - 999 schemes.

CD. I -end. schemes.

LEC.5678 to end- schemes.

CD. I - 999 schemes.

CD. 291 - 1529 schemes.

CD. I - 250 schemes.

12

CD. 550 - 799

I3

CD. 25% - 550

14

N. 5174 5192,
& 5202.

15

16
17

18
19
20

schemes.
schemes.
schemes.

EB. 3772- 4691 details.
CD. 1000- 1300 details.
DB. 2000- 2625 details.
GB. 3576- 5400 details.
GB. 3502- 5383 details.
GW. 2102- 2289 details.
EB. 3750- 4100 details.
GB. 3500- 4486 details.

DW. IOI 1017 details.

DB. 2063- 2569 details.
OW. 2157- 2277 details.

- 1911- 2310 details.

EB. 3754 5256 details.

R. 103 595 details.

GB. 350I- 5391 details.

30
31

32
33

34
35

36
37

38
39

40

CD. 1300- 1538 schanes.

IN. 107 - 999 details.

m. 4703- 5252 details.
FB. 2913- 5360 details.

EB. 3750- 5261 details.
DB. 2006- 2621 details.
FH. 1763- 2135 details.
PD. 404 515 schemes.

R. II9 - 1219 details.

GW. 2104- 22736 details.

EW. 1900- 2305 details.

30

BATCH ONE. (Red labels.)
Continued.

Page 2.

31

Parcel
No:

41

12
43

44
45

46

47

48
49
50

5I
52
53

FW. 1750 - 2150 details.
DB. 2004 - 2629 details.
GB. 3517 - 5386 details.
EB. 3762 - 5258 details.
DB. L.O.P.s.

R. L.O.P's. 135 - 1217
Flf. L.O.P's.
GW. L.O.P's.
EW. L.O.P's.

GB. L.O.P's. 3500 onwards.

DW. L.O.P's.

FB. L.O.P's.
EB. L.O.P's.

PD. schemes. all Size I's.

PL. L.O.P's.
56
57

58
60
61
62

67

68

FR. details. 50SI - 5357. Sizes IV and V.
FB. details. WHO - 5080.
FB. details. 4010 - 5399.
FB. details. 3600 - 3997.
FB. details. 2904 - 3600.
FB. details. 2901 - 4910.
FB. details. 2900 - 5358.
EW. details. 190I - 2306.
GW. details. 2100 - 2288.
DB. details. 2007 - 2591.
GB. details. 5016 - 5317.
Schemes. See attached list.

Details. See attached list. Miscellaneous.

TOTAL 68

Keep in safe cudidy ? release
K Rills Roa upresculation

Page 3.

Rm.10/11.29.5040.
AERO.

Parcel
No.

BATCH 2. (Buff Labels.)

69

DES. 8514 - 8971.

72

3001 - 3437.
6465 - 7149.
3000 - 4889.

DETAIL DRAWINGS TO PRODUCE:
VULTURE, PEREGRINE & EXE
ENGINE. EXPERIMENTAL DROS
INCORPORATING VARIATIONS ON
THESE 3 BROINES AND ALSO
MERLINS AND GRIFFONS. NO

73

3901 - 4498.

TOOL DRAWINGS.

70
71

74

SIIO - 8513.

75

3004 - 6882.

76

77
78
79
80

SI
82

5455 - 5993.
5891 - 8979.
S4SI - 8903.
4890 - 5883.
6909 - 8965.
7468 - 8089.

60II - 6462.

86

3438 - 3896.
7115 - 7468.
3011 - 8972.
5000 - 5454.

87

4499 - 4988.

83

84
85

(unfinished schemes for Exe engine.)

Keep ui custody

TOTAL - 19.

88

BATCH 2. Continued.
DC. schemes. Exe Engine.

89

4 - 298.
305 - 554. (tag marked 305 - 503)

TOTAL - 2

Miscellaneous L.O.P's.
9I

LOP. E35666 - 49995
LOP. A50182 - 58438

92

LOP. A 483 - 5056

93

LOP. D.5267 - 14435

90

TOTAL - 4.

Miscellaneous Details.
94

A.5112 - 397

95

A50072 - 55205
A50164 - 54457

96
97

98
99

100

IOI

A. 426 - 5113
A. 448 - 3522
A55010 - 56082
A56089 - 57291
A50033 - 5856

Kup u custom

32

Page 4.

BATCH 2. Continued (Buff Labels.)

33

Miscellaneous Details (Continued.)

Parcel
No:

A57300 - 58603
A55210 - 58409

I02
103

A. 87 - 58653

I04

A.3525 - 4983

I05

A. 86 - 58654

I06

DI3058 - 14430

107

D.6175 - II729
DII730 - 12998
D.2283 - I4509

108
109

IIO

D.2072 - 14518
D.2037 - 14510

III
II2

D.II28 - 14433
E.4I00 - 101040
(830430 - 49957 )
(B.6259 - 86687

113

II4
115

(E29970 - 57122 )

II6

(26809E - 49980 )
TOTAL - 23.

BATCH 3. (Buff Labels.)

DETAIL DRAWINGS TO PRODUCE
GRIFFONS. NO TOOL DRAWINGS.

(SINCE THIS ENGINE IS STILL
arcel

IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE, NO

No:

RELIABLE L.O.P'S ARE AVAILABLE.)

117

Griffon II.

118

ON. I - 2960

II9

GN.58 - 2981

120

GN. sizes 1,3.4 and GN LOP's.

Keep

Curtity

TOTAL - 4.

BATCH 4. (Buff Labels.)
Overleaf.

SCHEMES & DETAILS IN CONNECTION
WITH SLEEVE VALVE 2-STROKE UNITS.
(SINCE NO COMPLETE MULTI-CYLANDER
HAS BEEN MANUFACTURED, THESE ARE
INCOMPLETE.)

Keep in custody

Page

34

BATCH 4. Continued. (Buff Labels.)
Parcel No:

121 Modrewings.(Mols - 1678)
(M.schene 12 - 350)
(M.LOP's 451 - 1562)
122

M.42 - 1680

123

Mo5 - 1664

.339- 1616

124
125

P.I.Schemes.
126

Meschene I - 352

Petrol schemes I - 395
Unfinished P.I. Schenes.

127

Not numbered.

TOTAL - 7.

RS. SCHEMES.

BATCH 5. (Buff Labels.)
128

(468 - 3586
(RS. LOP's 547 - 3508)

TOTAL - I

BATCH 6. (Buff Labels.)
129

I30

I3I

LOI - 500
301 - 400

APD's.

Keep in custod.
SCHEME DRAWINGS FOR VARIOUS

NEW TYPES OF ENGIES WHICH HAVE
BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION. NO
DETAIL DRANN NGS.

50I - 56I.

Keep a duolity
BATCH 7. (Mauve Labels.)

FUTURISTIC SCHEMES FOR I.C.T.
WORK. ADVANCED RESEARCH.

132

TOTAL . I

I IS

keep in endly

Continued Overleaf.

Page 6.

35

BATCH 8. (Huff Labels.)
DETAILS AND TOOL DRAWINGS
NECESSARY TO PRODUCE

man X and XY

Pareel
Nos

134.
135.

Parcels marked H HB, HA, and DD.

136.
137.
138.
139.

.

.

.

.

.

I40.

I4I.
I42.
I43.
I44.

.

#

.

.

.

145.

.

.

.

.

.

.

133.

Merline III, x and XX.
Tool drawings for Merlin III, X and XX.
Tool drawings for Merlin III, X and XX.
Tool drawings for Marlin III, X and XX.

.

TOTAL - 13.

Merlin III, X and XX. production.

Merlin III.

I46.
I47.

Merlin III and X.

Merlin XX.

148.
149.
150.

Merlin X. 4160 - 4300
Merlin X. 4000 . 4130

TOTAL - 5.

Forgings and Castings.

I5I.

I parcel.
Turnings.

I pareel

152.

L.O.P's.
153 to 156.

Release,

written

4 parcels.

pression

157. Remainder of details necessary to make this engine.

Note: The chassis prints in Batch I, parcels I to 68 inclusive are automotive
documents.

36

June 15, 1940

On the phone from the Farm the Secretary
spoke to Mr. Knudsen and then HM,Jr diotated the
following:
What Knudsen wanted by Monday morning was

a commitment from the Allies on how many Rolls
Royoe engines they want. He has a commitment

for the Army for 3,000 and wants to try to get
give that order to Phil Young.

a commitment from the Allies for 6,000. I will

37

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION

DATE June 15, 1940
Secretary Morgenthau
Mr. Cochran

FROM

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Official sales of British owned dollar securities under the vesting order

effective February 19:

No. of Shares
Sold
June

$ Proceeds of
Shares Sold

5
8

4,683

104,000

114,282

45,946,097

1,407,500

1,173,286

45,950,780

1,511,500

1,287,568

1,300

4,683

Nil

Nil

1,300

Sales from
Feb. 22 to

June 1, incl. 1,312,630

Bonds Sold
33,529
80,753

Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

TOTAL FOR
VERK

$ Proceeds of

29,000
75,000

Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

6

7

Nominal Value
of Bonds Sold

Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

TOTAL FEB.

22 TO JUNE

8, incl.

1,313,930

The transaction of June 3 consisted of a redemption in New York of bonds

possessed by the British authorities as a result of their vesting operation.

Mr. Gifford informed Mr. Pinsent that non-vested sales for the week ended
June 1 amounted to $500,000. It is my understanding that the securities which
Mr. Gifford disposes of in New York ordinarily arrive via Canada, a shipment
coming about every three weeks.

KMR.

38

PLAIN

HSM

London

Dated June 15, 1940

Rec'd 7:06 a. m.

Secretary of State,
Washington.

1670, Fifteenth.
FOR TREASURY FROM BUTTERWORTH.

1. The British Treasury has new obtained and passed

on to ME the final text of the Anglo-DElgian financial
agreement which as reported in my No. 1575 of June 10th
had undergone last minute minor changes in Paris before

signature. These changes are as follows:

Article 1. "176-1/2" is changed to "176.625".
Article 3. Penultimate paragraph; "Belgian territory"
is changed to "Belgium, the Belgian Congo and in territories
under Belgian mandate". Last paragraph "4" is inserted
before "5".

Article 4. The following paragraph is added at the
End of this article: "Similar arrangements will apply as
regards the investment of amounts in sterling held by the
National Bank of Belgium in EXCESS of the Equivalent at the

official rate of one milliard Belgian francs. There will be
delivered to the National Bank of Belgium British Treasury

bills

39

hsm -2- No. 1670, June 15, from London
bills EXPRESSES in Belgian francs."

Article 6. Second paragraph; for "Belgian or
Congo francs in Belgium or the Belgian Congo" the following

is substituted: "Belgium or the Belgian Congo or in
territories under Belgian mandate".
2. At the same time the British Treasury confirmed
that the agreement with the Dutch which is along Exactly

similar lines was signed last night and stated that the
text will be given ME for transmission to you on Monday.
3. The British Treasury announced today that United
Kingdom holdings of Canadian Government 4 per cent stock,

1940-60 are to be taken OVER at the price of 1100 12 shillings and 6 PENCE per 100 stock. Returns are to be made
by June 29th and payment for the acquired stock made on
July 1st. The Canadian Government has EXERCISED its option

to redeem the whole of the outstanding stock amounting to
L19,300,000 at par on October 1st.
4, The FINANCIAL NEWS today follows up its article

quoted in my No. 1639 of June 13th with an Editorial point-

ing out that the Allies will derive the fullest possible
benefits from the quickening pace of rearmament Expenditure

in the United States, and stating "the United States
Administration has shown clearly that Britain and France
need no longer be deterred by consideration of available
gold and Exchange resources. They may buy EVERY scrap of
available

40

hsm -3- No. 1670, June 15, from London

available material, safe in the knowledge that a President
and an administration which has taken EVERY risk in assisting the Allies will not now be satisfied to abandon the
European "frontier" merely because of inability to pay." "

The Editorial goes on to point out that there is a
potential United States annual output of 80 million tons
of steel available now, a present auto and truck capacity
of 5 million units a year, an abundance of oil, cotton,
chemical products, agricultural machinery and useful
supplies of copper and other products.
KENNEDY
CSB

41

PLAIN

AC

London

Dated June 15, 1940
Rec'd 8:10 a.m.

Secretary of State
Washington
RUSH

1671, fifteenth.
FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

In Butterworth's telegram 1525, June 6 regarding
the new British Exchange control regulations he gave

you the statement made to him by the British Treasury
that they intended to set up a mechanism to deal with
contracts made prior to the coming into force of the

new regulations. It now transpires from their notice
to Exporters (No. 2) that only contracts made prior
to June 8 and for which the purchaser of the goods
has also prior to that date purchased the currency which
is to be paid to the United Kingdom Exporter are to

be allowed to be satisfied in free market sterling.
This situation was brought to the attention of
the British Treasury in connection with their previous
statement and the British Treasury reiterated that
they had COME to the conclusion that the test should
be whether Exchange had been covered prior to June 8
but

42

- 2 - #1671, June 15 from London

but they added that "our arrangements provide that
any doubtful cases should be referred to the Bank of
England who will no doubt give special consideration
to any EXCEPTIONAL case."

Besides this general situation WE have received

particular complaints from American importers of the
products affected by regulation 5B of the DEFENSE

Finance regulations which came into Effect on March 25
(SEE telegram 594, March 9, 12 noon and statutory rules
and orders 1940 No. 291 transmitted with despatch
No. 4864 of March 14, 1940.) American importers of
these products were by the notice to Exporters (No. 1)
dated March 8, 1940 assured in paragraph 6 that where
Exports are to be made on or after 25 March 1940

importers may obtain relief from the obligation to

pay in dollars or official sterling. Furthermore,
paragraph 7 set forth the procedure to be followed in
effecting payments in this manner EVEN after the pas-

sage of a six months' period. Accordingly, I called
to the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
the justification of the complaints received pointing
out that the British Treasury had voluntarily and
unambiguously given an undertaking to American

importers of these products with bona fide pre-March 9
contracts

43

- 3 - #1671, June 15 from London

contracts that they might continue to satisfy these
contracts in free market sterling.
The British Treasury has now admitted the validity
of these considerations at the same time pointing out

its desire for technical reasons to get on with its
program of restricting the free market and of getting
payment at the higher official rate and has agreed to
postpone the deadline in the case of these products to

August 1. Before confirming that this is satisfactory
with us I am sending this on to you. DOES it meet with
your approval 2

It SEEMS to ME that it can be argued that American

importers of other than 5B products should have
covered their Exchange on pre-June 8th contracts before

that date if they wished to avoid taking a risk not
only on the Exchange rate but also on a possible change

in the regulations such as was instituted in the case
of 5B products in March, EVEN though they were in fact

indulging, by so doing, in another risk, namely that
the British Exporter in spite of the war could supply
the goods and that the goods would safely cross the
seas. Otherwise they would be left with the Exchange

on their hands. But it cannot be so argued in the case
of 5B products whose only risks WERE the latter ones if

they accepted the British Treasury at its word.
KENNEDY

44
(COPY:VN:SS)

(COMP:JSC )

File No. 857.00/326
TELEGRAM RECEIVED

From Stockholm

Dated June 15, 1940

Rec'd 6:06 a.m. June 16.
Secretary of State
Washington

626, Fifteenth.
FOLLOWING FROM OSLO

399. Thirteenth.
FROM KLATH

Economic and financial developments from April 9
to present when entire country occupied have been characterized by
much uncertainty and rapidly changing conditions although considerable
progress has been made toward order and stability particularly areas
south of Trondheim, comprising over 90% population nearly all

important cities. most agricultural districts, industry and commercial
activity.

Basic factors determining Norwegian position are (1) complete
cessation all overseas with five sixths merchant fleet (3) blocking

Norwegian funds United States and some other countries (4) serious

disruption economic life during period active military operations

and on account of occupation (5) damage communications and destruction

other property during hostilities and (6) numerous complications under

contradictory decrees and orders as between Norwegian Government,
German occupation authorities and local Norwegian administration.
Additional problems involve presence estimated 150,000 German troops,
rationing to conserve food and other supplies, unemployment and basic

difficulties private and Government finances.

Paralysis of foreign commerce especially overseas trade resulted
in almost complete stoppage export industries and forced dependence
upon previously accumulated stores foreign foodstuffs, raw materials
and manufactured goods. Shortened working hours and some reduction wage

scales have occurred. Fortunately grain stocks and other essential
foods exceptionally large and with rationing sufficient cover normal
consumption one year or longer if as promised recent speech of commissioner not transported out of country and if requisitioning for
feeding German troops does not reach too large proportions.

45

-2Normally Norway must import 75% of grain requirements. Serious

situation developing account small stocks feedstuffs primarily oil

cakes and maize with resultant reduction dairy production and meat
supplies coming months use. Cellulose pull and herring meal for

feed being promoted. Not believed possible obtain sufficient feedstuffs eastern European sources. Edible fat stocks sufficient for
present. Expert opinion being that necessary supplies available from
fisheries. Energetic efforts made increase domestic production grain,
potatoes and vegetables. Crop planting not interfered with by hostilities
account late spring. Food prices have increased slightly. Real shortage
most essential foods not anticipated within year with exceptions mentioned.

Gasoline stocks record levels prior April and under strict rationing now practised despite large consumption German motorized equipment

may last another four five months. Bergen bombings by British reported
have destroyed nearly 30,000 tons mineral oils. Railways have years
coal but supplies industry dependent upon imports Germany while house
heating will employ wood and peat oil. Fuel for ships being retained
Germans probably for military reasons. Progress being made equipping
essential motor vehicles, charcoal gas generators.

Most foreign industrial raw material stocks sufficient several

months in some cases over year and will be supplemented larger domestic
output and presumably German imports lowered demand many manufactured

goods possibilities exchanging products Scandinavia Baltic countries and
Russia being explored. Under prevailing conditions Germany has first

call all local industrial and raw materials. Availability entire output
electro metallurgical plants great military importance.

All imports and exports subject license system administered Foreign
Trade Bureau Ministry Supplies and foreign exchange from exports
must be delivered Norges Bank which also must grant permission settlement
debts abroad growing out of imports. Norges Bank has final authority

for directing all economic and financial matters.

Lack communication with large Norwegian merchant fleet although
causing much hardship not of immediate importance under blockade conditions. Large freight balances accumulating abroad important asset
to extent not used by Norwegian Government now London which seized

all vessels outside Norway. Also freights and funds and controls
gold reserves whaling fleet in same category. Estimated merchant
gross tonnage in Norway 542,000 about one third oil burning that

cannot be used. Germans have requisitioned many vessels while others

in traffic Germany primarily coal transportation and some Baltic.

Blocking of Norwegian funds in United States causes many difficulties.
Banks are unable send American drafts and checks for collection and are
very reluctant exchange such paper for local currency also such remittances would be blocked upon arrival.

46

-3Wood pulp and paper producers seriously affected although large
German purchases reported possibly for resale also lumber purchases.
Unemployment being relieved by reconstruction activities cutting wood
fuel and hiring by Germans at prevailing wage scales for increasing

airports and other activities. Voluntary working corps being organised
by administrative council for reconstruction work.

Communications south of Trondheim have been generally resstablished
and coastwise steamers gradually resuming schedules despite serious
mine risks along coast. Many railway and road bridges destroyed mostly

by Norwegian troops during fighting being quickly rebuilt with full

cooperation German military. Postal telegraph and telephone service
almost normal although subject censorship which also applies communi-

cations foreign countries. Local food shortages in isolated districts

have been overcome upon resumption transportation facilities. Total
public damage mainly to communication facilities estimated hardly more
than seventy million kroner while value destroyed private property
in towns and on farms from bombings and fire difficult gauge although
reported total war damage has exceeded Finland's. Most occurred districts
where Allied troops operated. Damage to industrial plants unimportant.
Material losses population six or more destroyed towns west coast have
been great, involves much distress despite favorable season and considerable
needs exist monetary and other assistance. Reconstruction difficult aocount poor communications.

General reduction house rents conforms with decline income but tax
collections have been larger than anticipated.
Financial developments somewhat obscure and impossible predict future

course. Strict limitation withdrawals from individual bank deposits

continues and informed opinion is that trend has been deflationary aocompanied stationary price level under existing control measures although

possibilities later inflation exist. Several municipalities including
Bergen have issued paper money small denominations meet urgent need
exchange medium. These already have been largely redeemed.

Official discount rate reduced from 4.5 to 3 percent effective May 11
with corresponding reduction interest rates and forced reduction mortgage

interest accompanied considerable loosening commercial bank credits.
Oalo stock exchange closed upon occupation, reopened May 22 and regulated. Opening quotations were off average for bonds 10 and industrial
20 and shipping shares 25% as compared beginning April and turnover remains small. Foreign exchange quotations resumed May 28 with Norwegian
kroner 177 kroner 100 German marks and the nominal relationship dollars
unchanged. Principal turnover marks and lire.

47

Reliable sources estimate total Reichskreditiassenscheine put into
circulation about 100 million kroner purchases with scheine now discontinued and those circulating being rapidly redeemed Norges Bank. Under

new arrangement Norges Bank supplies kroner to German authorities.
Scheine issue is not permitted to enter Norwegian German clearing agree-

ment. Currency circulation according informed source increased 25 to
30% over figures beginning April.

