855.48/5–3045

The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Ambassador (Silvercruys)

The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of Belgium and has the honor to refer to the note of Mr. Paul Kronacker, Minister of Supply, dated May 30, 1945, concerning the end of the civil affairs period in Belgium.

On June 19, 1945 the Combined Chiefs of Staff decided to terminate military responsibility for provision and distribution of relief supplies for various countries including Belgium and Luxembourg upon the completion of August loadings, and the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, has been so informed. Responsibility for the provision of petroleum, oil and lubricants and coal will be the subject of separate consideration.

The Acting Secretary is advised that while the Combined Military Authorities will do everything possible to ship all approved requirements up to and including August loadings, they cannot remain responsible after the termination of military responsibility for shipment of any approved requirements which for supply reasons were not available by that time.

It is understood that the shipping authorities are considering the transition of supply responsibility to the Belgian Government and will endeavor to make available as nearly as possible an equivalent amount of tonnage. At the same time, the military authorities in conjunction with the Combined Boards expect to make such adjustments in existing allocations and procurement arrangements as may be necessary to insure a proper sharing of the total supplies allocated [Page 104] for liberated areas. No difficulty is anticipated in the provision of clearance facilities in Belgian ports.

The Acting Secretary has every reason to believe that the transition of supply responsibility to the Belgian Government will be carried out effectively, that shipping and allocations of supplies will be adjusted as far as possible within the over-all limitations and that the equitability of such arrangements will not be prejudiced by the procedural terminology applied to the various categories of supplies. To this end the agencies of the United States Government will lend every possible assistance and the Acting Secretary urges that the Belgian Government appropriately instruct its supply and procurement officials concerning the responsibility to be assumed.