855.24/10–2245
The Secretary of State to the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Spaak)
My Dear Mr. Minister: I refer to my letter to you of October 19, 1945, which set forth the action which the United States Government is prepared to take with regard to certain problems connected with lend-lease and reciprocal aid and advances of Belgian francs to our military authorities. One of the important elements in the arrangement is described in paragraph (a) of Item 3, relating to the obligation [Page 114] of the Belgian Government under the 3(c) Agreement which will be considered to be satisfied by reason of the excess of reciprocal aid. Although our understanding was clear on this point, the letter failed to record the exact amount to be covered by the procedure.
The Presidential directive under which the United States Government is to act on this matter stipulates the amount of approximately $42 million. Before my letter was handed to Mr. Gutt the Belgian Delegation had been informed that the amount involved in this part of the arrangement would be approximately $42 million. You will also have noted that the joint statement by our two governments which was released to the press on October 19 [20]54 mentioned the amount of approximately $42 million in this regard.
I believe that the understanding between our two governments is clear on this point, but I am writing this letter in order to make the written record correspond fully with that understanding.
Sincerely yours,
- For text of the joint statement, see Department of State Bulletin, October 21, 1945, p. 610.↩