German authorities have carefully respected American property
interests. Many firms depending upon American products are liquidating.

Informed opinion that administrative council has been unusually
successful meeting long series economic and political problems and
acting through established Government departments and many special
expert committees have been invaluable instrument for maintaining
public confidence initiating and putting into operation measures

required under existing circumstances. It has public support and
continuation of this form of administration would be much preferable
any presently possible political cabinet.
STERLING

COPY

BREASURY

PLAIN

MR

14380

STOCKHOLM

Dated June 15, 1940

Rec'd 6:43 am 16th

Secretary of State,
Washington.

631, Fifteenth.
Railway passenger and freight rates to be increased

10% effective July 1st next applies also to freight
rates on Export shipments from inland points. Commercial
Bank loans and discounts contracted during May to 4885,

deposits to 4138, cash on hand to 191, net foreign.
Exchange reserved to 99 all millions. Coupons of Norwegian state 3 point 5 per cent Swedish loan due June
15th in Stockholm paid Finanstidnings wholesale index

for May rose to new high 178. State coal board authorized
to lower domestic selling price of coal and COKE by 20
crowns per metric ton to February-March level.
STERLING

EMB

48

diary 49

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

mread
for for
a
June 15, 1940

wm.

My dear Mr. Secretary:

I am anxious to get in specific form from the
several departments that are concerned with our economic

relations with Latin America, the combined judgment of
the Secretaries of the Departments of State, Treasury,

Agriculture and Commerce relative to the action which this
government should take. I am enclosing a copy of one of
the many memoranda I have received relating to this
subject.

Inasmuch 88 the matter is of great urgency I
request that you report to me not later than Thursday,
June 20.

I have asked the Secretary of State to take

the initiative in calling this group together.
Very sincerely yours,

The Honorable

Franklin

The Secretary of the Treasury
Washington, D. C.

50
POLICY

Regardless of mother the outsome of the - is a Gemea or Allied
victory, the United States must protest its international position
through the - of excession measures that are competitively effective

against totalitarism todalque.

If the United States is to maintain its security and its political
and economic hemisphere position 11 must take economic measures at once

to secure economic prosperity is Central and South America, and to

establish this properity is the from of hemisphere economic cooperatic
and dependence.

The scope and signitule of the measures taken must be such as to be

decisive with respect to the objective desired. Half measures would be
worse them vested; they would subject the United States to ridisule and
contempt.

If it is the decision that - a pregnancy is necessary, the first

step would be for our - to so resolve. The a step would be to
acquidate the governments of all of the constrice involved with this
objective and endorse to obtain their whole-hearted cooperation. No
would have a great deal to consider regarding what changes we would be

willing to institute with reference to our - demostic activities where
some of them might of accessity have to be eliminated or altered in order

to assist the plan as a whole. the principle of compensation to interests
adversely affected in such resifulate should be applied.

51

The bread outlines of program are as followst

L Surin complities. Beorgency measures should be taken to
about surgins agricultural and mineral products affecting the prosperity
of the centries of the hemisphere, These surplanes should be pooled and
disposed of by single assignment. Consumently, steps should be taken to
reorganise production on a long-term basis.

a Taxiffs should to returned and siminated. Industrial and
agrieultural interests unfeverably affected should be compensated.

The freset possible flow of trade should be established. Facilities for

shipping, - and insurance should be increased and costs be
returned to a misimum Subsidies should be used when needed to gain

assestal objectives.

mm. Investment is the healeshere outside the United States is

intigensible to develop sources of - materials needed is the United

States - to aid is mistaining below of trade relationships Action
along those lines should be taken by private interests and by the
federal givenment separately and in cooperation.

IL The pookles of external debts should be fased realistically and
these debts should not stand in the may of constructive financial and

trade assistance. Study should be given to the refunding of these debts,
possibly reporting them in part into obligations payable in domestic

- the objectives would be to obtain substantial sure available

for loose - where - would be largely for local laber
and loosl materials, to relate the treater problem, to provide additional
protests for export and to eliminate the bad atmosphere that will exist
as long as the defentive debto yesals outstanding, It would be possible

for private interests to wish out a - along these lines without
government financial assistance other than that installed under XIX above.

52

L Government corrices. The personal in the - service
operating is the hemisphere is inclorate for the test, Yes in
central and South America there are only same 230 counter against This

number such be substantially increased. Aloo the quality here and

elembere is the service is include for the job that now noods to w
done. A suggestions personal program is transity called for
Business personnel also needs strengthening to meet the necessities of

the situation. Much can be done through the education of existing
personnel to a new outlook. But in addition there must be improvement
of quality and increase of numbers for the proper development of the
program.

IL Administration, The activities outlined above require

expairation in terms of - policy, progress and timing. It is
necessary that private interests be brought cooperatively into the

program and it is also accessary that the activities of the various

parts of the federal - be activity and harmoniously presented.
The - is therefore Made that the necessary integration activation might be accomplished by the appointment by the President of

a stall advisory committee of private individuals with direct access to
the President and a small inter-departmental committee. The broad program

should be worked out jointly by the advisory committee and the interdepartmental committee.

The committees should be served by a proper executive. In view of

the importance of the work to be done, it is suggested that this executive
be appointed to one of the vacancies among the president's administretive

assistants. This would not only reduce feelings of departmental rivalry,
but would give the advisory committee direct access to the President when needed.

53

The foregoing amonates does not deal with cultural,
scientific OF educational hemisphare relations. A vigenous
program along these Lines should be pursued consumertly with

the economic program. The main lines of . autual program

are fairly obvious, but here again 14 is a question of
personnel and the use, in a non-traditional way, of government
funds where private agencies are unable or unwilling to act,

or in matters where the activity of private agencies is less
appropriate.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

54

INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION

DATE June 15, 1940
TO

Secretary Morgenthau

FROM Mr. Coohran

The foreign exchange market was idle today. Sterling opened at 3.65.
six cents lower than yesterday's final rate. It moved steadily upward, reaching a high of 3.68 at the close.
Sales of spot sterling by the six reporting banks and the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York totaled 6238,000, from the following sources:
By commercial concerns

By foreign banks (Europe and South America)

By Federal Reserve Bank of New York (for B. I. s.)
Total

L 25,000
L193,000
L 20,000
1238,000

Purchases of spot sterling amounted to 174,000, as indicated below:
By commercial concerns

By foreign banks (Far-East, Europe and South America)
Total

L 44,000
L 30,000

I 74,000

The Guaranty Trust Company reported that it had sold cotton bills totaling

49,000 to the British Control on the basis of the official rate of 4.02-1/2.

There were no reported purchases of sterling from the British Control at

the official rate of 4.03-1/2.

French france opened with a nominal rate of .0218, but even this type of
quotation was discontinued later in the morning. One leading New York bank

reported that it would be willing to supply francs at .0230, which is in the
neighborhood of the official level for that currency.
The other currencies experienced little movement and closed as follows:
Swiss franc

.2242

Canadian dollar 18-3/4% discount
Lira
.0505
Reichsmark
Cuban peso
Mexican peso

.4000

10-1/16% discount

.1923 bid, .2000 offered.

CONFIDENTIAL

55

-2We purchased the following amounts of gold from the earmarked accounts
of the banks indicated:
$56,000,000 from the Bank of England
20,000,000 from the Bank of France
50,000 from the National Bank of Belgium
$76,050,000 Total

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that the following gold
shipments were being consigned to it:
$50,000,000 from Canada, shipped by the Bank of Canada, to be earmarked for
account of the Bank of England.
20,563,000 from England, shipped by the Bank of England, to be earmarked for
its account.
3,121,000 from England, shipped by the Bank of England for account of the
National Bank of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, disposition unknown.

384,000 from Mexico, shipped by the Bank of Mexico for its account, for
sale to the U. S. Assay Office.
14,000 from England, shipped by the Bank of England for account of the
Central Reserve Bank of E1 Salvador, disposition unknown.

$74,082,000 Total

The State Department forwarded to us a cable stating that the following
gold shipments would be made from England, all of which are for sale to the

U. S. Assay Office at New York:

$3,764,000 shipped by Morgan Grenfell, London, to J. P. Morgan, New York.
781,000 shipped by Lloyds and National Provincial Foreign Bank, London.
to the Bank of London and South America, New York.
98,000 shipped by the Swiss Bank Corporation, London, to its New York
agency.

28,000 shipped by the National City Bank, London, to its head office at
New York.

$4,671,000 Total

The Bombay gold price declined the equivalent of 66$ to $35.65.

Spot silver in Bombay was priced at the equivalent of 44.56 off 1/16

BMS

CONFIDENTIAL

56

PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED

BORDEAUX

Dated June 16, 1940

Secretary of State,
Washington.

6, June 16.
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

with regard to Bullitt's earlier telegrams concerning the Hispana Suiza motors, I am now informed that the
two complete engines with superchargers were sent by
Mat Ford on June 14 on the S.S. Ile de Re addressed to
the Ford Company and due in New York about the twenty-

ninth of June. The engines are accompanied by two Mat
*

Ford representatives. Please have the War and Treasury
Departments notified.
BIDDLE

* Daraphrase also & M.I.D.
B:JFB:DMZ

ANGLO-FRENCH PURCHASING BOARD
NEW YORK:

WASHINGTON:

15 BROAD STREET

725 15th ST., N. W.

This letter from

June 16, 1940

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I attach a list of the most pressing
needs for war equipment.

Circumstances make the position very

urgent,as you know. I will come to Washington
at any time you call.
Yours sincerely,

Arthur Blenning
Arthur B. Purvis
Chairman

Henry Morgenthau Jr. Esq.,
Secretary of The Treasury,
Washington, D.C.

57

58
MEMORANDUM

The following represent the
most vital needs of the Allied Governments

at this time. The list has been made up
in the order of importance as advised by
cable today; except that items 1 and 2 are
of equal importance:

1. Aeroplanes from existing stocks.
(1) Pursuit planes
As many as possible

(11) Bombers (including dive bombers)

Boeing "Flying Fortress"
four engine

Douglas Dive Bombers
Chance-Vought Dive Bombers

(iii) P.B.Y. flying boats ex Naval
Service

100 are urgently required.
They are of extreme import-

ance for anti-invasion purposes.

2. Destrovers from existing stocks
48 are desired, 16 having good
anti-aircraft armament, and 32

of the flush deck type.

Spare torpedoes; reserve equipment and ammunition, especially

for anti-aircraft guns, are need-

ed.

Maximum possible readiness for

service and types with the maxi-

mum steaming endurance are the
chief needs.

59

-2-

3. Aeroplane priorities from early

future deliveries against U.S. Army

and Navy orders.
Bombers

Glenn Martin B 26
Douglas A 20
Pursuit
Lockheed P 38

Bell P 39
Curtiss P 40

4. Rifles and small arms ammunition

ex stocks and/or ex priorities.

5. Additional bombs for the 93 Northrup
bombers already released and for the
80 Northrups it has been indicated will
be released.
Note:

Normally a plane makes

150 sorties in its active

life of 30 days. The bombs
so far supplied with the 93
Northrups permit of only one
and one half sorties.
6. Ammunition for guns on the Northrup
bombers.

400,000 rounds are needed.

7. Any type of mosquito boat complete
with engines ex stocks. For defence
against invasion.

8. Douglas planes for troop transport use.

We would appreciate it greatly if reconsideration could be given to the possibilities
of meeting these needs.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS TO

THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D. c.

60

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON

In reply refer to

Co 811.248/176

CONFIDENTIAL

The Secretary of State presents his compliments to
the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and encloses,

for his information, a paraphrase of a telegram from
Ambassador Biddle, who is now at Bordeaux, regarding two

Hispano Suiza motors which are being shipped to the Ford
Company.

Enclosure:

Paraphrase of telegram
of June 16, 1940.

10

THE

LECHNICY

to
040

RECEIVED

A

61

PARAPHORAME or TELEGHAN RECEIVED

From: Burdeoux

To: Secretary of state
Date: June 16, 1940, 10 a.m.
No. e

Strictly Confidential
Mas Ford has shipped two Hispano Saim motors, com-

plate with super chargers, addressed to the Ford Company,

on the s.s. on June 14. Arrival in New York about
June 29 is expected. Accompanying the engines are two Mat

Ford representatives. It is requested that the War and
Treasury Departments be notified.

10 THE

OLLICE OE THE

DNO YUN SI WW a 40
DELVELWEKI
RECEIVED

62
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED

FROM: American Embassy, Bordeaux, France

DATE: June 16, 1940, 5 p.m.

NO.: 7
FOR THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT FROMMATTHEWS.

The Governor of the Bank of France, Fournier, and
Rueff are here at Bordeaux; I understand that Couve de

Murville and a small staff of the Ministry of Finance
will stay on at Saumur to the end.
I was assured by Rueff that "practically all the
French gold which remained has been shipped out and is

on the way to America now. Listing and preparing securities
for future disposal is now busily occupying the Bank of
France at Chatel Guyon and other banking institutions

in the interior. In this regard I of course urged all
possible speed. I stressed the importance from the point
of view of the United States of preventing the ultimate
utilization of such securities for purposes which the
present lawful owners would not freely desire.
Mr. and Mrs. Rueff had lunch with me. They were, of
course in a state of utmost despondency, and were shocked

almost numb by the entirely unforeseen speed of military

and political events. This state of mind is typical of
the small but increasing number who are aware that there
are to come events and decisions and military disaster of
great magnitude.
BIDDLE.
EA:LWW

63

June 17, 1940

Major Smith came in to see me this morning.
He reported that the 500 guns were going to France
and he questioned the advisability of sending these

to France now. He said that if they sent them to

England they would only be able to give them enough
ammunition to last a couple of days. I told him it
was important enough to put it up to the President.

MEMORANDUM

64

On Monday morning, June 17, 1940, at the request of Secretary
Morgenthau, there was a meeting in the office of Secretary Hull attended
by Messrs. Hull, Welles, Berle, Grady, Feis, Dunn and Pasvolsky for the
State Department and Messrs. Morgenthau, Bell, Gaston, Foley, Cochran,
White, Stewart, Vinor and Bernstein for the Treasury. Secretary
Morgenthau indicated that the Treasury had been considering the extension

of freezing control in a number of different situations such as (1) Europe
and Asia; (2) Europe; (3) Europe, except Great Britain; and (4) France.

Secretary Morgenthau then pointed out some of the factors to be considered

in applying freezing control in any of the foregoing situations and asked
Secretary Hull for his views as to what action should be taken.

Secretary Hull called on his staff for their views.
Pasvolaky stated that the control should be applied to France and
possibly Switzerland.

Berle stated that the Order should be applied generally and that
funds should be released on the basis of whether the release of such

funds contribute to our national defense. Berle also stated that there

might be a government in France dominated by Germany and that France

would want their own funds and, therefore, if we blocked France it must
be on a different basis than our past action.

Feis said that the Order should be applied to France and that the
Administration should obtain legislation to control the use of funds by
foreign countries for prepaganda purposes.

Grady stated that the freezing control should be applied to all of
Europe and that we should issue a general license for Great Britain.
Dunn stated that we should apply the freesing control to all of
Europe and that a general license should be issued for Great Britain.
He stated that our purpose should be to protect our own interests and,
in view of the free exchange situation, which he stated existed in England,
we should grent England a general license. In reply to a question asked
by Feis as to the political consequences of applying freesing control
generally, Dinn stated that he did not think there would be adverse
political consequences if we took such action.
Secretary Hull stated that Hitler and Mussolini might suddenly take
stock of what this country has been doing and ask us whether we mean by
such action to be waging war against them. He gave, as an example, the
strong representations made to him by the Italian Ambassador during the
Ethiopian War against action which this Government took.
Secretary Morgenthau suggested that he would try to make an appointment

with the President to be attended by Secretary Hull as well as Secretary
Morgenthau, in order to reach a final decision on the matter. Secretary
Hull agreed to this.

Mr. Welles was called out of the meeting shortly after it began.

65

June 17, 1940

HM,Jr went to see Mr. Hull at 10 a. m. this
morning on freezing the assets of France and possibly
all of Europe.

After returning from Mr. Hull's office, the

Secretary asked the President for an appointment for
himself, Hull, Berle and Bell to come over and see

him on this matter. He told the President that they

had met this morning and were now ready to talk to him.
The President gave them a 12 o'clock appointment.

66

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
ALLISON ENGINEERING COMPANY

Deliveries of Airplane Engines
Estimated deliveries
: Actual
deliveries
on existing orders
:

:

1940

January

May 1 - 23
May 24 - June 1

June 2 - 8

June 9 - 15

10
10
5

5nt

8

June 16 - 30

July

>August

September

60

115

160
310

October

351

November
December

331
332

1941

March

362
416
416

April

414

January
February

May

June

July
August
September

October

November
December

408
437
320
294
431
45

45

45

1942

January
February

Office of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Division of Research and Statistics.

25
21

June 17, 1940.

67

CONFIDENTIAL

June 17, 1940

To:

The Secretary

From:

Mr. Young

GLENN MARTIN

Under date of June 9, 1940, the French contracted for 150 Model 167-F bombers. No capital
commitment was involved and the total amount of the

contract was not given. Delivery is to start October,

1941, and be completed February, 1942.
CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT

The French exercised option (a) June 14, 1940,
under contract No. AF7, for 50 (plus 10 spares) LB

30 4-engine bombers. Total value of this option was
$12,300,000 and no capital commitment involved. Delivery is to start May, 1941, and be completed November,
1941.

Under date of June 14, 1940, the French exercised

option (b) of the same contract for 50 (plus 10 spares)
LB 30 4-engine bombers. Total amount of this option was
$12,000,000 with no capital commitment. Delivery is to
start September, 1941, and continue through December, 1941.

D.4.

68

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE
TO

Secretary Morgenthau

FROM

E. H. Foley, Jr. and Philip Young

June 17, 1940.

Subject: Shipment to Canada of Planes Purchased by British and French

On Friday afternoon, June 14, 1940, after you returned from the Cabinet
meeting and told of the discussion in regard to the plight of the traded-in
Navy bombers which were bogged down at the Houlton, Maine airfield, we had a
meeting in Mr. Foley's office.
Mr. Young was reluctant to have any additional planes flown to Houlton
as they would doubtless become mired also. He pointed out that there were
more than 50 planes now at Mitchell Field and the Anglo-French Purchasing Board
was asking if something couldn't be done so that they might be flown direct to
Halifax. Mr. Foley pointed out that in his opinion the State Department ruling
requiring planes purchased by the Allies to be pushed across the Canadian
border was incorrect.

Mr. Foley telephoned Mr. A. A. Berle to tell him his views on the

subject and called to Berle's attention a memorandum discussing the problem
from the standpoint of International Law and the Neutrality Act which had
been prepared on October 27, 1939 by the Treasury lawyers and concluding that
planes purchased by the Allies could be flown to Canada by American pilots.
Mr. Berle asked Mr. Foley to send him a copy of the memorandum and stated
that he
would
call right back on the matter. Mr. Foley sent the memorandum
over
to Mr.
Berle.

Mr. Berle telephoned later and said that if the contract between the
Allied governments and the aircraft companies provided that title to the planes
passed in the air as they crossed the Canadian border that would be satisfactory
to the State Department and it would not be necessary for the balance of the
planes to be flown to Houlton and be pushed across the border.
Mr. Foley then suggested to the British that the pending contract

between the British Government and Douglas for the traded-in Army planes have
such a provision inserted. This was also done and arrangements were completed
late
last Friday evening to fly the planes non-stop from Mitchell Field to
Halifax.

8.11.7h

D.

69

June 19, 1940.

Dear Mr. Comptons

I beg to acknowledge receipt of

your letter of June 15th.
Frankly, I as pussled why you

sent me this list of proposed contracts.
In what way can I be helpful?
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) H. Morganthan, Jr

Honorable Lowis Compton,

Assistant Secretary of the Navy,

Washington, D. c.

need
6114
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

1215 pm

WASHINGTON

15 June 1940

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. MORGENTHAU.

There is transmitted, herewith, for your advance information, pending the

enactment of legislation authorising negotiation of contracts, the follow-

ing summary of preliminary negotiations, which have been conducted by the

Navy Department, with private interests, for the construction of naval
vessels. The summary also indicates the proposed allocations of vessels
to U. S. Navy Yards for constructionsAIRCRAFT CARRIERS, 26,500 tons: Plans to be developed by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.

