Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 1

No. 62
The Chairman of the Allied High Commission for Germany to the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany¹

Bonn, May 26, 1952.

Mr. Chancellor: I refer to the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 4 of the Finance Convention² and to say that the three High Commissioners consider it desirable to state that their understanding of these provisions is as follows:

Amounts due under payment documents issued before the entry into force of the Finance Convention will not be charged to the amounts specified in paragraph 3 of Article 4 of the Convention unless at the date of its entry into force the goods or services covered by such payment documents have not actually been delivered or rendered.

In this connection the three High Commissioners wish to reaffirm the statement made in their letter of 10 May 1952 (AgSec (52) 430³) with regard to anticipatory payments made prior to 31 March 1952, which statement conforms to the principle of the understanding stated above.

I shall be glad if you will confirm this understanding.

I beg Your Excellency to accept [etc.]

John J. McCloy

1. Source: Reprinted from Senate Q and R, p. 158. In his letter of confirmation, dated May 26, Adenauer quoted the text of the letter from McCloy and acknowledged its receipt. For the Chancellor’s letter, see ibid., pp. 158–159.
2. Document 55.
3. Not found in Department of State files.