800.51W89 Belgium/186a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Belgium (Mayer)16
18. The Treasury states again that it fears that a grave situation will arise unless Belgium and other debtor countries sign the Agreement relating to the Hoover 1-year debt suspension payment in accordance with their acceptance of the President’s proposal and the law authorized by Congress. In the light of the acceptance last June by the Belgian Government of the American proposal, this is merely a formal step towards legalization of matters already agreed upon.
This question has now been before the Belgian Government over 2 months. The time is getting very short. It would appear that Brussels may continue this delay indefinitely unless the matter is brought positively and finally to their attention. The Treasury therefore states that unless it receives assurance that the necessary agreement will be signed not later than May 25 it would have no alternative than declaring the Belgian Government in default on its December payment and also demand payment on the June installment. The American people would regard failure to sign as repudiation of an agreement and it would arouse their resentment in regard to this whole question of debts. This is so important that it is desirable that you make every effort to cause the Belgian Government to realize the serious consequence of the failure to put into legal form its acceptance of the President’s proposal.
The British Government has now indicated its intention of proceeding to sign.
- The same telegram, mutatis mutandis, May 12, to the Ambassador in Poland.↩