3 tentatively negotiated with Newport News Co. at $48,100,000 each
1 proposed to be allocated to Norfolk Navy Yard
SUBMARINES: Plans to be developed by Electric Boat Company

13 tentatively negotiated with Electric Boat
Company (exclusive of propulsion
machinery) at
5 proposed to be allocated to Portsmouth Navy

2,857,000 each

Yard

4 proposed to be allocated to Mare Island
Navy Yard

HEAVY CRUISERS, 13,000 tons, 8" guns: Plans to be developed
by Bethlehem Steel Company

4 tentatively negotiated with Bethlehem Steel
Company at

23,900,000 each

LIGHT CRUISERS, 10,000 tons, 6" guns: Plans to be developed
by New York Shipbuilding Corporation

3 tentatively negotiated with New York Ship at
4 tentatively negotiated with Bethlehem Steel
Company at

19,071,700 each
18,795,000 each

2 tentatively negotiated with Newport News
S.B. & D.D. Company at

19,700,000 each

70

71

-2-

15 June 1940

DESTROYERS:

(DD437 class, 1700 tons)

2 tentatively negotiated with Federal Shipbuilding and

$ 5,277,000 each

Dry Dock Company at

(DD421 class, 1700 tons)

2 tentatively negotiated with Bethlehem Steel
Company (Union Iron Works Plant) at

6,048,000 each

(2100-ton, new design) Plans to be developed by Federal
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company.

6 tentatively negotiated with Bath Iron Works at
6 tentatively negotiated with Federal Ship at
2 tentatively negotiated with Bethlehem Steel

Company (Staten Island Plant) at
5 proposed to be allocated to Boston Navy Yard
3 proposed to be allocated to Charleston Navy Yard
2 proposed to be allocated to Puget Sound Navy Yard

6,800,000 each
7,318,500 each
7,520,000 each

(Advanced design, 1 with 1200 pounds steam, 1 with Diesel
engines) Plans to be developed by Federal Shipbuilding
and Dry Dock Company.

2 tentatively negotiated with Federal Ship at

8,500,000 each

The object in providing you with this advance information, is to save all the
time possible, upon the enactment of the pending enabling legislation. Identical
memoranda are being addressed to the President and Mr. Knudsen.

Respectfully

frie
DO 2 bM IS 01

71-A
BRITISH EMBASSY,

PERSONAL AND SECRET

WASHINGTON, D.C.

June 15th, 1940

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I enclose herein for your
personal and secret information a copy of
the latest report received from London on

the military situation.
Believe me,

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Very sincerely yours,

Lohism
The Honourable

Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,

United States Treasury,
Washington.

Telegram despatched from London

on afternoon of June 14th, 1940
SECRET

French line now believed to run
approximately Montuedy-just west of Verdun-Vitry
Le Frencois-just south of Chalone-Weenay=
Mentairail-Is Ferte Gaucher-Le Forte Sous

Riarre-Rouvres-Senlis, thence along Oise to

Fontoies, thence along the Seine to south east
of Vernon, thence Dreux-Dempierre Sur Avre-

Verneuil-Elbeuf-River Seine to the sea. Heavy
enemy pressure in last thirty-six hours caused
French to withdraw some 25 miles south east
between Monthedy and Chalons. Germane have

four ammoured and one motorized division in

this area and will probably now attack south
east towards Verdun and rear of Maginot Line.
Between Eperney and La Senlie Sous Riarro,
French have been forced back from Marne some

fifteen miles to Nontaireil, and enemy attack
expected to be directed south west towards
Paris. No change in area between La Forte and
Montes. Situation of German bridge-hend
between Vernon Elbeuf is very obscure, though
bridge-hend appears to have been considerably

enlarged. There are indications of further
German attack across upper Rhein.

One brigade of British 52nd Division
is in Evroux area and one brigade at LA Mans.

2.

Beauman/

-2-

Benumen division still holding reduced line on
River Rille east of Bernay, with three annoured
brigades in reserve.
Last night wellingtone, Hampdens and

3.

whitleye attacked river crossings and general lines
of communication in rear of the Front. One aircraft missing. Blenheims took off to attack enemy
in Vernon-Elbeuf bridge-head early today. Woods
south of Chateau Thierry successfully attacked and

set on fire by Blenheims yesterday evening. Four
Blenheine missing. No reports received of coubet
by our fighters over northern France yesterday.
German aircraft identified yesterday
4.
over Shetlands and Seapa and last night over the
Channel between start Point and Lisard Bay.
37 survivors from HelloS. "Glorious" and

5.

H.M. Destroyer "Acasta" landed from merchant

vessel. Forwegian tanker torpedoed in Eastern
Mediterranean on June 12th and British tanker
mined and subsequently beached in home waters

yesterday. Two attacks by aircraft on enemy
submarines in home waters yesterday. one thought

to be successful.
6.

Yesterday Blenheims attacked Aseab

aerodrome with success. Italian sirereft made
four attacks on Aden without causing serious
damage. Gladiators shot down one and severely

damaged another. One Gladiator missing. Fassale
bombed on June 12th: caused nine civilian
casualties. Bunkin bombed on June 13th, but only
alight damage caused.
7.

71-D

7.

Three enery raids over Helta yesterday

caused little damage. Hilitary essualties
2 killed, 2 wounded, 2 civilians wounded.
8.

C June 12th Italian aircraft twice

bembed British Moyale on northern frontier of
Kenya. No essuelties or damage caused. on
June 13th Wajir aerodrome attacked. Sixteen

military casualties caused and aviation petrol
stores destroyed.

71-E
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.

June 16th, 1940
SECRET

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I enclose herein for your
personal and secret information a

copy of the latest report received
from London on the military situation.
Believe me,

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Very sincerely yours,

holizan
he Honourable

Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
United States Treasury,
Washington, D. C.

SECRET

Telegram despatched from London

in the evening of June 14th, 1940

Germans claim to have entered Paris today.
2.

Germana have bridge-head at Chalone Sur

Marne but do not seem to have crossed
Marne between Eperney and Vernon, Berman progress
was slowed though they advanced maximum distance

of five miles beyond Marne by late evening.
Position in German bridge-head on Vernon-Slibeuf

is confused but enemy appear to be pressing south-

ward. Indications that next attack scross Seine
may come in Mantee-Vernon sector OF direction

towards Chartres. Believed that
up to the end of May enerly casualties were
between 400,000 and 503,000 and that further
200,000 may have occurred since then approximately.
3.

Blenheims attacked enemy columns and

serodromes in rear of battle-line today, reports
not yet received. Attacks by our heavy bembers
on enery communications last night reported

generally successful and most of aircraft
reached and effectively bombed their objectives.
Attacks by Blenheims early today humpered by
clouds and smoke.
40

In addition to German air operations in

support of land forces attacks were made on

shipping and other objectives as for west SB
Havre/

Haven Mine-laying units also operating in
Channel. Reported that some German long range

bombore are carrying on prestices in Haltie in
conjunction with MTBC. many bember

recomminence sireraft very active principally
over Northern France. In addition to usual daily
meteorological flight up to Shetlands similar

flight was carried out on June 15th as
for west as Landa End. Estimated between 800 and

900 enery fighters have been operating in
occupied areas of Northern France and Southern

Selgium. No decrease in transport activity between.
western Gerwany and occupied areas.
5.

UP to eleven hours on June 13th no units

of Italian main naval forces encountered in
Meditarrenean, on June 12th "Gloucester" and
"Liverpool" encountered enemy small eraft
probably mine-everyore off Tobruk. These were
engaged and thought to have been hit. Shore

batterics opened fire but our shipe were not hit.
Both our ships out mines with paravanos. Air
Force cooperated with bombing attacks. South
African aircraft have bombed Italian Moyale on

northern frontier of Kenya Colony and scored

hite on enemy transports, no aircraft missing.
6.

many submarine sunk by naval action in

western approaches today.

71 - H
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.

June 17th, 1940
SECRET

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I enclose herein for your
personal and secret information copies

of the latest reports received from
London on the military situation.
Believe me,

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Very sincerely yours,

Lolaran

The Honourable

Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
United States Treasury,
Washington, D. C.

Telegram despatched from London

on the evening of June 15th.

Following is latest information regarding
French lines, but It is thought probable there are
gape in it. Longuven-Verdun-Vitry 1e FrancoisSituation in Paris area
not yet known. West of Perie line rune approximately
ManteseDreuxeCouches, thenee along River Hille to

the sea. Position obscure in Verdun-Chalons area,
where yesterday reports indicated French preparing
position facing west and east of Chaumont-sureAire
and Void (west of Toul). Germane appear to have made
considerable progress eeet and southwest of St.
Disier and towards Troyes. Besumen Division and

brigade of British 52nd Division are in the line on
River Hille. Apmoured brigade is in reserve in POST.
Group of four reconstituted French Divisions reported
in line on River Dives from Argenten to the sea.
Number of troops avacuated from St. Velery
now reported to be 2230.

Following details of loss of "Glorious",
"Acasts" and "Ardent" now available. on June 8th,
two enemy ships, thought to be one 8 in. and one
6 10. cruisers, were eighted about 200 miles W est

of Vest Fjord. At 16.00 hours, the enemy opened

the at 20,000 yards and hit "Glorious" with third
salvo, thereby preventing aircraft being flown off.
"Glorious"/

"Olerious" was outeranged and sank at 17.30 hours.

"Ardent" was sunk while attacking enemy. "Acueta"
laid smoke screen and attacked eneary with torpedoes

after "Olerious" had been sunk. One torpedo believed

to have hit. During this attack "Acaeta" was sunk.
Mine sweeping trawler "Hyrtle" mined
and sunk in home wetere on June 14th. It is feared

there are no survivors. On June 14th, one ship of
about 6000 tons, which wee streggler from convey
was torpedoed 70 miles south south-west of Cape

Clear, Ireland. One small Dutch ship of 300 tone
was mined and sunk off Poole on June 13th. Two
Norwegian ships sunk by German aircraft while on
passage from Forway to Faree Islands, with large
number of passengers on board. No further details
available.
Last night Whitleys attacked enemy
communication centres and river crossings at SoissonsPont de 1'Arche-Les AndelyseVernon-LaoneChateau

Thierry. Whitleye and Hampdens also attacked

marshalling yards or Failway centres at seen,
Cologne, Duren with very entisfactory results.
Similar attacks also carried out with success in
Hirson eres. Wellingtone and whitleye also attacked
military objectives is Black Forest and on Rhine.
Reports not yet received. One whitley and one
Wellington missing. Enemy columns were successfully

attacked yesterday afternoon by Blenheims in Evreux
Louviers area, elthough observation was hampered by

cloud./

eloud. Two sirereft missing. Blenheims which
recently attacked Herville aerodrome observed
approximately so twineengined aircraft and some
Messerechmitt 109e. These targets were attacked
and bombs were seen to explode amonget enemy

aircraft. Seventyefive enemy sireraft of similar
types were observed at Aire and 13 at St. Omer.

One of our aircraft missing. Yesterday 240 fighter
aorties were flown overeees and on home defence.

No enemy sirereft shot deen. One of our fighters
missing.

Little enemy air activity over British
Ieles during last 24 hours but during yesterday
flights were recorded off Sumburgh Head and Seeps
Flow and after dark off Orkneys, Aberdeen and
Harwich.

Malta was reided again yesterday morning

resulting in some damage to civilian property but
no essuelties.

Yesterday Italian aircraft raided Berbers
(British Somaliland) but contrary to press reports
no damage was done and there were no casualties.

Telegram despatched from London on

the evening of June 16th.

Situation east of Paris obscure, and

1.

nothing to add to information contained in my
immediately preceding telegram. Little enemy

pressure reported on allied forces west of Paris.
Germans have advanced west of Seine to line

Dreux-Elbeuf, and there are indications of
likelihood of further advence towards the coast

of Brittany.
2.

No bombing operations carried out in

Frence during period under review.

Attack by

Blenheims reported in my immediately preceding
telegram abandoned owing to lack of cloud cover,

and adverse weather. Conditions prevented

bombing operations last night. Fighter patrols
operated in northern France yesterday, but no
combats reported.

3. Enemy aircraft reported yesterday after
noon and last night on both sides of the English
Channel as far west as Cherbourg and Weymouth,

but no enemy aircraft sighted by our fighter
patrols sent to investigate.
4. Norway. Air reconnaissance over
Trondjheim yesterday afternoon reported one
cruiser beached and Schernhorst, three destroyers

and two aerchant vessels in the harbour.
Two Italian aircraft bombed Malta on
5.
June/

June 14th and made two further attacks on June
15th.

Few casualties and negligible material
damage caused, in the last attack Italian bombere

intereepted by Oladistore and after dropping
bonbs in the see turned back before reaching Malta.

Very few Italian aircraft reported over
Mediterrenean.

6. Eaypt. Italian Aircraft attack
already reported on Sollum damaged a barrocks and
stores of Egyptian Frontier Force and caused

casualties consisting of two officers and 20
other ronks. Prisoners taken in Fort Capussa
not total 8 officers end 200 other ranks.
7.

Two aircraft bombed buildings and

hangare of Aden Aerodrome yesterday. Blenhoins
bombed Diredawn aerodrome causing number of fires.
8.

Successful attack mide by South African

air force on Borders (Juba River) yesterday. Two

aircraft missing.

9. Australian destroyer sank Italian
submarine in Eastern Mediterraneen on June 13th.

Ca June 14th Australian destroyer, in company with
other destroyers, wide further attack in same area
and thought to have damaged second enemy submarine.
Energy submarine suak by Royal Air Force in home

waters on June 15th.

10. Two British steamers and one Norvegian

steamer terpedoed in home waters. British
armed merchant eruiser torpedood in northern

waters last night.

Telegram despatched from London on the

evening of June 16th, 1940.

Germans claim yesterday capture of

Verdun and piercing of Maginot line South of
Searbwacken. These reports unconfirmed, but
German thrust on axis Chalons-sur-Marne to

Chatillon-sur-seine constitutes threat to French
frontier defences in Rhine-Vosges-Serre sector.
German armoured and motorized formations appear

to be fanning out from area Bar-le-Due-Saint

Disier-Vitry le Francois towards Vesoul, Laugres
and Avalon. South of Paris the enemy infantry
appear to be on the line Nangis-Chevreuse.
South of lower Seine enemy have reached Conches.

Little pressure in this area, but indications of
South-Westerly thrust towards Montagne in near
future.
2.

No reports of Royal Air Force

activities received.
3.

German air operations yesterday

chiefly in support of ground forces and to deny-

ing crossings on Loire to French forces. Aircraft also active against harbours and shipping

and carrying out operational training in Baltic.
Mine-laying, probably in Channel also took place.
Definite information that Germans have withdrewn

number JU.52 type aircraft from advanced training
schools for employment in transport work to and
/from

from occupied areas, and it is noted that
training has decreased during past week.
Employment of these advanced school aircraft

in this work may, however, be adopted by
Germans as form of general training.
4.
Australian treep convey

arrived safely in United Kingdom to-day.

:

SECRET

Telegram despatched from London

on the morning of June 16th, 1940

Force consisting of Beaumen force

of 157th infantry brigade and one componite
amoured regiment is being placed under command

of General Harshall-Cornwall who will establish
his headquarters with General Altneyer commanding

French X Army. Situation in area of St. MihielJoinville-Bar sur Seine-Sens-iontmirail-Chalons

sur Marne is not clear but estimated that there
may be at least four armoured, two motorized and

eight infantry divisions which are making
considerable progress exploring east, south and
south-west. Advance elements of forces from
Epernay and Montairail have reached Seine at Remills
and believed that A.F.VB. are pushing up River
towards Troyes. In lower Seine area Germans
have advanced to line Evroux and Elbeuf.
3.

This evening Blenheims were des atched

to attack enemy concentrations in area of lower

Seine, no reports yet received. only two of
whitleye which attacked military objectives on
Rhine last night were able to locate targets.
Success of wellingtons' attacks on objectives
in Black Forest reduced by heavy rain.
4.

Number of German aircraft carrying out

operations yesterday appears to have been small.
Several/

71-Q

Several Geschwader are probably refitting. Large
number of tronsport aircraft possibly 100 made
flights to Brussele on June 14th.
5.

Yesterday combined British military and
air operations took place on Libyan border

resulting in capture of Port Capasso (west of
Solum). Four officers and one other ranks
captured. Fort Haddelena (50 miles south
south west of Solum) also captured but no

details available.
6.

Yesterday Itelian aircraft bombed Solum

also frontier posts of Shegge and Dobhka causing
three Egyptian casualties.

It is believed that seven enery aircraft

7.

were destroyed on ground during air paid on
Aesab June 16th.

An Italian raid on Prence-Itelian

8.

frontier south west of Moste was repulsed with
losses.
9.

Fleet air are which attacked docks at

Bergen believed to have obtained six hits and
to have destroyed assumition dump and several
warehouses.

72

June 17, 1940.
8:30 a.m.
GROUP MEETING

Present:

Mr. Graves

Mr. Stewart

Mr. Bell

Mr. White
Mr. Young

Mr. Nelson

Mr. Thompson

Mr. Foley

Mr. Cochran
Mr. Haas
Mr. Gaston
Mr. Schwarz

Mrs. Klotz

Mr. Sullivan
H.M.Jr:

Well, I guess we all know the news, that
France quit last night, and I think as far
as the Treasury is concerned there is
nothing for me to do definitely today any
more than Friday, because we are ready for
any emergency but unfortunately we have a
refunding to do in December. We may have

to raise a little money. Five hundred

million, is that all?
Bell:

Maybe not that much.

H.M.Jr:

We are in beautiful shape so far as I am
concerned. There is nothing to go scattering around today, "What shall we do about
the Treasury," because it has all been done.
I don't know why - this is very peculiar I get a letter dated June 14 from Lowell
Mellett telling me to cooperate with Justice
on the various press releases that the
President has gotten out. Make a note of
this, Mrs. Klotz, will you? I am giving it
to Gaston. I wish you (Gaston) would call
up Lowell, why from Lowell Mellett, why at
this time, and if we are not cooperating,
whose fault is it, on law enforcement. You
know Lowell. You went to school with him,

didn't you? It is most peculiar. And when

73

-2-

I get in last night at the airport, a secret

service man hands me this document. "The
minute you arrive, you must have this docu-

ment." For two years - they first started the story is this. Two years ago they
started with the now ambassador to Cuba as
the great coordinator of all police agencies.
Right?

Gaston:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:
Gaston:

That was two years ago, wasn't it?
I don't know when it was.

H.M.Jr:

Well anyway - now wait a minute. Before

that, it was - Jimmie Dunn first. First
came Jimmie Dunn, right Harold?

Graves:

Yes sir.

H.M.Jr:

Then came Messersmith. Each one made a com-

plete flop of it, took no interest in it,
and then who followed Messersmith?

Co chran:

Berle has it.

H.M.Jr:

Berle has it now. I am just refreshing

Gaston:

your memory. Berle has it now? That shows
how much - I thought Francis Biddle had it.
I think the State Department must have given

up on it. I don't know if anybody has it

now.

H.M.Jr:

But there is Jimmie Dunn, Messersmith, Berle

and I thought Francis Biddle had it. Then

the other - I mean, my hair is - the little
hair I have got is full of coordinators. I

have to brush them out all the time. The
latest one is Colonel Maxwell who is coming
here at eleven. He has been assigned, I
gather - I don't know who Colonel Maxwell is as chief coordinator of all raw materials.
Have you heard that one?

Nelson:

No, sir, I haven't.

74

-3H.M.Jr:

See if I've got it straight. You (Nelson)
might find out, will you, who is Colonel

Nelson:

Maxwell? Will you be here?
Yes, sir.

H.M.Jr:

I mean to say, I have got all these co-

ordinators buzzing around me, but that

is --

Young:

I talked to him over at the War Department.

H.M.Jr:

Who is he?

Young:

He is a second-rate colonel in the line

over there who operates on the ordinance

end, primarily.

H.M.Jr:

Did you say second line?

Bel l:

Second grade.

Young:

I said second rate. His office is down in
the back corridor. Ordinance materiel is

what he handles under General Moore and
General Wesson.

H.M.Jr:

We have got new initials. It is W.O.W.

Klotz:

That sounds terrible, wow!

H.M.Jr:

Wow, that is right. It is W.O.W. now.
Incidentally, Chick, thanks to Phil Young,

I will let him explain it to you.

I gather - going mad Friday with these Navy
planes bogging down at this port, not being
able to be shoved across the line. We got

hold of Ed Foley and Oscar Cox and in a
half an hour they decided they could pass

in the air so the planes are being flown
through. As cooperation of the Treasury
with the Allied Purchasing Commission, I
want that story given out and I don't care
whose corns are stepped on. Is that about
the correct version of it?

Foley:

Yes.

75

-4H.M.Jr:

You can tell State Department you are going
to give it out, but that is part of the
program. The President said, "Keep a
record." All right, Friday night by forcing
the State Department, we, in our capacity as

on the receiving end for the Allied Purchasing Commission, got them that ruling through
Friday night and now the titles pass in the

air, is that correct?

Foley:

Yes, according to a clause in the contract.
I called Berle Friday afternoon and I told
him that we had looked up the law last
October and we didn't think that either the
international law or the neutrality law
required these things to be shoved across

the line and that it was in the discretion
of the Secretary of State to give permission
to fly an airplane of a foreign power across
our territory and that it was also within his
power to permit an American citizen to ride
in a vessel of a foreign power, so we talked a
little bit and he asked me where the planes
were and whether title had passed and I told

him it hadn't passed yet but it would in an
hour or so, as soon as the contract was
signed.

H.M.Jr:

What contract was that?

Foley:

That was the contract with the Douglass

H.M.Jr:

people for the planes at Mitchell Field.
That had nothing to do with the fifty.

