800.515/939: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 27—12:21 p.m.]
252. Reference your 85, January 14, 11 p.m., and my 165, January 18, 9 a.m. 1. During a call on January 25 on Dekanozov,70 Hamilton71 mentioned the question of currency arrangements during the invasion and occupation of Germany. Dekanozov asked whether this was urgent and Hamilton explained again that the question of completing the plates and printing program called for early decision. Dekanozov said that the matter had been referred to the Soviet military financial people; that they regarded the matter as one requiring considerable study; and that it would not be possible to reach an immediate decision. Hamilton asked that the Soviets proceed with their consideration as rapidly as practicable.
2. The British Foreign Office has informed the British Embassy here that we are raising this matter with the Soviet Government and the British Embassy has inquired in what terms we presented the matter, saying that they wished to harmonize any approach they might make to the Soviet Government with ours. We have told the British Embassy of our instructions. The information the British Embassy has given us indicates that their instructions differ from ours in a number of respects. The British plan envisages presenting a general scheme of invasion currency arrangements to the Soviet authorities. If they agree to these arrangements, designs containing inscriptions in Russian characters would be submitted for Soviet approval, the notes printed in the United Kingdom or the United States and sent to the Soviet Union as soon as stocks were available. We assume that the question of working out any differences between the United States and British views will be done in Washington and in London. It would be helpful if you could inform us promptly of status of our discussions with British on this subject in order to avoid confusion here.