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the home office took no direct steps to remove the Paris manager as it might "react" against
their interests. We were then aware that the Paris branch of Chase acceded to the demands of
the Germans to continue normal operations, even though both the Guaranty and National City
had refused and substantial liquidation ensued.
On the basis of this report, you agreed with our recommendation to investigate Chase in
France. As of the present date our investigation of the Chase records in France confirms the
above mentioned findings, and discloses the following additional information:
1. S. P. Bailey, an American citizen who was in charge of the Paris office in June 1940, felt that
it was desirable to, and actually commenced to, liquidate the Paris office. Some time
thereafter and certainly by June 1941 his powers were revoked when the home office
conferred authority on Niedermann who thereafter successfully ran the Paris office during
German occupation, and Bertrand who remained at Chateauneuf in then unoccupied France.
2. Although Chase in New York did not, so far as is presently known, send instructions for the
Paris branch after February 4, 1942, there is thus far no evidence that Chase even attempted
to veto any transactions of the Paris office or between the office in the Free Zone and the
office in Paris even when such contemplated transactions were the subject of requests for
instructions.
3. Between May 1942 and May 1943, deposits in the Paris office virtually doubled. Almost half
of the increase in deposits took place in two German accounts.
4. About a month after United States' entry into the war, the Chase attorney in Paris advised
that it was a matter of "the most elementary prudence" to block American accounts
notwithstanding that no such instructions had been issued by the occupying authorities. We
are awaiting further reports as to whether the suggested action was taken.
5. In May 1942 the Paris branch advised a Berlin bank that certain instructions of the latter had
been carried out and that the Paris branch "are at your disposal to continue to undertake the
execution of banking affairs in France for your friends as well as for yourselves ***."
I will keep you advised of further developments in the investigation of Chase and the other
American banks in Paris. In this connection you might be interested in reading the attached
cable received yesterday from Hoffman in Paris which describes a meeting he held with Mr.
Larkin who was apparently sent to Paris by Aldrich to try to straighten up the Chase offices.
Larkin reported that Aldrich and the New York board of Chase were very much concerned
over the situation in the Paris office of Chase, and that it was Larkin's job "to get to the bottom
of the situation and make the necessary adjustments in personnel." It is significant that Larkin
emphasized the fact that Chase, New York, had been cut off from the Paris branch since the
United States entered the war. This does not agree with our findings which disclose that
between the date of the fall of France and May 1942, Chase, New York, was kept advised
about activities in Chase, Paris.
Attachment.
6
RECEIVED
DEPARTMENT Of STATE
Ref: 1634/21/43
No: 366
1943 JUN 1 PM 3.21
DIVISION OF
COMMUNICATIONS
AND RECORDS
DIVISION OF
JUN 21 1943
THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
His Majesty's Ambassador presents his compliments to the Secretary of State and has the
honour to state that His Royal Highness, the Duke of Windsor, Governor of the Bahamas, has
enquired whether the United States Government would be so good as to grant exemption from
United States censorship to the correspondence of the Duchess of Windsor. Lord Halifax
would be grateful for such sympathetic consideration as can properly be given to this enquiry.
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
31st May, 1943.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
June 18, 1943
Memorandum
I believe that the Duchess of Windsor should emphatically be denied exemption from
censorship.
Quite aside from the more shadowy reports about the activities of this family, it is to be recalled
that both the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were in contact with Mr. James Mooney, of
General Motors, who attempted to act as mediator of a negotiated peace in the early winter of
1940; that they have maintained correspondence with Bedaux, now in prison in North Africa
and under charges of trading with the enemy, and possibly of treasonable correspondence
with the enemy; that they have been in constant contact with Axel Wenner-Gren, presently on
our Blacklist for suspicious activity; etc. The Duke of Windsor has been finding many excuses
to attend to "private business" in the United States, which he is doing at present.
There are positive reasons, therefore, why this immunity should not be granted -- as well as
the negative reason that we are not according this privilege to the wife of any American official.
A.A.B., Jr.
A-B: AAB: ES [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]