Foley:

No, fifty-two of them were bogged down up

at Houlton and I told him we didn't want

to send any more of them up there and have

them get stuck in the mud and so far as the
residue of the ships were concerned, I
didn't see why they couldn't fly them
directly into Halifax without coming down
at all and we agreed to put a clause in the
contract so the title would pass in the air.
He said to let them go and not ask any more
questions.

H.M.Jr:

Give me a joint Foley-Young memorandum on

that so I can send it over to the President,
will you, and also I want the details on

76

-5the ninety-three ships so I can tell him that.
Young:

Mrs. Klotz has a memorandum on the nine

H.M.Jr:

As of Friday?

Young:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Is it finished?

Young:

As far as the War Department is concerned, the
contract between Douglass and the Purchasing
Board wasn't signed until Saturday, which is

thirty ships.

after that memorandum was written.

H.M.Jr:

Well, bring me - give me an all-inclusive

memorandum, will you?
Young:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Please, this morning. That is nice work, but
I would force it out, see, and don't douse
the Treasury's lights.

Schwartz:

It was an artifice anyway to set them down.

H.M.Jr:

The fifty planes had bogged down up there and
everybody knows it and Hopkins was talking
about at the Cabinet, something about getting

a W. P. A. project to cut the trees down.

Well, this is the way I would do it.
Foley:

Berle said it would probably be a good thing
reach their destination and he thought France
was going to quit over the weekend. I told
anyway, because these planes would never

him we had the same problem if we transferred

title to the British, we had to get them up

there.
H.M.Jr:

Look, Bell, there is no reason why you
shouldn't call up Mr. White of the Banking
Commission - Bank Commission of New York and
tell him that we would be glad to see him

today and give Jugoslavia a chance to have
a branch bank in New York State.

77

-6Bell:
H.M.Jr:

You would like to see Mr. White, did you say?
No, call Mr. White on the telephone.
Jugoslavia wants to have a branch bank in
New York State so they don't have to go
through the Deutscher Bank and if you call up
White, the Banking Commissioner of New York

State, and say - tell him to. If he won't
do it, I will call up Governor Lehman. Tell

him to do it. If he won't do it, I will call
up Governor Lehman.

Bell:

All right.

H.M.Jr:

I didn't have to put anybody on the street.

They have already been put on the street.

Stewart:

That is fine.

H.M.Jr:

Harold?

Graves:

Nothing.

H.M.Jr:

Look, Nelson, you and Harold, Young has been
checking with the Harvard Business School

and they say this Professor Lewis is the
outstanding man in the United States for a
reorganization job on purchasing. Now, the
head of the Harvard Business School is in

town today. Wouldn't you like to talk to him?

Nelson:

Yes, sir.

H.M.Jr:

There is nobody as capable as this person and
knows as much about it, so if you and Graves

Nelson:

might talk about it -Certainly, sir, we will.

H.M.Jr:

You are not overstaffed on that end, are you?

Nelson:

No, sir, we are not.

H.M.Jr:

You don't - I mean, have they made any

progress last week on the report on central
purchasing?

Nelson:

Yes, sir, they have made considerable progress.
We will probably have a meeting today before
the big committee. The subcommittee is ready
to report over the weekend.

78

-7H.M.Jr:
Nelson:

I see. Well, irrespective - Irrespective of that, I would like to have
him in on it. You see, Dr. Yntema over there
is going to help write it. I would like to
have Lewis look at it before we do it.

H.M.Jr:

Well, I don't know. He has no training

along these lines and Lewis, from what I
heard about him - this Harvard Business
School seems to be definitely specializing

in that - even though I don't know - I
would try to get this fellow Lewis down.

Nelson:

We will do it, sir.

H.M.Jr:

How are we coming over now in our own procurement, our own regular work?

Nelson:

I think very good, sir. The one thing that

was charged as our responsibility was these
strategic materials and that is moving as

rapidly as it can.

H.M.Jr:

Well, maybe Colonel Maxwell will tell us how

Nelson:

to do it. But you will be here?
Yes, sir, I shall be here.

H.M.Jr:

Harold, anything?

Graves:

I have nothing.

H.M.Jr:

Harry?

White:

The bill to control the export of strategic
commodities will probably pass today or
tomorrow. I don't know what action will be

called upon for the Treasury to take but
there are some - any amount of stuff that
has been or is being loaded, so that I am
wondering whether we follow that very closely
and the minute it is passed, there may be
need for action to be taken with the customs
authority.
H.M.Jr:

As soon as Basil Harris comes in, somebody

ought to bring that to his attention. I

thought he was going to be here this week-

end.

79

-8Gaston:

I think he went up to New York Saturday

afternoon. I don't know when he will be

back.

H.M.Jr:

He was away for four days last week.

White:

Are we to wait to hear from the State

Department before doing anything on any of
the foreign exchange matters?

H.M.Jr:

What can we do?

White:

I don't know where the decision was going

Foley:

We can get out an order.

White:

The order is ready.

Foley:

Freezing everything except Great Britain.

to be made.

White:

I think we ought to do it, Mr. Secretary.
Or at least possibly you ought to reraise
the question this morning. My understanding was that if France were --

H.M.Jr:

I tell you what let's do. As soon as this
meeting is over, let's go into that discussion, shall we?

Foley:

Berle mentioned it on Friday when I was

talking to him about the airplanes. He

thought we ought to put one on France and
Switzerland as soon as the news came out

that France had stopped fighting but I
think we ought to go farther than that and

do it for all Europe except Great Britain

now.

H.M.Jr:

Wasn't the peace of Switzerland invaded?

Cochran:

There was one rumor that troops had gone

H.M.Jr:

White:

across, but no confirmation.
I think we ought to do them all except

Great Britain. That is the thing I asked
you down for, Walter. Let's talk about
it immediately after this.
All right.

-9H.M.Jr:

I see that Saturday they got your bill out

all right.

Sullivan:

You would never recognize it.

H.M.Jr:

No? Did it raise a billion dollars?
A little better than that. They took out
the tobacco tax and lowered admissions to
ten cents and put in a rectifying tax,

Sullivan:

taxed on the Byrd amendment calling for a
ten percent reduction, and put on the
Townsend amendment.

H.M.Jr:

What did that?

Sullivan:

It has to do with silver purchases, of which

H.M.Jr:

he did not approve.
What else? How about the Bell tax?

Sullivan:

The Bell tax is cracked. They cracked that.

H.M.Jr:

What else?

White:

It is like the Liberty Bell right now.

H.M.Jr:

What else?

Sullivan:

Cigarette papers. They did a pretty good

stunt on the tobacco tax. They took it all
off but they provided in the event the
House didn't concur, they would impose a
floor stocks tax on retailers which the

house hadn't done.
H.M.Jr:

Anything on mail orders?

Sullivan:

Not yet. Are you interested?

H.M.Jr:

What about a one cent tax on every catalog?

Sullivan:

That would go along with the manufacturing

Nelson:

I thought I was among friends.

sales tax pretty well, wouldn't it?

SQ

81

- 10 Sullivan:

La Follette is introducing an amendment for
an
excess
in the
Boneprofits
bill. tax and Clark is bringing

H.M.Jr:

What is the Bone bill?

Sullivan:

The Bone bill is to provide for a higher rate
of taxes all along the line to go into
effect the day war is declared. I think there
will be any number of amendments. I anticipate Mr. Harris will accept them all and
eliminate them in conference.

H.M.Jr:

Is he acting all right?

Sullivan:

Beautifully.

H.M.Jr:

Did anybody hear his speech last night?

Foley:

I heard part of it.

H.M.Jr:

Get me a copy of it and put in blue pencil
what I ought to read. How did it sound?

Foley:

Sullivan:

It sounded a little tired. He didn't sound

as though he had his heart in it.

Everybody on the committee wanted to prolong

these committees and he said, "Since there

is no objection, we will report it out."
I thought they were going to lynch him.

H.M.Jr:

George, when you get word how many engines

they made at Indianapolis, let me know, will

you?

Haas:

Yes.

Nelson:

I have nothing this morning.

Schwarz:

I have no thing.

H.M.Jr:

Phil? Phil, this air Commodore Baker will
be here at nine fifteen. Will you be here
then?

Young:

Yes, sir.

H.M.Jr:

Air Commodore Baker.

82

- 11 Co chran:

I have one question I ought to take up sometime during the day, perhaps in the early
afternoon.

H.M.Jr:

Cochran:

What is it? Say it now.
You said to settle it today.
Oh. Well, say three o'clock.
That is a little late for New York.

H.M.Jr:

All right. One o'clock Washington time?

Co chran:

That is your lunch time, isn't it?

H.M.Jr:

What have I got to do?

Cochran:

One of us has got to telephone New York and

H.M.Jr:

Twelve o'clock Washington time.

Cochran:

Fine.

H.M.Jr:

Sold?

Cochran:

Sold.

H.M.Jr:

I am glad you said one o'clock is my lunch
time. I gather no one else eats around

Co chran:

H.M.Jr:

get Danny in on it, too.

here.

Bell:

We don't have time to.

H.M.Jr:

We have got to stay a little cheerful. I
am not going to go around here with my
chin on my chest. After all, the Treasury
is in good shape. It is up to some other
fellows to do something in this town.

Gaston:

H.M.Jr:

There is one rather interesting thing Excuse me, send for Bernstein, will you

please?

Foley:

Yes.

83

- 12 Gaston:

One other interesting thing about this comcloses a statement of the President on
September 6, 1939. It doesn't enclose any
official orders of any kind. That statement
of the President was drafted, we know, in
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and it
says that the Attorney General is requested

munication of Lowell Mellett's. It en-

to instruct the F.B.I. to take charge of
investigative work in matters relating to
espionage and sabotage and violation of
neutrality regulations. We noticed at that
time that that was in conflict with official
orders of the President which charges the
Department of Commerce under Treasury

Department with certain specific responsibility
with respect to neutrality.
H.M.Jr:

Herbert, you handle this.

Gaston:

I just wanted to tell you about another
feature of that.

H.M.Jr:

No, I don't want it. It is your baby.

Gaston:

Right. We haveno coordinator on this sort

H.M.Jr:

of thing now.

Well, you know Lowell well enough to tell

him that. I would like to write him a good

stiff letter for the record. will you

handle it?
Gaston:

Yes, sir, I will.

H.M.Jr:

I would like to write him a good stiff letter

Gaston:

H.M.Jr:

for the record.

This is apparently a routine thing going to

all departments the same way.

Well, it is the bunk.
Now, I need Bell and White and Mr. Stewart
and Co chran and these two fellows (Foley and
Gaston).

84

June 17, 1940.
9:05 a.m.
RE FREEZING ORDER

Present:

Mr. Bell

Mr. White
Mr. Stewart
Mr. Cochran
Mr. Foley
Mr. Gaston

Mr. Bernstein

H.M.Jr:

Bell:
H.M.Jr:

Well now, let's argue this way. Why

shouldn't we put on all exchange control
today except Britain?
Has France actually given up everything?
That wasn't clear this morning.

Well, I gathered from the 7 o'clock radio
that the new Prime Minister sent word that
they had quit during the night. He made

a speech to the French people saying that
they should lay down their arms and he
would ask the Germans for peace. That 18
what came over one - it was picked up from
the short wave, this message of Petain's
to the French.

White:

That was the 8 'clock broadcast.

Bell:

There WAS some indication that they were

H.M.Jr:

Foley:

going to turn over their fleet.

Well that, in the room here, according to
There have been serious negotiations for
the last few days. We are going to do
everything possible to get them to turn
their fleet over to England.

Mr. Hull - I talked to him last night.

Are they going to give the British a chance

to get their troops out?

-2H.M.Jr:

I don't know.

White:

The Germans claim, according to the broadcast,

that they will not accept this peace unless it
is unconditional, which means that they will

probably demand the Navy and a lot of other
things.

H.M.Jr:

Here is Bordeaux. Well, let's go on the

assumption she has. That 18 8:51 (referring
to teletyoe message).

White:

This introduces - the whole of Europe introduces that new principle, that you are applying
this control to the invaders as well AS to
the invaded countries. I think there would
be no question about the application of France
and it becomes essential to do it to Switzerland
now because Switzerland not only is completely
surrounded and can't get out except that any
mail or anything else - except with Germany's

approval, but she is 80 - naturally so over-

whelmed with the circumstances, that she would
adapt her policy to Germany's wishes when

and if they get around it, SO I should imagine
that France and Switzerland represent no new but Italy and Germany represent a different
character of a case and it would have to be
a decision of policy.

H.M.Jr:

White:

Well, what are the arguments - what is the

difference? Let me put it this way. If we

put on exchange control, we will control
money that is leaving this country.
We do, of those countries that we impose the
control on now.

H.M.Jr:

Does anybody know, for instance, what is
the volume of money orders which has been
going to Germany and Italy?

Foley:

Do you know, Bernie?

Bernstein:

The dollar volume of money going to Italy?

H.M.Jr:

And Germany.

Bernstein:

No, I don't know.

85

86

-3H.M.Jr:

Can somebody find out what it would amount to?

Let's say from June 1st.

Bell:

You probably couldn't get that close, could

White:

I doubt it, but there is a possibility that

you, Harry?

they may keep track of the - hitherto we
have only kept track - not track, but have
estimated the overall remittances, but they
are very rough figures. They probably run
to both countries and my judgment would be
in the neighborhood of somewhere near five

million dollars in that period, but that is
an estimate.

White:

Ben Cohen might know. He is the fellow
that has been needling Ickes with this.
We can get whatever information there 18.

Foley:

Didn't you say Ickes brought it up at the

H.M.Jr:

Yes.

Foley:

That is Ben. He has called me a few times
about it.

White:

In any case, it would be necessary to stop
other things besides remittances, because if
you did that they would use other devices,

Foley:

Cabinet meeting on Friday?

ordinary checks or drafts, etc., but this

would give you an idea of how many passed

through the Post Office.

H.M.Jr:

Well, following the theory that the President

wants us here to do everything we can to
encourage the English and French, you see,
I should think if we put this thing on and
excluded the British Empire, it would be an

encouragement at this time, some encouragement

White:

anyway to the British.
The British have asked us to do that.

H.M.Jr:

No, they did not.

White:

Yes, they asked us to freeze German balances

here.

87

-4 Cochran:

To freeze balances, not to block the French

White:

I am speaking of Germany. They asked us to

Cochran:

But the act is a pretty big thing considering

H.M.Jr:

Well, ever since I have been Secretary of the
Treasury I always say I put my hand over the

accounts.

freeze German balances.

the sums involved, Mr. Secretary.

last six digits, so I don't bother about the
size of the transaction. It 18 the principal,
whether it is a billion or a hundred million
or a million, I don't care.
White:

The sums are low. They have drawn them down
very considerably as far as Germany is concerned,

but they have direct investments here which may
be substantial.

H.M.Jr:

Well, the other thing which to me is terrifically
important is two things; one, if this idea 18
correct, that we are talking very, very confidentially, that the Germans will form a sort
of an overall trading corporation and they will
say, "Yes, we need wheat and so forth and so on,
and it is the whole question of money and what
are we going to do about cotton and wheat and
that will leave the people like Wallace who
will be bringing pressure on us to do business

with Germany and get rid of this cotton. You
can just see the thing. But if we are going
to do that, we have got to have as part of the
trading program these monies, which are here,
which belong to other countries. Does that

Stewart:

make sense to you all or not?
At the moment I am just trying to absorb some
background.

H.M.Jr:

All right. And then the other thing which I
think is terribly important, 1f we don't freeze
this thing, we can't stop these millions of
dollars which are going to these various
consulates for propaganda purposes and there
are millions which are going into these
various consular offices for propaganda.

88

-5Personally, I would be willing to do it on
that basis alone.

Bell:

The State Department wanted to try to work
that out. They wanted to work out something

which would control that end of it. I think
that would be very difficult.

H.M.Jr:

What happened to that bill?

White:

They are working with Justice on it. There
is a somewhat larger question raised of what
is going to happen to the assets of Switzerland
or France, particularly in the general subsequent arrangements. Now, without knowing
what is going to happen, it seems to me
there is some advantage in freezing them.
You can always unfreeze them.

H.M.Jr:

Sure.

White:

And until it is clear as to what sort of

arrangements Germany is going to impose in

the way of indemnities or other things, I

am wondering whether we may even be helping

France, although that may be rather dubious,
but in any case I am wondering whether the

wise thing to do isn't to hold it and then
any arrangements that have to be made, it
seems to me that we have something to do

H.M.Jr:

with it, some say in it.
Well, the way I look at this thing is this:

Last week pressure was put on me by the
State Department. They wanted me just to

take Switzerland and freeze it, you see, and

I said no, it was like trying to plug one
hole in a sieve, and I wouldn't do it, and
I am glad I haven't done it as of today
because if we decide today to do it, it
would plug the whole thing but just the

Swiss thing didn't and the Swiss didn't want

it.

White:

There are outstanding contracts which the
French have, and they must run into very

substantial money and the French government

contracts, whether you would want to freeze
them for that, is another problem. However,

-6-

it is true that there are political con-

siderations involved in freezing Italian
big issues and we certainly oughtn't to take
that responsibility, Mr. Secretary.
That is a question of high policy.
and German balances now, that raised rather

Bell:
White:

High policy, yes, for Italian and German
balances to be frozen at this stage of the
game. I should think that would be a
matter for the Cabinet.

H.M.Jr:

Aw, Hell.

Bell:

Is there any question --

H.M.Jr:

Why not take it up with - what is it, the

Bell:

Is there any question in your mind about

"Question Hour", 18 that what they have?

Switzerland at this time in view of your
conference on Friday with Dr. Somary?

H.M.Jr:

I didn't say a word to him, did I?

Cochran:

No.

Bell:

He seemed to be so emphatic that nothing
be done in this connection.

Cochran:

The Counselor was in the next day and saw
Mr. Bernstein and asked that we shouldn't

do it when they are not invaded. If they

were invaded, okay, and if they were surrounded,
to consult.
H.M.Jr:

And incidentally, when we have these meetings

from now on, Jerome Frank does not come because

every time he goes out and tells the whole

story to the press. I am not going to invite

him to any more meetings.
Cochran:

There is a question as to whether we should
consult the French.

H.M.Jr:

It 18 a matter of courtesy.

Cochran:

Yes.

39

90

-7H.M.Jr:

Jerome Frank doesn't contribute anything,
anyway.

Foley:

He is a bright fellow.

H.M.Jr:

Yes, but he talks too much.

Bell:

He is in favor of freezing Switzerland.

There must be something else in the Swiss
situation that we don't know because the
State Department is so much in favor of

freezing Switzerland and insisted that

there wouldn't be any difficulty from a
political angle. Feis said that Switzerland

Cochran:

was all right and he would go along and
now we get this strong protest from the
Swiss representative. I don't understand.
Well, Feis hadn't consulted them and

H.M.Jr:

Have you got your orders?

Foley:

Yes.

Bell:
Stewart:

Frank brought it up first.

Ten or eleven different orders, haven't we,

Bernie?

Would you think of the British at this time?

They have got some sort of a working arrangement,
of course.

White:

Working arrangement for - you mean with respect
to sharing the expenses of the war?

Stewart:

Making exchange rates between themselves
which may be abandoned if France leaves.

White:

What relation would that have to this thing?

Stewart:

It is on the theory, I thought, that you
were doing something which was for the
benefit of the British and it may or may not
be of benefit to them to freeze at this time.

White:

Benefit to whom?

Stewart:

The British.

91
8

White:

Stewart:

-

To freeze the French? What thought do you

have in mind that it might not benefit them.
We don't know whether there will be a division

of government in France; we don't know who
may assert the right to manage these balances;

we don't know whether there are joint agreements about covering these expenses which
will make French balances available in part

to the British.

White:

There may be those things, but even if they
are, the process of freezing need not in any
way disturb any arrangements that we don't
wish to disturb after we learn about them.
All you are doing is holding as is and then
as you - as new things develop or as it
becomes clear that you want to use funds

for this purpose or the other purpose, all

you do is grant licenses which Vary anywhere
from a specific license to a general license
which may cancel most of the effect of the
Stewart:

first one 80 far as you want to.
I was asking a question, I wasn't making an

White:

No, I am merely examining your question.

Stewart:

My own feeling is that the President ought

H.M.Jr:

I think we ought to ask both of them.
You are still free to act as you please?

Stewart:
H.M.Jr:
Stewart:

argument.

to examine it. The question I raised is,
is it appropriate to ask the British.

If we can get to them. If we can get to
them, I think that -I would a little rather have the record

show that you made the effort and that you
had to act promptly and put the question
and didn't get an answer or you got an
answer and acted anyway.

Cochran:

We can get hold of Pinsent any time and
he can telephone or get a cable over.

92
9

H.M.Jr:

-

Stewart:

Who is Minister of Finance in England today?
It is Wood.

Bell:

On this overall freezing, Mr. Secretary,

I wonder if it wouldn't be better to freeze
all of our - including the British Empire,
and then grant general licenses back to
the British, like we did the Dutch East
Indies. I wonder if it wouldn't have a

little better flavor.

Gaston:

It would be worthwhile asking the British
that. That was my idea, too, Dan.

