811.114 Belgium/156
The Ambassador in Belgium (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 599, of October 16, 1935, regarding the negotiations conducted by Commander B. M. Thompson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, in collaboration with the Embassy, with a view to the prevention of shipments of alcohol from Belgium destined for smuggling into the United States.
In this connection, I now have the honor to report that, in view of the apparent unwillingness of the Belgian officials charged with the technical consideration of this question to lend their cooperation, the Embassy and Commander Thompson felt that the best prospect of achieving a successful solution of the problem was through direct representations to Mr. Paul van Zeeland, Belgian Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Accordingly, I presented Commander Thompson to Mr. van Zeeland on October 19, 1935. I availed myself of the occasion to point out again to Mr. van Zeeland the importance which the United States Government attaches to the question and to urge that he use his good offices to seek a satisfactory solution. Commander Thompson explained the case in detail to Mr. van Zeeland and answered the questions addressed to him by the latter. Mr. van Zeeland appeared much interested in the matter and said that he would take over the case and give it his personal attention inasmuch as he had in mind asking the United States for something later on. He added that “one good turn deserves another”. Commander Thompson said that he would remain in Belgium for the present, pending the outcome of the case, and would be available for any information Mr. van Zeeland might require. He presented to Mr. van Zeeland a memorandum for his use in considering the subject, a copy of which is enclosed for the Department’s information.69
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