Office of the Historian

501.BC/11.1748: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France

top secret
us urgent
niact
Washington, November 17, 1948—6 p. m.

Gadel 509. For Jessup. It seems to us indispensable that answer to Bramuglia’s five questions should be coordinated between western nations (Delga 782.1). Comprehensive nature of questions may necessitate working out program for submission to Bramuglia. Is it planned there should be a meeting in Paris or Berlin of experts including those from home offices of western nations? Our Technical Committee here has certain useful views but these can best be presented with knowledge discussions in Paris or Berlin and work of other experts, such as those of Brit Treasury, which we understand has been working on problem. Accordingly if Knapp can be spared from urgent work here we will try to send him and/or another member our Technical Committee soon as possible and will let you know tomorrow.

Lovett

  1. Not printed; the five questions were:

    “1. What agencies will exercise the quadripartite control of the financial arrangements on behalf of the four occupying powers? 2. What are to be the functions of the quadripartite control agencies? 3. Upon which financial operation and in what areas will the quadripartite control be exercised? 4. What is the exact wording of the directive which must be issued for the implementation of quadripartite control? 5. How shall trade between Berlin and the Western zones of Germany and third countries be controlled including the issuance of export/import licenses?” (740.00119 Control (Germany)/11–1648)

    ↩