Stewart:

It might fit their program exactly. They

H.M.Jr:

I think it is a good argument. It is like

might be very happy to have it.

the Germans still trying to prove that they
didn't start the war in 1914. Who cares?

They are still trying to prove it, but

evidently some people do care and it is
just as well - we have made such a careful
record up to now. Then you would favor
doing the whole thing and then issuing
general licenses? Incidentally, about a
month ago - in a month or so somebody is

going to ask for a deficiency appropriation

to pay for all this.

Bell:

We have asked for $400,000.00.

H.M.Jr:

Why not ask for a million dollars? Is that
enough?

Bell:

We don't know. We asked for $400,000.00 to

H.M.Jr:

What committee?

Bell:

Appropriations.
Who is the chairman?

H.M.Jr:
Foley:

Bell:

last us to next Session.

Taylor is the chairman.
Ludlow is the sub-chairman, I think.

- 10 H.M.Jr:

Will you call him up when you leave this
room and tell him I want a million dollars?
You had better move - 1f you have any trouble
at all, will you let me know? Would that
take care of paying the expenses of the
Federal of New York, too?

Bell:

Oh
we have included everything up to
thatyes,
time.

White:

This will increase the work easily by ten
times, I think, more than ten times.

Foley:

That 400 million estimate, Dan, was on the

basis of Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Holland.

Bell:

No, it was 300 thousand on the basis of
Denmark and Norway and at the time the

estimate was ready to go, we brought in
Holland and Belgium and said, "Just add

a hundred thousand. It will take us to

January. II That is what happened.
Foley:

If you are going to add Switzerland and

White:

Switzerland and France will increase the
work more than ten times.

H.M.Jr:

Well, ask as much as you want. Do you

Bell:

No, I don't think we know enough about it.
A million dollars?

H.M.Jr:

Bell:

France --

want five million dollars?

That is plenty to take us to January. I
am wondering if there is any of this money
the President is going to get which will be

H.M.Jr:

blocked, this hundred million.
Dan, would you carry it? If you need any
help, let me speak to him about it, will
you? Will you carry that?

Bell:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

I would like all of you to go over with me
who are in the room here, to Mr. Hull's.

93

94

- 11 We leave at ten minutes of ten. Walter,
if you see Viner, will you tell him? I
would like you to go, too.
Stewart:

Fine.

H.M.Jr:

I think all of us could go.

Foley:

There is another suggestion, Mr. Secretary,
that we include France, Switzerland, Italy,
Albania, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Danzig and
Germany, rather than trying to do the whole
job.

White:

Leaving out the Balkana?

Foley:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

My own feeling is that I would do it 100%

Bell:

Or France alone.

H.M.Jr:

No.

Foley:

They will want to do France and Switzerland
in the State Department, I gather, from the
way Berle talked on Friday and Berle has some
idea that we ought to get back on a peace
basis now until September or something like
that and that this was a war measure and we

or do it exclusive of the British Empire.

ought to draw in our shell a little bit and

get ready.
H.M.Jr:

This is what I consider getting ready. I
consider this part of national defense. I
don't understand what he is talking about.

Foley:
White:

Bell:
White:

I think he considers it kind of an offensive
gesture rather than a defensive gesture.
It is an announcement to Germany and Italy
of some kind or other.

That is right. It is an unneutral act.
It is unneutral.

- 12 Bell:

It is distinctly unneutral, more than what

we have done in the past.

H.M.Jr:

Not if we do it for the whole world.

Bell:

Do it for the whole world and then you have
got an exchange control that applies to
everybody.

H.M.Jr:
Gaston:

I would do it for the whole world, Harry.
That is the clear way do to it.

White:

Then the granting of general licenses would
in turn make clear the invidious comparisons.

Gaston:

You wouldn't need the general licenses,
Harry. You could add instructions down
the line so those things would go through
automatically.

Foley:

You could do it in Asia and Europe. That

Coohran:

would pick up all of Africa.
But you will find it leaks through South

H.M.Jr:

The more I talk - last week I said do it

Bell:

That 18 what we were prepared to do last
week when we went to the State Department.

H.M.Jr:

Now I say the whole world and issue general
licenses.

Foley:

Well, you wouldn't want to do it for South

America a lot.

for all of Europe, didn't I.

America and Central America and this

Hemisphere, would you?
H.M.Jr:

Yes, because some of the transactions I

have seen going through South America are

White:

H.M.Jr:

of highly suspicious nature.
If you issued a general license you wouldn't
catch those.

Listen, President Vargas one day makes a speech
and somebody raps him over the head and he says,

93

96

- 13 "I didn't mean it. If Of course he meant what

he said.
Gaston:

If you make it general, that is a domestic
matter. It has the standpoint of protection
of our own economy whereas if you select
out nations that can be --

White:

I think the objective has to be clear. If
you do it with - so as to include Italy and
Germany in such way that they don't get a
general license, it is a definite, specific

indication that you are taking an act not an important one but an act which you
couldn't justify on grounds other than that
you want to help England and restrict them.

Now --

H.M.Jr:

Well, what did the President say, what did
he mean in his speech in Virginia?

White:

That is what he said. It would be in
accordance with that. That is what the
step would mean.

H.M.Jr:

I take it he meant what he said, and as an
appointive officer, it is my job to carry
out the policy he laid down. He said we
would give them all material aid, and then

he backed it up - did he change - I didn't
see - the message that he sent to Reynaud,

was that the identical message in his
speech or was it a different one?
Gaston:

Differently worded, but it promised all
aid we could give short of any military

commitments.
Foley:

That is right, but the tone wasn't the
same.

H.M.Jr:

And I want it distinctly understood that
I haven't got anything in my mind towards
getting ourselves in a war. I am simply
moving as a defensive measure.

Cochran:

But to prove that it is defending our

economy 18 not the easiest thing in the
world, Mr. Secretary.

- 14 H.M.Jr:

I don't see why not. Are you going to
let these fellows operate on us with their

hobnailed boots and bayonete?
Cochran:

H.M.Jr:

Their balances here are not big to start with.
Everybody else has got it. You can't get

a dollar in or a dollar out. If Germany
hollers, all right, let General Motors take
its dividends out from the Opel Works, the
General Electric.

White:

But can General Motors get its Opel dividends
out?

Cochran:

Not altogether.

White:

They have been getting some out.

Cochran:

The standstill agreement is working. Italy

has been paying interest on her loans here
and so on and our investments there are many
times bigger than their investments here.
White:

Well, this is a small prototype, I think,
Mr. Secretary, of the larger issue of I don't know what you want to call it. It
is a question of an appeasement policy but
it is the other that is a small prototype
of that and if that larger policy is
determined, this would fall right in line.
If the intent is from now on to try to

restore as much as possible the normal
relations between Germany, Italy, and United

States, I don't think we should do this.
H.M.Jr:

Granted.

White:

If, on the other hand, the intent is to go
in the opposite course for the larger
political purposes, not for the immediate
things, then it would seem this is one of
the numerous steps, though a small one, in
that direction.

H.M.Jr:

Nobody can settle that but the President.

White:

That is right.

97

98

June 17, 1940
9:30 a.m.
RE ALLIED PURCHASING PROGRAM

Present:

Mr. Young
Air Commodore Baker

Lieut. Commander Kossler

H.M.Jr:

I have taken a very quick look at this
list and I thought you might go back
into Mr. Young's office and look at the
list also. Offhand, it would seem to
be perfectly safe to turn over the
drawings of the Merlin 20 engine, but
there are a lot of other things there

which I should think that you would want
to have a much better look at before you
let anybody see them because there are
plans for experimental engines and the
advanced engines and the bomber, isn't
it?

Kossler:

Yes, sir, the Handley-Paige.

H.M.Jr:

The Handley-Paige bomber and all of that,

80 I'm awfully glad I have surrounded this

with all the protection possible; but if
you could go in and look at the list and
then I'll see if I can get Mr. Woodring

and ask him if he could send someone over
here at 11:15 and then you can have a talk
with the man from the Air Corps and besides

that you do these other things, you see.

Baker:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

You may or may not want them to be shown

to the manufacturers with the possibility
of manufacturing Handley-Paige. In the

cable they kept referring to the Halifax

bomber.

99

-2Baker:

That is the Handley-Paige.

H.M.Jr:

And they call it the Halifax?

Baker:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Do you suppose this is the most recent?

Baker:

Yes sir, the one of the bombers that 18
just coming out of production or about
to come out of production now.

Baker:

Is it a two engine or a four engine?
Speaking offhand, I think it is a two engine.
There are three of that class, the Merlin,
the Halifax, and the Manchester. That is a
four engine, I am pretty certain.

H.M.Jr:

Then it 18 something quite new?

Baker:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Did you see any of these?

Kossler:

We didn't examine the plans specifically.
We looked into some of the packages to be
sure that the plans corresponded to what

H.M.Jr:

was on the outside.

Baker:

I should say in principle --

H.M.Jr:

Excuse me a moment. I should think this is
important enough that Arnold and Brett ought
to come themselves 80 you could see them

about it and let them have a look at it
and have a talk about it.

Baker:

Yes.

Young:

They have their copy of the list. They must
know what is in it.

H.M.Jr:

I will ask Mr. Woodring to tell them.

Young:

The question to be decided is how much of

H.M.Jr:

that to turn out.
Yes. It is perfectly safe now - only one
of the officers has been allowed access to it.

-3Baker:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

And it is perfectly safe, but if you begin
to let manufacturers have a look at this
thing, it doesn't take very long before

100

everybody knows it.

Baker:

I think we should release to the manufacturers

as little as possible. The Merlin 20, of
course, and maybe the Griffen.

H.M.Jr:

But as of today it is the Merlin 20.

Baker:

Yes.

(Telephone conversation with Woodring follows. )

101

June 17, 1940
9:27 a.m.

H.M.Jr:

Hello.

Operator:

Secretary Woodring.

H.M.Jr:

Hello.

Secretary
Woodring:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Harry?

W:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

I have in my office now Air Commodore Baker,

of the Allied Purchasing Mission, and he's

going over this list which we're just giving
him now of these drawings that have come.

W:

H.M.Jr:

Yes.

I wondered whether you could possibly receive

him and Philip Young and maybe have General

Arnold and General Brett present at your

office.

W:

H.M.Jr:

Have them present, what?

I mean, if you could have General Arnold
and General Brett come to your office and
also receive Air Commodore Baker and Philip
Young and at that time he could say before
these gentlemen just what he'd like us to
release and what he'd like the Army to keep
secret.

W:

Yes, all right.

H.M.Jr:

See?

W:

Yes. What time do you want them?

H.M.Jr:
W:

Well, you set the time.
Well, now, I think Arnold and Brett are both
out at Dayton.

-2H.M.Jr:

Oh, 80?

W:

Yes. Let me check on that right here.

102

I know they are because they told me they

were both going.
H.M.Jr:
W:

Oh.

So -- and they won't be back until morning.
What do you suggest, that we wait until --

I'd rather they'd hear this.

H.M.Jr:
W:

H.M.Jr:

All right. Well, you set the time. I think
this is important. What time tomorrow
Let's put it at 9:30 in the morning at my
office and if there's any change, I'll call
you in the next hour.

Right. And if after he's taken the list 80
in order to save time, if he says it's all

right to release the plans on the Merlin 20,
I'll get in touch with you and you can have
somebody notify Arnold out there, because
I don't want them to say, well, we held them

up one day unnecessarily. You see?
W:

H.M.Jr:

Yeah. That's right.
So I'll get word to you, and while I have you
on the wire, I've got this Colonel Maxwell
coming to my office at 11:00. Do you know

about that?
W:

H.M.Jr:

No, I don't know about it.
I see. Well, he said he had a new assignment
from the President.

W:

Colonel Maxwell has?

H.M.Jr:

Yes.

W:

Oh, yes. I think that's to, well, it's something
to do with this Council -- defense. I saw
something about it but I forget just what he's

to do.

103

-3H.M.Jr :

W:

Well, anyway, they asked me to see him 80
I'm seeing him. Well, then, 9:30 at your
office

In the morning. Now, if I find that Brett

and Arnold were flying back here and be here
this afternoon, would they want to change?

H.M.Jr:

Oh, yes, yes.

W:

Your people?

H.M.Jr:

He'11 stay here until he sees them because

W:

it's
All right, 80 as not to delay it, if I find
they'11 be back here this afternoon, I'll

call you.
H.M.Jr:
W:

Yes, if you'd just call my office.
All right.

104

-4H.M.Jr:

I think it 18 important, don't you? That
is the Secretary of War. Arnold and Brett
are out at Dayton so I think if after you
look it over, Phil, and you find that we
can release the Merlin 20, then I think I
will get word to Mr. Woodring and we can
write him a little note for my signature

that Commodore Baker is here from the British
Government and says to release the plans for

the Merlin 20. Will you please release
General Marshall at once. I don't want
him to tell me afterward that I held him

un today.
Young:

Kraus is out there too.

H.M.Jr:

All right. So I think if he knows that -

Baker:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Thank you, I am very glad to have met you.

well, we can release the Merlin 20, I take
it, as of today, these planes, and hold
everything else. I mean subject to your --

tat

105

photo mm

June 17, 1940

My dear Mr. Secretary:
Air Commodore O.B.A. Baker of the Anglo-French

Purchasing Board has advised me that there is no

objection to the release of the details and tool

drawings necessary to produce Merlin III's, X's, and
XX's. Those plans are listed on page 6 and include
parcel numbers 133 through 157, inclusive, as noted
on the inventory list compiled by Lt. Col. E. R. Page
of the Air Corps, and Lt. Comdr. Kossler, United
States Coast Guard, at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio,
June 15, 1940.

Air Commodore Baker has requested that all other
plans included in this shipment be kept in custody

pending instructions for disposal.

Sincerely,

The Honorable,

The Secretary of Var.

PY:bj

6126

106
June 17, 1940

My dear Mr. Secretary:
Air Commodore O.B.A. Baker of the Angle-French
Purchasing Board has advised me that there is no

objection to the release of the details and tool
drawings necessary to produce Merlin III's, X's, and
XX's. Those plans are listed on page 6 and include

parcel numbers 133 through 157, inclusive, as noted
on the inventory list compiled by Lt. Col. E. R. Page
of the Air Corps. and Lt. Condr. Kossler, United
States Coast Guard, at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio,
June 15, 1940.

Air Commodore Baker has requested that all other

plans included in this shipment be kept in custody
pending instructions for disposal.
Sincerely,

The Honorable,

The Secretary of Var.

PY:bj

Ry.

miss razier 107
285

Signed by Secretary Morgenthau

and delivered in person by Mr. Young.

MR. YOUNG

108
June 17. 1940

Dear Mr. Enuisens

I enclose herewith a letter which I have recoived from Mr. Arthur 3. Pervis, Chairesa of the
Anglo-French Purchasing Board, together with a

letter addressed se you, concerning the intention

of the Allies to join in the effort to produce Belle
Beyoo engines is the United States.
Sincerely,

Reverable William s. Evaloan,
Demmission Newber,

the Minisory Commission to the
Bennett of National Defense,
Federal Reserve Building.
Weskington, 3. 0.
FY:bj

P.4.

delivered in person by m. young

109
June 17, 1940

Dear Mr. Knudsens

I enclose herewith a letter which I have received from Mr. Arthur B. Purvis, Chairman of the
Anglo-French Purchasing Board, together with a

letter addressed to you, concerning the intention

of the Allies to join in the effort to produce Rolls
Royce engines in the United States.
Sincerely,
(Signed)

Honorable William S. Knudsen,
Commission Member.

The Advisory Commission to the
Council of National Defense,
Federal Reserve Building,
Washington, D. G.
PY:bj

110
June 17. 1940

Dear Mr. Knudsons

I enclose herewith a letter which I have received from Mr. Arthur 3. Purvis, Chairman of the
Anglo-French Purchasing Board, together with a

letter addressed to you, concerning the intention

of the Allies to join in the effort to produce Rolls
Royce engines in the United States.
Sincerely,

(Signed) E Morganities. Jr.

Honorable William s. Knudsen,
Commission Newber,

The Advisory Commission to the
Council of National Defense,
Federal Reserve Building.
Mashington, 3. C.
PYtbj

ANGLO-FRENCH PURCHASING BOARD
NEW YORK:

WASHINGTON:

15 BROAD STREET

725 15th ST., N. W.

This letter from

June 16, 1940

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I enclose a letter to Mr. Knudsen

notifying the Allied intention to join in the complementary effort to produce Rolls Royce engines in

the United States. I think you will find this covers
the situation satisfactorily but if not, we can cover
any further points in a supplementary letter.
Yours sincerely,

are
Arthur B. Purvis
Chairman.

Henry Morgenthau Jr., Esq.,
Secretary of The Treasury,
Washington, D.C.

ANGLO-FRENCH PURCHASING BOARD
WASHINGTON
725 15th ST., N.W.

NEW.YORK:
15 BROAD STREET

This letter from

1940.

June

Dear Mr. Knudsen:

Following on the discussions which have taken
place with Mr. Secretary Lorgenthau, yourself and Dr.
Mead concerning the proposed scheme for the production
by the Ford motor Company 01 9,000 Polls-Nov Cerlin XX

engines, I a.m happy to be ablc to state that the Illied
Governments will be prepared to cartici ste in this scheme

to the extent O takin delivery of 6,000 o_ the total

proposed for production.

This notification of the position of the Allied
Governments is subject to final confirustion fro.: the
French Covernment as regards their share, totalling ,700
engines out of the total of 5,000 indictice above. I h. ve
every expectation that this confirmation will be received
in the immediate future.

Sir henry Self has had discussions with Dr.

Mead, Capt. Krous and Col. Volundt, and I understand that
detailed procedure has been agreed whereby the formulation

of the final proposals :i de be undertaken by the U. S. Aduin-

istration, and the m - mench Archosin GSPG will take
all
nc essary ction in 30 ensure that
contract terms and arrangements or uttin the lan into
effective operation shall be fully co-ordinated. I uncerstand that the present osition i. that the J. Adainistration re in negotition with the For Co.,gorny for
CAC

formulation of definite propost1s : NC that the
Purchasing Board will be notified LG soon S S it is desired

that they should enter into definite consitments. I the
meanti.e, the logal re reserts Lives O the U. Army Cpartment and of the Anglo-Truch Purchasin LOST ere, I
believe, in close consultation as to the for of Locurents
suitable for implementing the scheme.

I trust that this notification of OT2 rerdiness to
co-operste in this vc ture lill eet the imuelinte needs of
the situation.

Yours truly
William 3. Knudsen, LUC

The Advisory Co to the

Council of National Defense,

Washington, D. C.

Chrirman.

-

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS TO

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

A

WASHINGTON D.C.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON

June 17, 1940.

The Secretary of State presents his compliments

to the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury, and
encloses one copy of paraphrase of telegram No. 255
of June 14 from the American Legation, Belgrade.

113

114

PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED
FROM:

DATE:

American Legation, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
June 14, 1940, 5 p.m.

NO.: 255
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

A reliable American source has given us information
that this morning 10 Swiss airplanes arrived at Zemun
and a shipment of gold was unloaded; the planes returned

to Switzerland to bring another load, it is understood.
An attempt is being made by the Legation to find out

the gold's ultimate destination
(omission) planes.
LANE.

EA:LWW

115
PLAIN

PAP

LONDON

Dated June 17,1940

Rec'd 3:15 p.m.

Secretary of State
Washington

1700 seventeenth.
FOR TREASURY FROM BUTTERWORTH.

The following is the text of the Anglo-Netherlands
financial agreement:
"ThE Government of the United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland and the Royal Netherlands

Government, considering that it is in their common in-

terest to establish and maintain an official rate of
Exchange bEtwEEn the Netherlands Indies guilder and the

pound sterling, have agreed as follows.
Article 1. The official rate of Exchange between the

Netherlands Indies guilder (as defined in article 12
and hereinafter referred to as the guilder) and the pound
sterling shall be 7.60 guilders to the pound based on

the last officially quoted rate in London for the guilder.
No change in such rate will be made without prior
agreement bEtwEEn the two contracting Governments.

Article 2. The contracting Governments will be
solely

116

PAP

-2- 1700, June 17 from London

solely responsible as regards the quotation of their respective currencies in markets of third countries. But
they will always consult together on the policy to be
followed inn regard to this question and on any intervention which may SEEM necessar y.

Article 3. The Bank of England and the Javasche

Bank will sell to one another sterling for guilders and

guilders for sterling at the official rate.
Article 4. (1) No limit will be fixed to the amounts
of sterling or guilders to be purchased in accordance with
the preceding article.
(2) If the Javasche Bank should at any time hold
sterling in EXCESS of pounds 5 millions, the EXCESS shall

be applied to the purchase of United Kingdom treasury

bills, to be denominated in guilders, calculated at the
official rate of the day of purchase, and to be issued
in amounts of guilders Equivalent to pounds 50,000 or
multiples thereof.
(3) Similar arrangements shall apply as regards the
investment of amounts in guilders held by the Bank of
England in EXCESS of 38 million guilders. ThESE amounts

shall be applied to the purchase of treasury bills of
the Netherlands Indies Government, to be denominated in
pounds

117

JR -3- #1700, June 17 from London.

pounds sterling calculated at the official guildersterling rate of the day of purchase, and to be issued
in amounts of pounds sterling Equivalent to 350,000

guilders or multiples thereof.

