dodis.ch/44484

La Légation britannique à Berne1 au Président de la Confédération, G. Motta2

Acting on the instructions of my Government, I have the honour to draw Your Excellency’s attention to a scheme which is now being elaborated by His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States for the provision of credits for Central Europe.

On the 12th of February last the Chancellor of the British Exchequer informed Parliament that, in view of the great urgency of this matter, and despite the difficulties of the financial situation of the United Kingdom in regard to foreign exchange, His Majesty’s Government had informed the United States Government that over and above the £ 12,500,000 voted already that year for relief, His Majesty’s Government were prepared to contribute a further sum for European relief-credits not exceeding half the sum contributed by the United States and not exceeding in all £ 10.000.000. Mr. Chamberlain went on to say that the Canadian Government had intimated to His Majesty’s Government their desire to make a similar contribution. He added that the British Government were confident that other Governments both allied and neutral would also cooperate in like measure to meet what might truly be called the desperate needs of certain parts of Europe. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also emphasised the view of His Majesty’s Government, a view which it is understood is shared by the United States Government, that it is essential that the conditions governing the grant of such relief-credits should include a provision ensuring the utilisation of the credits for the purposes of stimulating the production and the unfettered interchange of fundamental commodities between the various countries in need of assistance with a view to the early restoration in those countries of self-supporting economic life.

I have been instructed to express to Your Excellency my Government’s earnest trust that in view of the present grave emergency the Swiss Government will see their way to associate themselves with the above action. In such event I should be grateful if Your Excellency would inform me at an early date whether the Swiss Government would be prepared to appoint a delegate to attend the conference which it is proposed to hold in the near future at Paris to discuss the necessary machinery for the administration of credits such as those of which the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government now propose the provision.