740.00119 EW/5–1145
The Department of State to the Belgian Embassy
The Department of State has further reference to the Belgian Embassy’s memorandum no. 2938 of May 11, 1945 proposing that certain arrangements be made with a view to removing from Germany materials necessary for the restoration of the Belgian economy.
[Page 105]As a step in the establishment of procedures for an interim flow of materials and products from Germany, the United States Government has informed other occupying powers of its concern to secure the maximum possible increase of German coal production and to furnish for export the whole quantity over and above minimum German needs and has proposed that instructions be issued to military authorities to take immediate action to this end in their respective zones of occupation.
Since the rehabilitation of transportation systems is of prime necessity in general economic reconstruction, consideration is also being given by this Government to methods of determining the availability of transportation equipment in Germany with a view to the transfer of locomotives and rolling stock urgently required in the liberated countries.