(4) Both the guilder and the sterling bills shall
bear interest at 3% per annum and shall be repayable one

year after the conclusion of the war: provided that the
issuing Government may, at its option, ask for their
renewal for two further periods of one year each.
(5) Should the total amount of the pounds sterling
or guilders held by the Javasche Bank or the Bank of
England respectively fall below pounds 5 million or 38
million guilders such balance shell DE reconstituted as

for as possible by the sale of Treasury bills held in the
other currency. For this purpose the guilder Treasury
bills shall be repurchased for sterling by the Bank of
England and the sterling Treasury bills for guilders by
the Jevasche Bank. Both central banks acting for account
of their respective Governments. These operations :

shall be Effected at the official rate of the day of
repurchase.

(6) The pounds sterling and the guilders held by
the Javasche Bank and the Bank of England respectively up

to the limit of pounds 5 million and 38 million guilders
shall

118

JR -4- 1700, June 17 from London.

shall DE invested by Either central bank in agreement with
and through the other central bank.
(7) Should the Treasury bills purchased by the
Javasche Bank in accordance with paragraph (2) of this
article EXCEED the Equivalent of pounds 5 millions in any
one year, the Javasche Bank is authorized to sell the EXCESS

of such bills to the Netherlands Government in its capacity
as owner of the claims transferred to it under the Royal
Decres dated 24th May, 1940, insofar as these claims are
denominated in guilders as defined by this agreement,
in order to Enable that Government to COVER its

liabilities to the owner. Bills so cold to the Netherlands
Covernment will not DE repurchasable under paragraph (5)

of this article and the first amount of bills so sold to
the Equivalent of pounds 5 millions in any one year will
DE exampted from renewal under paragraph 4 of this

article.
Article 5. (1) Neither Government will ask for a gold
security nor for any specific security for the currency
obtained by the Bank of England or the Javasche Bank as
laid down above. Nor will any request DE made for the

conversion of these currencies into gold.

(2) If the two contracting partisa should agree to
change the official rate of Exchange between the guilder
and the pound sterling, the amount of guilders to be paid
by

119

JR -5- #1700, June 17 from London.

by the Bank of England in respect of the sterling held by
the Javasche Bank would be calculated at the rate in

force when the sterling was acquired. A similar arrangement
would apply to guilders held by the Bank of England.

Article 6. (1) The sterling held by the Javasche
Bank may be used to pay for all expenditure in sterling

in the sterling area, that is to say, in any part of His
Majesty's Dominions (EXCEPT Canada, Newfoundland and

Hong Kong), any territory in respect of which a mandate on
bshalf of the League of Nations has been accepted by His
Majesty and is being exercised by His Hajesty's Government
in the United Kingdom or in any dominion, any British

protectorate or protected state, Egypt, the AngloEgyptian Sudan and Iraq.

(2) The guilders held by the Bank of England may bE

used to pay for all expenditure in guilders in the
Netherlands Indics (c.3 defined in article 12).
(3) If Either country wishes to make payments to a

third country in the currency of the other country, this
shall be done only after prior consultation and agreement
between the two Governments.

Article 7. The Javasche Bank and the Bank of England

will, if necessary, provide against pounds sterling or
against guilders, the local currencies needed for all
payments in the Netherlands Kingdom or in the sterling
area respectively.
Article 8.

120

JR -6- #1700, June 17 from London.

Article 8. The United Kingdom and Netherlands
Treasuries will consider and constantly watch over all

questions relating to the Equitable distribution of
expenditure in dollars or in gold borne by each country,
which are made necessary by the conduct of the war.

Article S. ThE United Kingdom and Netherlands

Treasuries will Examine from time to time, and at least
ONCE EVERY three months, the amount of and the reasons for

movements in gold or foreign Exchange, and will propose the
MEASURES of all kinds required to maintain the conditions

of a lasting monetary Equilibrium.
Article 10. (1) The two Governments will consult

together before taking steps for the mobilization

on the market of a third country of all or part of their
holdings of foreign securities.
(2) Neither Government will sell securities payable
in the currency of the other country without having
obtained the prior agreement of the other Government.
Article 11. The two Governments will consult
together with a VIEW to obtaining as favorable arrangements
as possible regarding payments for imports from and Exports

to third countries and as to the best USE of their foreign
assets.

Article 12. (1) By Netherlands Indies is understood
the Netherlands Indian ArchipElago in Asic.
(2) By

121

JR -7- #1700, June 17 from London.

(2) By Netherlands Indies guilder is understood
the currency of the Netherlands Indies.
Article 13. The present agreement shall remain in
force for the whole duration of the war and for a period
of six months after the signature of the treaty of PEACE.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized
thereto by their respective Governments have signed the
present agreement.

Done in duplicate in London the 14th day of June,
1940 in English."
KENNEDY
CSB

122

PLAIN

AC

London

Dated June 17, 1940
REC'd

Secretary of State
Washington

1701, June 17.
FOR TREASURY FROM BUTTERWORTH.

(1. ) The City is not so much stunned as lost and wi thout any measure of values, individual or national.
(2.) As was to be Expected most British securities

went to the minimum price levels but such is the Efficacy

of a closed capital circuit that war loan did not beCOME frozen at minimum prices and it was still possil ble
to deal in small amounts though against wide margins.

(3.) In the course of a conversation Rucinski,
the Polish Financial Attache, stated in confidence that
the Polish Government was En route to England but that
he had no knowledge as to whether the Polish gold supply
in France was being saved.
KENNEDY
ALC

( 4ampt from

ww misting)

June 17, 1940

Saw the President of the United States for

10 or 15 minutes.

Told him that Arthur Purvis was coming for
supper and wanted to know whether I should continue to
give the English the same assistance that I have given
the English and French up to now. He said absolutely!
I said, for example, that they need 4-engine bombers.
He said, "Haven't we got 8 or 9 obsolete ones that we

could spare?" I said, "Well, I think we ought to be
able to spare 10. " He said, "That's fine. . He said,
"You have been doing grand work and continue to give
the English the same help."

123

124

June 17, 1940
10:40 a.m.

H.M.Jr:

Hello.

Operator:

Purvis.

Arthur
Purvis:

Hello.

H.M.Jr:

Hello.

P:

Good morning.

H.M.Jr:

Hello, Arthur.

P:

Bad days, aren't they?

H.M.Jr:

Quite.

P:

Very difficult. I wanted to tell you that

in the interest of preventing anything going
I took the power to take the French contract --

wrong, we have just taken -- we took the power,
as you know, we have worked pretty much on an

Anglo-French basis with one party taking what
the other didn't want.
H.M.Jr:
P:

Right.

So those contracts are all potentially and
actually, really, under the British Purchasing
Commission.

H.M.Jr:

So you're taking it all over?

P:

Yeah.

H.M.Jr:

And all the commitments.

P:

Yes. Now, I haven't yet -- there's only one
exception to that, and that is the question

of the 2,700 in which I have asked Maurice
Wilson in that he was brought in so closely
into the picture to get immediately in touch
with Lord B. and ask him whether those 2,700

will be taken by the British.

125

-2H.M.Jr:

I see.

P:

And I think that should come through very
quickly.

H.M.Jr:

Right.

P:

Because I did that about an hour and a half

ago. On all the rest of the thing, one
has it in hand. I would rather like to --

at an early opportunity show you exactly
what has been done, but I thought I'd just
send you advice in order to prevent difficulties with manufacturers and all that kind
of thing. I got the French to agree to that
last night.
H.M.Jr:

Well,
the sooner you can give me the details,
the better.

P:

Is that BO?

H.M.Jr:

Yes.

P:

Well, now, I think in that case I might
16 an angle to it which we're trying to work

have a short memorandum -- I may say there

out this morning that I think I'd like to

mention to you.
H.M.Jr:

Yeah.

P:

In addition to taking assignments from them
of the contracts of the various types, because
in some cases I may say that, for instance,

in the new aircraft program, they're inter-

mingled. They have the contracts so arranged
that parts of the machine were in one or
other persons, you see, one or other Commission
because -- SO that they really have to be mated
up, engines have to be mated with airplanes,
and so on, because they were working on the

H.M.Jr:

basis that it was better for one party to sign
a contract rather than to sign them jointly.
May I interrupt? I have to go to the White

House, but I wanted to talk to you before
because I wanted to hear if you had anything
new.

126

3-

P:

I can't quite hear.

H.M.Jr:

I have to go to the White House now.

P:

Oh, I see.

H.M.Jr:

But I'll be back this afternoon if you

P:

Yes, all right.

H.M.Jr:

But I'm terribly glad you called me because

want to say anything more.

it's very important that I know this at
this moment.

P:

H.M.Jr:
P:

There's a question of getting the money -the gold -- to Canada.
I see.

Otherwise, if the American -- 1f the French
pay us a sufficient sum to enable us to make
payments on the balance of their contracts
not yet paid, we might give them a credit in
Canada to a corresponding extent.

H.M.Jr:

Well, now the second that you see any daylight,

it's terribly important that you and I get

together on this.
P:

H.M.Jr:
P:

Yes, I think I have sealed it up so that
you have a perfectly good structure to support.
I acted all day yesterday, as a matter of fact.
You wouldn't be ready tonight, would you?
To come down?

H.M.Jr:

Yes.

P:

I may be. My only difficulty is that the

probleme here are naturally simply enormous.
May I answer you in the afternoon?
H.M.Jr:

Yes. Well, here 18 my thought. If you
want to come, come and have supper with me
and then you could go back right after
supper if you wanted to.

127

-4P:

Yes. Yes, that might be a way.

H.M.Jr:

See? Because we're moving fast here and

P:

it's terribly important that I know.
All right. I'11 try and do that and let you
know a little later.

H.M.Jr:

Will you, please?

P:

I'11 have to cut out a rather important

H.M.Jr:

thing -- I'll let you know a little later.
I think I can do it.
Well, either that or -- I think that at the

P:

I think 80 too. And frankly that was why I

speed that we're moving, I ought to know
what you're doing.

wanted to telephone you straight away, but

I'd like to - I think it may be better for

us to have the documents right in hand.
H.M.Jr:

Right.

P:

I'11 bring them down with me.

H.M.Jr:

Thank you.

P:

Fine.

128

June 17, 1940
3:40 p.m.

H.M.Jr:
Admiral
Furlong:
H.M.Jr:

Hello.

Mr. Secretary, this is Furlong.
Yes, sir.

F:

The transportation company is about right
now to pick up those articles, there're
5,300 and some and 565 of the others, and I
wondered if there was anything that may have
come up that might cause you to tell me not
to let them take them.

H.M.Jr:

Now, you've got to help me a little bit.

F:

Sir?

H.M.Jr:

You've got to help me a little bit. Are those
for the 50 or for the 93?

F:

Oh, those are for the 93, the 50 have gone
long ago.

H.M.Jr:

The 50 have gone.

F:

And this is for the 93.

H.M.Jr:

Well, where does the transportation company
ship them to?

F:

Well, I don't know positively, but I under -well, I really couldn't say. They were for
the 93; I know where they shipped the other
ones to -- they went across the border.

H.M.Jr:
F:

Well, they're actually ready to go.
Actually ready to go and the transportation
company -- I told them this morning, or one
of my assistants told them this morning, that
our people would hand them over to them and
they're to call my people at Georgetown at
3:00 o'olook today and at Mare Island at
4:00 'clock today.

129

-2H.M.Jr:
F:

H.M.Jr:

Ah

And there are others at Hawthorne, three
places -- almost -- about 6,000 bombs.
But I can maybe find out where they're to go.

I can and let you know, easily, I think.
Maybe I'd better find that out.
It would make a little difference whether

they were going to Canada or whether they
were going to New York or -- see?

I'll find out.

F:

Yes.

H.M.Jr:

Have the 93 planes gone?

F:

Well, I don't know. Those were the Army

planes, you know, and these were the ones
we talked about getting the ammunition for when we were
H.M.Jr:
F:

H.M.Jr:

over at your office.
I'd let them go.

You remember we said that we could give them

this 5,000 and then Marshall said, well, he
had 6,000 but he didn't want them to go. But
I'm all ready to let them go.
I'd let them go.

F:

All right.

H.M.Jr:

I'd let them go.

F:

All right, sir. I'll shoot them out.

H.M.Jr:

Right.

F:

Right. Good-bye.

130

June 17, 1940
3:42 p.m.

Alfred
Sloan:

Mr. Secretary, this is Alfred Sloan, General

Motors.

H.M.Jr:

How are you?

S:

Pretty good. In accordance with my promise

H.M.Jr:
S:

I thought I'd send this message and tell you
that I'd like to give you a little information
and what's happened since our last talk.
I'm intensely interested.

Well, now, here's what happened. We have been
carrying along the changes suggested by
Mr. Mead and we've made very excellent
progress.

H.M.Jr:
S:

Good.

We found accidently last Friday that General
Brett has set up five planes at Langley Field
and has put them on a 10-hour endurance test

in the air under the conditions that he thinks
they would be normally subjected to in military

practice.
H.M.Jr:
S:

Yes.

Those tests have been going on for about a
week. He plans to carry them through for
150 hours.

H.M.Jr:
S:

In the air.
In the air, yes, sir. They've been through

about half that time, and when they're
completed I'm going to send some technicians
down there and the General is going to have
them taken apart and we will examine them

very carefully and I will see that you're
told exactly what their condition is.

-2H.M.Jr:

131

Well, if you had the time and would call me
up again next week, I'd like to know very
much directly from you.

S:

H.M.Jr:

I'11 do that. Don't think about the time --

I'11 do anything.

Yes, because if you've got that thing
straightened out it would be really a piece
of cheerful news.

S:

All I can say is, the General told Mr. Crane -you remember Mr. Crane that Dr. Mead spoke

about when I was in your office?
H.M.Jr:
S:

No, I don't, but that
trifle. But Dr. Mead grew up under
Harry Crane and he was the gentleman, and

he's my technical assistant. He had a long
talk with General Brett. As far as we can
learn, the test 80 far was coming out very

H.M.Jr:
S:

H.M.Jr:
S:

H.M.Jr:
S:

H.M.Jr:
S:

satisfactorily.
Fine. What are those? Are those the Curtis
P-40'8?

Now, Mr. Secretary, frankly, I can't answer
that question.
Well, anyway, they have five of your engines
on it.
Our engine and they're our planes at
Langley Field.
Good.

Now you will recall when I last talked to
you, I spoke to you about the importance of
a correlation between -- a test on the ground
and an air test.
I remember very well.

weren't qualified and I said I wasn't
and I didn't think anybody was. Well, without

132

-3any of us knowing it, the General took this

in his hands and he certainly is likely to

make an important contribution as to really
what the engines can do under the conditions
that they're supposed to operate.
H.M.Jr:
S:

Well, I'm delighted to hear it and I appreciate
your calling.

Mr. Secretary, we've continued production at
Indianapolis and we have quite a considerable
number of engines all approved by the
Government inspectors ready to be shipped.

H.M.Jr:

Good.

S:

And Mr. Vaughan has something like 75 planes

at Buffalo waiting for engines.

H.M.Jr:

Who has?

S:

The Curtiss Company, Mr. Guy Vaughan.

S:

Oh, yes. He's got 75 planes.
Just as soon as these tests are finished,
we will ship all the engines we have. We
have something like 30 or 35.

H.M.Jr:

Good.

S:

And so that our production is getting along

H.M.Jr:

nicely and these changes that Mr. Mead has
recommended as I said before, they're under

test now, and we're also trying to develop
test more compatible with what
they would be in the air such as Rolls Royce
uses and now I'm getting into technical
a

details and I simply want to tell you that

we're on the job and we working day and
night, Sundays and every other to clear these
points that Mr. Mead has raised.
H.M.Jr:

Swell. Thank you so much.

S:

All right. The news is awfully bad, isn't it?

133

4-

H.M.Jr:

I hope you call me up again next week.

S:

I will, certainly will, Mr. Secretary.

H.M.Jr:

Thank you.

134

June 17, 1940
3:54 p.m.

H.M.Jr:

Hello.

Edward

Stettinius:

Hello, Mr. Secretary.

H.M.Jr:

How are you?

S:

I'm fine. How are you?

H.M.Jr:

Oh, wonderful.

S:

(Laughs) Gosh. That schedule of delivery
of those shells by sizes will not be completed

nor even given to the War Department until
Friday of this week.
H.M.Jr:

Good gosh!

S:

And I'm going to give you a copy as soon as

it's -- they've got five engineers -- been

working day and night to see what deliveries
they can make and, you see, this order fell

on them like a ton of bricks overnight.

H.M.Jr:

Right.

S:

So you'll see

H.M.Jr:
S:

H.M.Jr:
S:

H.M.Jr:
S:

I'll be amonget the first.
You will be before the first.
Before the first (Laughs). I see. All right.
Isn't the news from abroad terrible?
Yes, it couldn't be any worse.
What's -- is there anything on the Navy?

H.M.Jr:

No.

S:

French Navy?

133

-2
H.M.Jr:

No.
is. There's -- I -- nobody knows where it

S:

Gosh!

H.M.Jr:

Nobody knows where it 18.

S:

Good Lord!

H.M.Jr:

That's what they say.

S:

Well, I'11 have these figures for you Friday.

H.M.Jr:

Thank you. How are you getting along?
Getting along -- much too much to do, but

S:

getting along fine.

H.M.Jr:

Well, O. K.

S:

Thank you. Good-bye.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

136

INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION

DATE June 17, 1940
TO

Secretary Morgenthau

FROM Mr. Cochran

CONFIDENTIAL

Following reports that the French were seeking a basis for the cessation of
hostilities, sterling opened at 3.61, seven cents lower than Saturday's close. It

had a firm tone during the morning, which was attributed mainly to buying of pounds
by the New York branches of Japanese banks. A high of 3.68 was recorded at noontime. After moving down to 3.64-1/2 in mid-afternoon, sterling returned to 3.65
at the close.

Sales of spot sterling by the six reporting banks totaled 1188,000, from the
following sources:
I 79,000
I 89,000

By commercial concerns

By foreign banks (South America and Europe)

Total

1188,000

Purchases of spot sterling amounted to L222,000, as indicated below:
197,000
125,000

By commercial concerns

By foreign banks (Europe)

Total

L222,000

The Guaranty Trust Company reported that it had sold cotton bills totaling

12,000 to the British Control on the basis of the official rate of 4.02-1/2.

The Guaranty also stated that it had purchased 12,000 for spot delivery from

the British Control at the official rate of 4.03-1/2. The funds will be used to
pay for a shipment of whisky.

According to a Dow Jones despatch from London, the Bank of England announced

the withdrawal of permission to transfer securities which were restricted under
the order of August 26, 1939. The August order applied to securities in nine
foreign currencies (including United States and Canadian dollars), the selling of
which was subject to approval by the British authorities. Today's London news
item stated that dealings in such securities are now discontinued, whether between
residents or with residents and non-residents.
The French franc was not quoted in the New York market today. It was reported
by the Dow Jones ticker that no trading was being carried on in this currency.
The banks were described as unwilling to enter into commitments pending clarification
of the situation in France. The Bank of England published its official daily
uotations for the French franc early this morning, but later on, a news item from

137

-2-

CONFIDENTIAL

London stated that the bank had suspended dealings in the French currency. It was
also reported from Ottawa that Canadian Government officials had suspended the transfor of any funds from Canada to the occupied regions of France pending a formal
declaration blocking French balances.
Developments in the other currencies were as follows:
The Swiss franc was steady all day at .2242.
The Canadian dollar weakened to a discount of 19-3/4% at the close, as
compared with Saturday's final rate of 18-3/4%.
The lira and reichamark were unchanged at .0505 and .4000 respectively.
The Cuban peso was again quoted at a discount of 10-1/16%

The Mexican peso opened here at .1923 bid, .2000 offered. This afternoon,
the bid rate fell to .1818 while the offered rate remained unchanged.
We sold the following amounts of gold, to be added to the earmarked accounts of

the banks indicated:

$1,800,000 to the Bank of Portugal.
200,000 to the Lithmanian Bank.
$2,000,000 Total

We purchased the following amounts of gold from the earmarked accounts of the

banks indicated:

$5,000,000 from the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic.
700,000 from the Bank of the Colombian Republic.
$5,700,000 Total

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that the Bank of Canada, Ottawa,

shipped $4,937,000 in gold from Canada to the Federal for its own account, for sale
to the U.S. Assay Office.

The State Department forwarded to us cables stating that the following gold

shipments would be made:

From England, for sale to the U.S. Assay Office at New York:
$3,159,000 shipped by the Midland Bank Overseas Branch, London, to the Credit Suisse,
New York.

99,000 shipped by the Midland Bank Overseas Branch, London, to the Chase National
Bank, New York.

61,000 shipped by the Midland Bank, London, to the National City Bank, New York.

From Hong Kong, for sale to the U. S. Mint at San Francisco:
282,000 shipped by the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, Hong Kong,

to the Bank of California N. A., San Francisco.

