811.51/4498: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Ecuador ( Long )

610. Your 650, August 11, 9 p.m. Treasury is opposed to making any commitment with respect to currency forwarded by the Central Bank to the United States for collection and found to have an Axis taint. All of the other countries in the Western Hemisphere in a position similar to that of Ecuador have made arrangements which do not provide for the return of Axis tainted currency. If the Finance Minister cannot be induced to change his position, it would be preferable to delay any decision until the currency is actually forwarded to the United States since it is not known at the present time precisely how much, if any, currency of this character will be forwarded. Each case can then be discussed as it arises in an endeavor to work out mutually satisfactory arrangements.

Hull