Chapter XXVIII: Part 27: Telegram (Secret Ch V)

Berlin, 19 February 1942, 1343 o’clock

Wako Paris
Nr. 50 of 19 Feb. Citissime.
Matter to be kept under lock C

Att: Mr. Hemmen

German Armistice Delegation for Economics

Wiesbaden 20 February 1942 No. 1309 Enclosures
[Initials]

In answer to report of 3 and 11 February No. 736 and No. 189 of 16 February and telegram of the 18th No. 43.

1. Reich Foreign Minister has ordered on 16 February that you orally transmit to the Governor de Boisanger that the German Government considers the letter of Finance Minister Bouthillier to the Reich Minister of Finances only as a personal statement, not as an official communication of the French Government. In case the French government wishes to make a statement concerning the question of occupation costs this should be directed by the authorized French chief of negotiations to the authorized German chief of negotiations. In connection with this communication you are to warn Mr. de Boisanger regarding the end of Mr. Bouthillier’s letter emphatically against an arbitrary discontinuation of the payments for occupation costs by the French Government and to point out to him that such a discontinuation would create a serious situation and result in corresponding German counter measures.

2. The Reich Minister of Finance has on 17 February declared that he approves these steps and that he is not going to answer the letter. However, he has suggested an internal discussion of the question of occupation costs to which the Reich Foreign Minister also agreed regarding the report of the OKW on the actual daily expenditures. The discussion will take place soon in agreement with the competent department and your reports mentioned in the beginning will also be discussed.

3. Reich Foreign Minister, by the way, has issued for all your negotiations the general directive, considered at an earlier date, that you are to break off negotiations and depart for Berlin in case the French assume an attitude which is not becoming to them as the conquered ones.

Wiehl.

* * * * * * *