890D.5151/15

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Bullitt )

No. 2081

Sir: There is enclosed herewith a copy of despatch no. 504, dated March 20, 1940, from the American Consulate General at Beirut,51 reporting that regulations governing the control of exchange which have been placed into effect in the mandated territory affect the transfer of inheritances from that territory to the United States. The Consulate General reports that a number of requests for assistance [Page 939] in obtaining permission to transfer the proceeds of such estates to persons domiciled in the United States have already been received.

The Embassy is requested to report to the Department regarding the subject, including information concerning any regulations which may be in effect in continental France governing the transfer of estates to heirs domiciled in the United States. Since there are no Federal restrictions upon the transfer of inheritances from the United States, and considering that the few states of the United States which have enacted legislation controlling the transmission of funds from decedents’ estates permit remittance to any foreign country on a basis of reciprocity, the restrictive measures placed into effect by the French authorities in Syria lack any basis of reciprocity when applied to residents of this country. The Embassy’s comments with regard to possible representations on the subject will be of interest.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
R. Walton Moore
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