DEPARTMENT OF STATE                     
 
                         WASHINGTON                         
 
 
May 6, 1938
 
 
In reply refer to
 
CA 811.659 Helium-American
 
Zeppelin Transport, Inc./76
 
 
My Dear Mr. Secretary:
 
 
I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 16,
1938, in reply to my letters of March 15 and April 5, in
regard to the proposed sale of a quantity of helium for
export to Germany.
 
 
I am not interested in the commercial exploitation
of helium but solely in carrying out the duties relating
to the exportation of helium delegated to me by the
Helium Act, and, in the case of the particular proposed
shipment to Germany to which you letter refers, in
avoiding, if possible, any action on the part of this
Government which might unnecessarily jeopardize American
interests in Germany or give rise to any well-founded
charge of bad faith on our part.
 
 
You are correct in your understanding that I do not
concur in the proposal that, in connection with the pro-
million dollars be fixxed as the amount to be stipulated
in a surety bond required under one of the amendments to
the "Regulations Governing the Production and Sale of
Helium."  As I intimated in my letter of April 5, there
does not appear to be a necessity for the imposition of
any bond whatsoever.
 
 
As you have requested my opinion in this matter, I 
may add that the Regulations Governing the Exportation
of Helium Gas, which were approved on September 3, 1937,
by the National Munitions Control Board and the authorized
 
 
The Honorable
 
Harold L. Ickes,
 
Secretary of the Interior.