210,000 shipped by the National City Bank, Hong Kong, to the American Trust
Company, San Francisco.

150,000 shipped by the Chase Bank, Hong Kong, to the Chase National Bank,

San Francisco.
$3,961,000 Total

138

-3The report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York listing deposits for the
account of Asia as reported by the New York agencies of Japanese banks on June 12,
showed that such deposits totaled $40,892,000, a decrease of $5,335,000 since the

last report as of June 5. Included in this total were $29,201,000 in deposits with
the Yokohama Specie Bank, New York, made by its branches in China (about unchanged

from June 5), and deposits of $4,264,000 made by the head office and Japanese branches
(off $4,196,000). The overdraft of the head office and Japanese branches on the

books of Yokohama's New York agency was $79,216,000, a decrease of $3,309,000 since
June 5.

The Bombay gold price was equivalent to $35.30, off 35
Spot silver in Bombay declined the equivalent of 1/44 to 44.314. The Commerce
Department's daily statement of June 14 covering silver exports and imports revealed
that approximately 820,000 ounces of refined silver bullion were exported from the
United States to Bombay. This silver was probably contracted for at some previous
time. According to cable advice received from India, Bombay dealers, at the present
time, are disinclined to import silver from America because of the increasing risk
of shipment.

In London, spot silver was fixed at 23d, off 7/16d. The forward quotation
was 21-11/16d, off 1/8d. The decline was attributed to Indian speculative selling.
Handy and Harman lowered its settlement price for foreign silver by 1/44 to
34-3/44 today. The Treasury's purchase price for foreign silver was unchanged at
35d.

We made nine purchases of silver totaling 753,978 ounces of silver under the
Silver Purchase Act. Of this amount, 301,000 ounces represented sales from inventory,
150,000 ounces were trading silver, and 45,784 ounces consisted of new production
silver offered to us on a spot basis. The balance of 257,194 ounces represented new
production from foreign countries, for forward delivery.
We also purchased 300,000 ounces of silver from the Bank of Canada under our
regular monthly agreement.

H M.P.
CONFIDENTIA

133

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE

June 17. 1940.

Secretary Morgenthau
FROM

Mr. Cochran

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

On Saturday morning, June 15. Mesers. Bernstein and I attended a meeting
the State Department, attended by representatives also from the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York and the Board of Governors at Washington, in regard to the Bolivian
gold question. The suggested solution mentioned in my memorandum of June 14 was discussed and a drafting committee worked on Saturday afternoon on letters to be signed
at

by the Secretary of State and the Bolivian Minister. At the meeting, the Federal
Reserve Board representatives presented the attached draft which they would like to
lead to some legislation which might afford them protection. I was requested to

bring this to the attention of the Secretary.

This noon Mr. Wyatt, General Counsel of the Board, telephoned me seeking

early action on our part with respect to the draft legislation. I told him that we
had not yet had time to study this, but would let him hear in due time. This afternoon Mr. Dreibilbis, Assistant General Counsel, telephoned me to state that the
drafting of the letters had been improved today. He added that Vice President Logan
of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York would deem it very helpful if the Treasury,
upon receiving from the Secretary of State a copy of the letter addressed to him by
the Minister of Bolivia and of the communication written by the Secretary of State
to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, would address a letter to the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York stating "In view of the foregoing letters of the Bolivian
Minister and the Secretary of State, it is apparent that the gold should be shipped
to Bolivia, to the Banco Central de Bolivia. You are accordingly licensed to make
such shipment."

I told Mr. Dreibilbis that this matter would be discussed with our Counsel
and that he would hear from us later.

BMP

140
4 BILL

To safeguard the foreign relations of the United States, to amend section 14 of the Federal Reserve Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That subsection (e)
of section 14 of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, is amended by

striking out at the end of the first sentence thereof the words "banking accounts for such foreign correspondents or agencies", and inserting in lieu thereof the words "accounts for foreign banks and bankers,
and for foreign governments and officers, agencies, and instrumentalities thereof".
Sec. 2. Section 14 of the Federal Reserve Act. as amended,
is amended by adding at the end thereof a new subsection reading as
follows:

"(h) Whenever a Federal Reserve Bank has hereto-

fore received, or shall hereafter receive, any property
(including any gold, silver, currency, credit or other
thing of value) from, or for the account of, any foreign
government or any foreign bank or banker, as a deposit,
for earmarking or for any other lawful purpose whatsoever, such Federal Reserve Bank may rely upon advice

given by the Secretary of State or the Under Secretary

of State of the Unit ed States as to who is entitled to
receive or dispose of any such property; and, except

with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Under

-2-

Secretary of State, such property shall not in any
court be subject to, or affected by, any attachment,
garnishment, injunction or other similar proceeding
instituted by any third party. Whenever any Federal

Reserve Bank, pursuant to a request of, or in reliance upon advice from, the Secretary of State or the

Under Secretary of State, has or shall have, paid,
delivered or otherwise disposed of any such property

to, or upon the order or pursuant to the instructions
of, (1) such foreign government or foreign bank or
banker or (2) any other person or organisation which

has been duly certified by the Secretary of State or
the Under Secretary of State to be the duly accredited
representative or legal successor of such foreign
government or foreign bank or banker or to be other-

wise legally entitled to such property, such Federal
Reserve Bank shall be conclusively presumed to have

acted lawfully, shall be completely discharged and

released from any and all liability and responsibility
with reference thereto, and shall not be subject to
any suit or other legal proceeding in any court as a
consequence of such action or in respect to such

property. Nothing in this subsection shall affect in
any way the right of any Federal Reserve Bank to act

upon its own responsibility with reference to any such

141

142

-3-

property without obtaining the advice or consent of
the Secretary of State, the Under Secretary of State
or any other representative of the Department of State.

For the purposes of this subsection, the term "property"

shall include, without limitation, gold, silver, currency,
credits, deposits, securities, obligations, accounts,
claims, choses in action, and any other form of property
whether tangible or intangible and of whatsoever nature,

the proceeds thereof and any right, title or interest
therein: and the term "foreign government" shall include,
without limitation, any territory, dependency, possession,

State, department, district, province, county, municipality, or other similar governmental organization or subdivision of a foreign government, and any officer, agency or
instrumentality of any such foreign government or of any
such organization."

Wieba
6/14/40

143

COPY OF MEMORANDUM HANDED BY MR. PINSENT OF BRITISH EMBASSY

TO MR. COCHRAN IN TREASURY AT 6:45 p.m., JUNE 17, 1940

Secret.

Please inform United States Government that in view of

obscurity of position and uncertainty whether French offer
of armistice will be accepted we did not to-day take steps
to block French gold [1 balances_7 before banks closed. We

shall consider what will be appropriate steps to take
tomorrow.

2. We should be glad to know what steps would be con-

templated by U. S. Government [to prevent French ' ] gold in
transit being handed over to Germany and French balances
being used for benefit of Germany.

COPY

144

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION

DATE June 17. 1940
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM

Mr. Cochran

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Irigoyen, of the Argentine Ministry of Finance telephoned me at 2:35
this afternoon from Buenos Aires. He reminded me that I had made an appointment for
him to see Mr. Jesse Jones some weeks ago, in order that he might discuss the possi-

bility of obtaining a credit for Argentina. Mr. Irigoyen said that he had at that
time spoken of fifteen or twenty million dollars, although fifty million dollars could

well be used. Irigoyen told me that with their exports now shut out from so many
markets, it is necessary that foreign exchange be received. They are already cutting
down their commitments, but will have to reduce their purchases further and perhaps
reduce remittances if some outside help is not received. Mr. Irigoyen asked that I
mention this subject to the Secretary and to Mr. Jones. He will call me back at 2:30
Wednesday afternoon. I told him that I would probably have to put him directly in
touch with Mr. Jones.

C.M.R.

145

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION

DATE June 17, 1940
Secretary Morgenthau
FROM

Mr. Cochran

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

At 2:30 this afternoon Mr. Knoke telephoned me from the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York. He stated that Mr. Marcial, the representative in New York of the
Bank of France, had called on him to find what the attitude of the Federal Reserve
Bank might be if the Bank of France representative should pose the following questions

suggesting alternative policies: (1) That all gold of the Bank of France in New York

be sold to the Treasury and the proceeds credited to the account of the Bank of Canada
for the Bank of France: (2) that all French gold be shipped from New York to Canada
for earmarking there; (3) that the gold earmarked here for the Bank of France be earmarked in the name of the Bank of Canada, for the Bank of France: (4) that all of the
gold of the Bank of France in New York be sold to the Treasury: that the proceeds be
transferred to the Bank of France Special Account; and then that Marcial draw a check
thereon for the full amount payable to the order of the British Purchasing Commission.
Marcial did not request an immediate answer, but wanted the Federal Reserve
ank to be considering these possibilities. In answer to my question, Knoke stated
that Marcial originally had authority only to draw on the Bank of France Special
Account, but that since May 22 he has been authorised to draw on all account of the
Bank of France or open or to be opened including bullion, and to dispose thereof.

It is obvious from the above that the French were interested in getting the
the gold out of the name of the Bank of France, or out of this country. Just as the
telephone call was terminated, I saw the ticker report that we had frozen French
balances. Transfers such as those above envisaged will now require our license.
Knoke told me that Leroy-Beaulieu was on the way to Washington from New York

to discuss the above-mentioned gold question with us. I had had no conversation with
him on this subject for several days, and was not aware of his contemplated trip.

Kml.P.

146

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE

TO

Secretary Morgenthau

FROM

Mr. Haas

June 17, 1940.

DA

According to reports received from the Work Projects
Administration, 1,859,000 persons were employed during the
week ending June 5, 1940, a decrease of 66,000 persone from
the 1,925,000 reported for the week ending May 29, 1940.

Attachments

147
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

Number of Workers Employed - Weekly

United States

Week Ending
1939-40
November 1
November 8
November 15
November 22
November 29

Number of Workers

(In thousands)
1,901
1,929
1,961
1,987
2,024

December 6
December 13
December 20
December 27

2,075
2,123
2,144
2,152

January 3
January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31

2,160
2,190
2,222
2,244
2,266

February 7
February 14
February 21
February 28

2,288
2,306
2,319
2,324

March 6
March 13
March 20
March 27

2,324
2,319
2,312
2,288

April 3
April 10

2,204
2,162
2,118
2,092

April 17
April 24
May 1
May g

May 15
May 22
May 29

June 5

Source: Work Projects Administration.

2,059
2,008
1,970
1,945
1,925

1,859

148
WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

Number of Workers Employed - Monthly
United States
Number of Workers
1937

(In thousands)

July
August
September

October

November
December
1938

January

February
March

April
May

June

July
August
September
October
November
December
1939

January

February
March

April
May

June

July
August
September

October

November
December
1940

January

February
March

April
May

Source: Work Projects Administration.

Monthly figures are weekly figures for the latest
week of the month.

They include certified and noncertified workers.

1,569

1,480
1,448
1,476
1,520
1,671
1,901
2,075
2,445
2,582
2,678
2,807
3,053
3,171
3,228
3,346
3,287
3,094
2,986
3,043
2,980
2,751
2,600
2,551
2,200
1,842
1,790
1,902
2,024
2,152
2,266
2,324
2,288
2,092
1,925

/

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
Number of Workers Employed

United States
Monthly W.P.A. Employment

Weekly V.P.A. Employment

-

41

1939

or or

MAR

BLIIONS MILLIONS
OREERS NORKERS
3.4

WORKERS

1940

MAY - MAL - - MM NOT MEL - 941

with
3.4

3.3
3.2

3.2

3.3

3.2
3.2

3.1
3.1

2.8

2.8
3.0
3.0

2.9
2.9

2.4

2.4

2.8
2.8

2.7

2.0

2.0

2.7

2.4

2.4

2.5

2.1

2.4

2.4

1.6

1.4

2.3

2.3

2.2

2.2

2.1

2.1

2.0

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.2

1.2

.8

1.8

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.6

1.5

1.5

0

JAN.

1935

1936

1940

41

MAR.

MAY

JULY

1939

SEPT.

NOV.

JAN.

MARA

MAY

JULY

1940

SEPT.

NOV.

JAN.

MAR.

1941

NOURCES BORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

Secretary of the Treasury
Retire

2 - 221 a

149

TREASURY DEPARTMENT
INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION

150
CONFIDENTIAL

DATE June 17, 1940
TO

Secretary Morgenthau

FROM

Mr. Haas

Subject:

DA
The Business Situation,

Week ending June 15, 1940.
Conclusions

(1) The national armament program has begun to strengthen

business confidence in this country and to increase business

activity, in advance of any substantial placing of orders, thus
serving to cushion our economy against the shock of the present
adverse war news. While Allied buying has been an important
strengthening factor, the duration of such buying has always
been in question. Now businessmen have a more clear outlook
ahead, based upon our national defense program. Evidence of

its effect on business activity appears in various directions:
(a) An abrupt expansion in cotton goods buying last

week. which on Wednesday reached the highest volume of

any day since last September, was attributed to the
prospect of heavy Government orders and increased civilian consumption.

(b) The rapidly increasing rate of steel activity
in recent weeks, despite heavy inventories at mills,
derives its strength in part from the prospect of heavy
armament demands.

(c) With increasing employment and payrolls, the
volume of retail trade is beginning to expand, which
suggests that the consumer goods industries may soon
share in the business upturn.
(d) Prices of industrial materials have advanced
during the past week, influenced by increased industrial
buying in advance of Government orders. Purchasing agents,
less than a week after they had decided on a conservative
buying policy, have jumped into the markets for protective
supplies.

151

Secretary Morgenthau - 2

(e) The firmness of domestic security prices since
announcement of the defense program, in the face of unfavorable war news, provides some evidence that the domestic outlook is overshadowing the war outlook as a business
factor.

(2) An FRB index of 111 in the week ended June 8 is indicated by our calculations based on the New York Times index. A
continued rise in new orders, as measured by our weekly index,
foreshadows further business improvement. For the month of
June, the Federal Reserve Board now looks for an FRB index of
about 112.

(3) The business outlook now hinges on the development of
vigorous rearmament program. A noticeable tendency toward
inventory accumulation in advance of Government buying has

a

developed, particularly in the steel industry. This will be-

come a weakening factor in case evidence of tardiness in devel-

oping our defense program should appear.

Defense program cushions shock of war news

From many quarters, evidence is appearing that the national defense program has taken the center of the stage as a business factor and is providing an effective cushion against the
shock of unfavorable war news. The firmness of stock and bond
prices ever since the announcement of the national defense pro-

gram, and their tendency to rise last week despite Italy's
entry into the war and the fall of Paris, seems a rather clear
indication that public confidence has become more resistant
to foreign shocks. A concrete basis for the improved confidence

is provided by visible evidence that industrial activity is

rapidly increasing, which means increased employment and payrolls.

The rapidity of the current advance in industrial activity,
with particular reference to the steel industry, is indicated

by a 3-point rise in the FRB equivalent of the New York Times
index during the week ended June 8, which has carried the index

to 111. (See Chart 1, upper section.) The average of the weekBoard's preliminary estimate for that month of 105. (Lower
section of chart.)

ly figures for May was 106, as compared with the Federal Reserve

G. 152

Secretary Morgenthau - 3

On the basis of present indications, according to the
Federal Reserve Board, it seems likely that the FRB index
of industrial production will be about 112 in June. The
Journal of Commerce also looks for an index of 112 in that
month, and believes that it may reach 120 in July, when a
4-point seasonal correction will be made. This would compare
with the all-time peak of 128 reached last December.

The fact that the rise in industrial activity 18 occur-

ring at a time of normal seasonal slackening will tend, of
course, to make industrial activity (as measured by seasonallyadjusted indexes) appear higher than it really is, as was the
case last December. Further improvement in actual industrial
output will then be required to prevent some decline in the
adjusted FRB index during the fall months.
New orders improve further

The basis for a further rise in business activity is

provided by a continued expansion in new orders, as indicated
by our weekly new orders index. (See Chart 2.) The combined
index in the second week of June reached a new high since last
October. New orders reported by the U. S. Steel Corporation
for the week ended June 6 rose to 363,000 tons, equal to 107

per cent of weekly capacity. Textile orders and "other" orders,

as shown on the chart, also improved.
The most recent new orders figures, furthermore, do not
reflect last week's encouraging developments in the security
and commodity markets. Buying of goods and commodities generally has been stimulated by a sharp upturn in security and
commodity prices, which lifted the Dow-Jones index of indus-

trial stock prices 14 points, and brought corresponding increases in prices of a number of commodities. The stock
market situation had been strengthened by heavy liquidation
of margin accounts during May, which had reduced brokers'
loans to a lower total than in 1933. What effect the report
of the capitulation of France may have on new buying, on the
other hand, has yet to be determined.

Outstanding in the week's news was a marked expansion in

textile buying, which has definitely improved the outlook for
that industry. In this buying wave, the heaviest since last

153

Secretary Morgenthau - 4

September, about 150,000,000 yards of print cloths are estimated to have been sold in three days. While the stock market
upturn doubtless had an influence in bringing buyers into the
market, trade reports attributed the increased buying to the
prospect of heavy Government orders and increased civilian
consumption.

A recent increase in retail demand, which found retail
inventories rather low, is reported to have been a factor in
the expansion of textile buying. Department store sales during

the week ended June 8 rose to 14.0 per cent over the corresponding sales in the previous year, as compared with an average

decline of 4.5 per cent in the two previous weeks. Rising
employment and payrolls will doubtless bring further expansion
of retail buying in coming months, which will enable the con-

sumer goods industries to share in the current business advance.
Prices of raw materials and products increasing

Prices of basic industrial materials are responding to the
increase in industrial demand, and have risen further during
the past week, while prices of food products have held about
steady. (See Chart 3.) Because of the support provided by
rising business activity and the prospective Government demand,
prices did not decline on the severely unfavorable war news of
the past week, as they did on the news of Allied reverses
during May.

Purchasing agents, less than a week after they had decided
on a conservative buying policy, have apparently jumped into
the markets to cover their requirements for long periods ahead.
This general buying for inventory purposes was one of the fac-

tors in the price rise.

Accompanying the rise in raw material prices, manufacturers have stepped up prices of various finished and semifinished products during the past week. Steel-making costs,
for example, have been increased not only by a further rise

in scrap prices but also by increased prices for materials

used in making alloy steels, which will assume an important
part in the armament program. Ferromanganese (used to harden
steel) has been advanced $20 a ton to $120. Spiegeleisen, a
low-percentage ferromanganese alloy, has been raised $4 a ton

to $36. Silicon ferro-alloys are to be raised $5 or $10 a ton.

154

Secretary Morgenthau - 5

These increases are attributed to higher costs of ore which

18 nearly all imported. The price of carbon black, an important industrial material, was raised & cent last week to
2 3/4 cents a pound.

Steel activity continues to rise
A further increase of 3.1 points in the rate of steel

operations, as scheduled for this week, carries the rate to
87.7 per cent of capacity. (See Chart 4) This compares with
a peak of 94.4 per cent reached in the week beginning November 27 last year. Continued expansion is looked for in the
trade until practical capacity is reached, with the possibility
that some hand mills and obsolete plants and furnaces will be
brought into operation.

Ingot output in the Buffalo district last week reached
100 per cent of capacity, and in the Wheeling district 99 per
cent. (See lower section of chart.) Steel mills at Detroit
are also operating at 100 per cent of capacity.
Allied orders for steel have increased sharply, but neutral
countries are not buying steel as heavily as a month ago. Incoming business on the whole is said to be sufficient to support
a production rate of at least 90 per cent of capacity. Specifications for sheet and strip steel contracted for at low prices
last April have been coming in rapidly.
Steel scrap prices continue to advance. The Iron Age
composite price of steel scrap rose to $19.17 as of June 11,
which was 59 cents a ton higher than the previous week. Sharp-

eat advances were at Pittsburgh and Youngstown.

Inventories being accumulated
A movement toward building up inventories of goods and

materials, in anticipation of price increases or difficulties
in obtaining supplies after the armament program gets under
way, is observable in various sections of industry. This will
add further to stocks which had previously been carried somewhat higher than normal as an insurance against war uncertainties.

155

Secretary Morgenthau - 6

The accumulation of inventories provides an element of

weakness in the current business situation, which may become

a depressing influence in the event that public confidence in

the development of a vigorous rearmament program should become

disturbed. This would be particularly true, of course, if it
should be accompanied by a reduction in foreign buying.
The steel mills have apparently been building up inven-

tories for a number of months. Production of finished and
semi-finished steel by the U. S. Steel Corporation, according
to our estimates, sharply exceeded shipments of steel by this

corporation during May, and has somewhat exceeded shipments in
every month since December. (See Chart 5.) As a consequence,

our estimate of inventories of steel products held by the
U. S. Steel Corporation (lower section of chart) rose at the
end of May to a level not far from the peak reached in November
1936. Current reports from the steel trade also indicate that
steel mills have recently been building up their inventories of
finished and semi-finished steel (particularly the latter).
Other industries also appear to be building up inventories.
A survey conducted last week by the Wall Street Journal of manufacturing concerns in principal industrial centers indicated
that stocking of materials is fairly widespread. Manufacturers
of non-essential consumers goods, it is reported, are beginning
to fear that allocation of machinery and semi-finished goods As
to armament companies may reduce their sources of supplies.
examples, it is mentioned that a candy company in Chicago has

bought machinery six months ahead of time; and a refrigerator
manufacturer is buying a year's supply of tin and rubber, and a

two years supply of special tool steel.

