854.24/46
The Swiss Minister (Bruggmann) to the Secretary of State
Sir: The European war has created for Switzerland the situation which had been foreseen when, with the knowledge of the Department of State, option contracts for the purchase of different important commodities have been concluded in 1939 between the Swiss Government and outstanding American suppliers.
With your note of May 27, 1939, you gave the assurance that in the future as in the past, both the Government and the people of the United States will have the steady desire to maintain the friendliest and fullest possible commercial relations with the Government and the people of Switzerland. You expressed confidence that this desire would be present under all circumstances. Your assurance has been highly appreciated by the Swiss Government and has no doubt influenced the intention of my country to purchase and to store in the United States an important reserve of commodities most vital to its existence.
Relying on these option contracts with American suppliers and on this assurance of the Department of State, the Swiss Government is disposed to begin now the necessary purchasing transactions. Simultaneously, it is weighing the creation in the United States of an organization with the purpose of supervising these purchases as well as the necessary storing transactions in this country and the transportation of such commodities oversea.
To secure a useful operation of the organization which the Swiss Government has in mind, it seems to me very desirable that the United States Government would agree to examine and discuss appropriate steps with a view to keeping itself in permanent touch with [Page 867] such a Swiss organization and to consider all matters of mutual interest in order to eliminate as far as possible difficulties that may arise in connection with the organization’s operations.
Arrangements to this effect would undoubtedly materially influence the extent of Swiss purchasing transactions in this country.
Accept [etc.]