Private construction reaches new high
Privately-owned construction awards in May reached a new

high since at least 1932, when figures were first available.
The May total of $217,000,000 exceeds the April figure by
$20,000,000. (See Chart 6.) Most of the gain was due to an
increase in residential construction, which has been one of
the brighter spots in the business picture for some time. As
a matter of fact, total residential construction awards in May
(including publicly owned projects) reached a new high since
1929. Private nonresidential construction (other than public
works and utilities) increased only moderately from the previous month, but was up 53 per cent as compared with May 1939.

156

Secretary Morgenthau - 7

Publicly owned construction projects, which began to run
consistently under year-earlier levels last August, increased
8 per cent in May but were still 17 per cent below May 1939.

(Refer to Chart 6.) Despite the continued lag in public construction activity, total construction awards in May were carried above year-earlier levels for the first time since last
September, due to the rise in private construction.
Weekly business indexes make rapid gain

Continuing the trend which had been in evidence for the
preceding five weeks, the New York Times index of business

activity for the week ending June 8 moved ahead at a somewhat

faster pace. As a result of a gain of 2.1 points, the index
for that week stood at 98.8, or 6 points above the low point
touched in the first week of April. Barron's index of busi-

ness activity for the week ending June 8 likewise continued to
rise, advancing to 108.6 from 105.4 in the previous week.
Except for a slight decline in electric power production,

all components of the New York Times index showed gains. Again
the principal factor in the rise was steel ingot production,
which continued to expand substantially during a period when

operations normally decline. Increases in both total and miscellaneous carloadings, to new highs for the year, were also
important factors.

Preliminary data for the week ending June 15 show (1) a

further substantial contra-seasonal gain in steel ingot operations, which will result in a gain of around 9 points in the
adjusted index of steel production, and (2) a well maintained
level of automobile production. The sharp increase in automobile production after the holiday shutdown, which raised the
output to 95,560 units, has been nearly all retained. The
decline last week was but slightly more than seasonal, and
production was held at 93,635 units. Last year in that week

only 78,305 units were produced.

WEEKLY ESTIMATES OF F.R.B. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BASED
ON N.Y. TIMES INDEX
1923 - 25 = 100, ADJ.
D

N

$

9

A

PERCENT

N

D

A

o
$

PERCENT

130

130

125
125

120
120

115
115

110

110

F.R.B.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION,

105

MONTHLY

105

100

WEEKLY ESTIMATES

100

95
95

90
90

85

85

111

III

ITLIBELL

80

D
N

111

0

J

A

F
N
A

$

J

A

J

J
M

M

D

M

0

1939

M

1940

A

$

80

J

F

J

MONTHLY ESTIMATES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, BASED ON N.Y. TIMES
1938

1937

1939

1940

PERCENT

130

130

120

120

ESTIMATES
110
110

100
100

90
90

F.R.B.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
80
80

70

1937

1938

1939

1940

70

157
Office of the Secretary of the Treasury

- . and States

C - 321

Chart 1

INDICES OF NEW ORDERS
Combined Index of New Orders and Selected Components

1938

1939
PERCENTAGE
POINTS

PERCENTAGE
POINTS

160
160

150
150

140
140

130
130

Total (combined Index)
1895

120

100

N

120

110
110

100
100

90
90

80
80

70
70

60
60

Total excluding Steel and Textiles
50
so

40
40

Steel Orders

30

30

20
20

M

10

10

Textile Orders
0
A

$

1938

Treasury

1939

1940

1 - 85 - C

A

or

in

BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND PRICES OF RAW INDUSTRIAL NATERIALS AND FOODSTUFFS
JUNE

MAY

SEPT.

CENT

5

JULY

PER

PER

CENT

DENT

19

12

26

from

2

MAY

mm

Weekly

108

152

30

23

TTTT

TTTT

TTEE

14

21

28

11

25

18

PER

mm

DENT

Daily

(PRICES)

(BUSINESS)

AUGUST

JULY

16

9

PER

IT

MAR.

7

NOV.

TTY

JAN.

4

SEPT

1940

1 40

1939

122

122

120

120

148

106

BUSINESS ACTIVITY

N.Y. TIMES, EST. NORMAL 100 ADJ.
144

104

118

118

W

PRICES OF Raw INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS

AUG. 1939 - 100

140

102

116

116

100

136
114

114

PRICES OF

Raw INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS."

96

132

B.L.S. AUG. 1939 100

112
112

128

96

110
110

124

94

106

108
120

92

106

PRICES or FOODSTUFFS

106

B.L.S. AUG. 1939 = 100

116

90

y
104
104

112

88

PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

S.L.S. AUG. 1939 100

102
102
106

06

100

82

E

50

SEPT.

NOV.

1939

JAN.

MAR.

HILL
JULY

MAY

1 940

e
SEPT.

100
104

96

100

98

limits
96

96
18
5

84

96

25

19

12

MAY

JUNE

1940

JULY

AUGUST

"FIVE DAY AVERAGE FOR PRICES

Secretary of the Treasury
S-march and Statistics

c 310 A

STEEL OUTPUT AND SCRAP PRICES
Ingot Output in
Percent Capacity
WEEKLY

DOLLARS
PER TON

PER

CENT

U.S. Average

22.50

90

20.00
80

17.50
70

Scrap Prices

15.00

60

12.50
50

Ingot Output

10.00

40

7.50
30

20
M

J

A

M

J A s o N D J F M A M 1940
JJASoNDJF

1941

F

J

1939

PRINCIPAL PRODUCING DISTRICTS
1940

1939

5.00
M

1939

1941

1940

DOLLARS

PER

PER TON

PER TON CENT

PER

CENT

1941

JFM
DOLLARS

M

Chicago

Pittsburgh

20
25

80

20

60

15

40

so

Ingot Output

Ingot Output

IS

60

Scrap Prices

10

40

Scrap Prices
25
10

100

25

80

20

60

20

Youngstown

Philadelphia

20

so

IS

60

10

40

IS

40

30

100

30

100

Buffalo

Cleveland

25

so

25

so

20
60

20

60

IS

IS

40

10

20

30

100

25

so

20

60

40

10

20

Wheeling

100

25

Birmingham

20

so

IS

20

-

MNDJFMAMJJASOND

A

1939

J

- the - Injury

1940

J.M.M

40

10

20
J

40

10

IS

.

60

M

1941

M

1939

1940

1941

160

Largely due to reduction in capacity
C-190-B

Chart 4

STREL SHIPMENTS. PRODUCTION AND ESTIMATED INVENTORIES
U.S. Steel Corporation
1936

1937

1938

1939

1940
TOAS

THOUSANDS

TOMS

THOUSANDS

Shipments and Production

1600

1600

SHIPMENTS of FINISHED STEEL
1400

1400

1200
1200

1000
1000

800
800

600
600

ESTIMATED STEEL PRODUCTION

400

400

200
200

0

0

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

TOMS

THOUSANDS

TONS

THOUSANDS

Estimated Inventories
2600
2600

2400
2400

2200
2200

2000

2000

1800

1800

1600

1600

1400
1400

1200

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

161

CONSTRUCTION

DOLLARS

1933

1934

CONTRACT AWARDS CLASSIFIED BY OWNERSHIP OF PROJECTS
Monthly Totals, F.W. Dodge Corporation
1937
1936
1935
1938

1939

1940

DOLLARS

MILLIONS

MILLIONS
400

400

360

360

TOTAL
320

N

320

280
280

240

240

200
200

M

160

160

120

120

80

80

PUBLICLY ONNOD

PRIVATELY OWNED

40

40

0

1933

- of - - I

the Secretary of - Treasury

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

C - 161 - A

0

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

163

INTER OFFICE COMMUNICATION
DATE

TO

FROM

June 17. 1940

Secretary Morgenthau
Mr. Cochran

Official sales of British owned dollar securities under the vesting order

effective February 19:

June 10
June 11
June 12
June 13
June 14

No. of Shares

$ Proceeds of

Sold

Nominal Value
of Bonds Sold

$ Proceeds of

Shares Sold

Nil
Nil

Nil
Nil

Nil
Nil

Nil
Nil

3,500
2,335
300

30,882
186,589
15,397
13,383

46,000
25,000
107,000
25,000

44,455
27,191
107,810
26,063

6,935

246,251

203,000

205,519

1,313,930

45,950,780

1,511,500

1,287,568

1,320,865

46,197,031

1,714,500

1,493,087

800

June 15

Bonds Sold

TOTAL FOR
WEEK

Sales from

February 22 to

June 8, incl.
TOTAL FEBRUARY

22 TO JUNE 15

Sales of non-vested securities for the week ended June 8 totaled
$1,000,000.

m.P.

163-A

TREASURY DEPARTMENT

Washington

Press Service
No. 21-34

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 17, 1940.

Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau announced today that

reports from the Federal Reserve banks indicate that $279,334,900
of Treasury Bonds of 1940-43, called for redemption on June 15,
1940, have been exchanged for 1 percent Treasury Notes of Series
C-1943.

Subscriptions and allotments were divided among the several

Federal Reserve districts and the Treasury as follows:
Total Subscriptions
Federal Reserve

Received and Allotted

District

20,743,600

Boston
New York

159,855,300
10,401,300
15,635,100
6,345,300
819,300
43,453,000
5,931,400
1,285,400
3,716,100
5,263,600
3,273,700
2,611,800

Philadelphia

Cleveland

Richmond

Atlanta

Chicago

St. Louis

Kinneapolis
Kansas City

Dallas
San Francisco
Treasury

Total

$279,334,900

-000-

164
June 17, 1940

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY:

Pacific Coast Shipping Situation.
Italy's entrance into the war last week and the subsequent
closing of the Mediterranean Sea to American flag shipping finished
what little non-controlled business left to Europe.

The Italian move had the effect of the weakening the freight

and charter market very considerably, although some business was being

done. Following the thawing of the "freeze" of charters and sales,
which gripped the market just before the Italian move, time charter
rates slumped off to about $3.50 to $4. Futures were closed at $3.75
and $4. Voyage rates also took a tumble, but it was hard to determine
the leveling point. In any case, trip charters were reported closed

during the week anywhere from $11.50 to as high as $15.50. These
rates were a considerable decline from the previous levels of between
$16 and $17.50.

Business to the Orient did not change much, despite the upheavals

in Europe. Rates moved to slightly lower levels, partly because of the

war and partly because demands for various commodities had declined.

No full cargoes of scrap were reported, and berth rates were off to
$15 for rails, $16 for melting. General cargo offerings continued
weak. A Greek vessel was taken from the North Pacific for Vladivostok
and the Swedish steamer Herma Gorthon was taken for Hongkong. The
terms were private.

The intercoastal trade eased off another notch, following the
prediction of operators more than a month ago that the trade was in
for a recession. General cargo was not particularly active, and
lumber offerings were growing less each week.

Australian business remained dull because of the restrictions
imposed by the Commonwealth government against imports from the United
States.

An American vessel was taken for a voyage from British Columbia
to South America, and another American vessel was taken for a trip

to Lisbon at $11.50. A Greek vessel was fixed for South Africa.
American President Lines took the steamer Charles R. McCormick

for a round-the-world voyage at a rate reported at about $4.

Banil havin.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICAT TO

165

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON

June 17, 1940.

The Secretary of State presents his compliments

to the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury, and
encloses one copy of paraphrase of telegram No. 260
of June 17 from Bucharest.

166
PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM RECEIVED

FROM: American Legation, Bucharest, Rumania
DATE:

June 17, 1940, 2 p.m.

NO.:

260

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

The gold reserve of Rumania is still here; it had
been the intention to send it via the Rumanian steamship
TRANSYLVANIA through Suez to New York, but the gold did

not get off in time.
GUNTHER.

EA:LWW

OFFICIAL

SECRETARY OF STATE

167
DEPARTMENT OF STATE

G

WASHINGTON

June 17, 1940.

In reply refer to
EA 840.51 Frozen
Credits/169/170

The Secretary of State presents his compliments
to the Honorable the Secretary of the Treasury and
encloses copy of telegram no. 82 from the American

Legation at Ankara, dated June 13, 6 p.m., regarding
the request of a Dutch citizen to withdraw money
from the United States, and copy of telegram no. 83,
dated June 13, 7 p.m., from the same Legation,

inquiring as to the preferable procedure for handling
such inquiries.
Telegram 82 was sent at the expense of the party

at interest, and such reply as the Secretary of the
Treasury may suggest will be sent at the expense of

the interested party.
Enclosures:

From Ankara, nos. 82 and 83,
June 13, 1940.

of

copy the d
168

JSANSWER NECESSARY:
ANSWERED BY:
Distribute to:

Capt. Puleston

Joecretary
Mr. Bell

Fed. Res. Bd.

Mr. Cochran

Mr. Dietrich
Mr. White
Mr. Cotton

Mr. Harrison
Legal Div.

GRAY

ANKARA

Card

RETAIN

Dated June 13, 1940
Rec'd 7:53 P.M.

Secretary of State,
Washington.

33, June 13, 7 P.M.

would the Department prefer that requests such as

that in my No. 82, June 13, 6 p.m., be handled through
the appropriate mission in Washington.
MACMURRAY
HTM

Request of Dutch citizen to
withdraw money from United States.

E

ISANSWER NECESSARY:

169

ANSWERED BY:
Distribute

JT

to:

Secretary

Capt. Puleston

Mr. Red

Fed. Res. Bd.

Mr. Corbean

Mr. Dietrich
Mr. White
Mr. Cotton

Mr. Harrison

GRAY

ANKARA

Legal Div.
Card

RETAIN

Dated June 13, 1940
REC'd 7:54 p.m.

Secretary of State,
Washington

82, June 13, 6 p.m.

The Dutch Minister to Turkey requests that
authorization b. granted for Miss Nadine Van Lennep,
a Dutch citizen, and guest in his household, to
withdraw two hundred fifty dollars from her checking

account in the
National City Bank to defray living
STCOR
EXPENSES.

MACHURRAY
HTH

'N

7700

'E

170
June 17. 1940.

Dear Mr. Keeshins

The Secretary has received your letter
of June 14th, which sends his a copy of a
communication signed by Mr. Van Patter, to

gether with tables of figures for his
further information. Ve very much appreciate your sending this material, which
will have very careful study and consideration.
sincerely yours,

(Signed) H. S. Klotz
H. S. Klots,
Private Secretary.

Mr. J. L. Keechin,
President, Keeshin Freight Lines,
Incorporated.
221 Vest Reesevelt Read,

Chicago, Illinois.

GEF/dbs

***
June 19. 1940.

Done m. Readhine

the secretary has received your letter
of Juse 24th which conta his a oopy of a

- algent w Mr. Yea Palter, w
other with tables of Signee for Me
further information We very - approve
state your uniting this material, which

will have very study and concidentian.
sincerely yours,

(Signed) H.S. Klotz
H. s. Kiets,
Private Secretary.

w. s. be
President, Honohia meight Minos,
Incorporated

- West Received Read
Chicago, Illinois.

oxr/dbe

171

KEESHIN FREIGHT Lines, INC.

172
221 WEST ROOSEVELT ROAD

J.L.KEESHIN

CHICAGO

PRESIDENT

June 14, 1940

The Honorable Henry J. Morgenthau, Jr.
Secretary of the Treasury
Treasury Building
Washington, D.C.

My dear Mr. Secretary:

Enclose herewith copies of correspondence received this morning from Andy Bassi,
from Chungking, China written under date of May 24,
and from C. W. Van Patter, from Kweiyang, China written
under date of May 30, 1940.
Sincerely yours,

Johnshire J. L. Keeshin
JLK:LR
Enos.

DOC is bill S 42

COPY

173
c/o Ministry of Communications
Chungking, China, May 24, 1940
Mr. J. L. Keeshin
221 W. Roosevelt Road

Chicago, Illinois
U. S. A.
Dear Jack:

Just to let you know we have been operating on a constantly improving
scale and the attached tomage and revenue statements bear testimony to this fact. It

is the first time I have felt optimistic since I left there and I am sure if things go
along one half as well as are planned, I can leave here satisfied and happy.

The managing director has developed into an ace and I don't feel any
resentment when he drops in - in the middle of the night and stays until morning, or
comes in for breakfast, talking shop. I feel that any man that can get that enthusiastic
about anything, is entitled to anyone's time whenever he wants it or needs it.
Van Patter is down in Kweiyang and won't be back here before the first of
July. By that time he will have a tough situation pretty well licked and with a few
touches here and there, the maintenance system should go along on its own.

I am going to cover the shops here, while Van is away and should be
pretty well occupied for the few weeks we have left. Van is feeling much better than
he has since we arrived and he is beginning to pick up a bit of weight which he most
certainly can use nicely. He has certainly developed into quite a capable man and I am
certainly glad that he WES the man selected for the job. I can personally recommend him

highly - if he only wouldn't splash water and soap suds all over the mirror. Well, so much
for us.

The one thousand International tractor trailers you spoke about are not
definitely decided upon but are being seriously contemplated. However, I don't feel
that so many can be used on the few highways where articulated units are indicated.
Probably five hundred will be nearer correct. I suppose you know the Southwest
Transportation Company took our two hundred Internationals away from us on the
Generalissimo's orders so we are almost exclusively on three ton units now. No doubt we
will ask for at least one hundred duplicates of the D 50s out of those contemplated or in

addition - time alone will tell.

There is not much else of interest at this time except that the rain of
the last few days has stopped the air raids - and if the bad weather keeps up, the moon
will fade and we will have relief for twenty days at least. The local boys knocked off
seven of them this week which should slow them up for a while.

Sorry to have to close but I have callers again so I'll be seeing you soon.

If you see Mr. Wible, say hello for me and tell him I will write him as
soon as it is propitious. Tell him Eichholzer is in the Hospital in Hongkong critically
ill with typhoid and that I am double timing for the present.
Always

(signed)

Andy Bassi

Revenues of Passenger & Freight Transportation

at following stations
from May 14-20, 1940

Date

Chungking

Kweiyang

Kunming

Liuchow

Hwanghsien

Luhsien

518.95

2,316.75

Total
112,371.54

2,804.70

834.32

2,249.19

111,044.77

16,158.35

214.40

464.99

5,366.54

45,788.33

5,341.45

688.64

72,591.45

76,417.13

30,457.02

1,458.90

514.00

3.50

181,442.00

May 19

36,070.21

37,695.82

60,197.82

3,835.75

472.50

60.00

138,332.10

May 20

37,508.63

12,064.80

20,000.00

1,421.00

888.14

1,000.00

72,882.57

Total

240,162.73

291,475.51

244,302.28

16,105.50

4,381.54

5,629.44

802,057.00

Station
29,890.60

Station
1,029.30

May 14

27,342.05

Station
51,273.89

May 15

6,529.31

56,817.09

41,810.16

May 16

27,305.60

51,840.24

May 17

32,815.48

May 18

Station

Station

Station

-

-

95,983.58
90,000.44

.

Average Daily

114,580.00

175
Number of Trucks despatched & Tonnage hauled

daily at the following stations
from May 14-20, 1940

25.661

(59)

A.W.E.
174.000

(32)

A.V.
89.000

W

15

(s)

3.000
V

16

(8)

22.370

(10)

27.000

(32)

92.000

(40)

A.E.
119.000

w

May 18

(21)

63,000

(28)

76.000

(29)

A.F.
65.000

Station

Station

Luhsien

Station

Total

0

(5)

-

-

-

-

-

-

A.

A.K.E.

w

May 17

(14)

Hwanghsien

15.000

(70)

206 tens

-

(90)

253 tons

(70)

199 tons

(70)

199 tens

(72)

nas tons

(95)

281 tons

(42)

122 tons

D.

A.F.

(1)

3.000
.

(9)

A.E.
42.000

Liuchow

-

(48)

A.S.
121.000

W

May 14

Station

Station

Station

Date

Kunning

Kweiyang

Chungking

M.

(26)

76.000 (2)

(11)

A.E.
32.000

(16)

A.E.
48.000

(2)

4.000

(14)

A.E.
41.000

(1)

A.E.
2.000

400 T. (5)

10 T.

-

(8)

24 T. (509)

1,471 To

1.4 T.

-

(1)

3 T. (73)

210 T.

4.000

-

-

-

-

G.
-

.

W.A.

W

May 19

(12)

36.000

(63)

187.000
A.W.

May 20

(11)

Total:

(84)

Average

Daily

(12)

33.000

(16)

213 T. (284)
30 T.

(41)

45.000

827 T. (138)

118 T. (20)

57 T.

C.

A.

(.7)

(2)

-

6.000

-

-

Exported: Wood Oil 211 Tons, Ammunitions 793 Tons, Others 467 Tons
- Wood 611
M = Medicine

A - Ammution
E - Etc.

F - Fuels

c - Gement

D - Riesel Oils