DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
WASHINGTON
 
 
December 20, 1938.
 
 
                         My dear Mr. President:
 
                               I believe you will be interested in the memorandum                                          
                         of my conversation of this morning with the German Charge
                         d'Affaires, of which I enclose a copy.
 
 
                               This is the first evidence that the German Govern-
                         ment has shown of its willingness to take any step in the
                         interest of our nationals by making exceptions to the
                         existing exchange regulations so that American citizens
                         can withdraw from Germany in full properties which they
                         have inherlted.
 
 
                               I am of course confident that this step would not
                         now have been taken by the German Government except for
                         the fact that I indicated to the German Ambassador that
                         public opinion in this country was demanding retaliatory
                         measures.
 
 
                                   Believe me                                         
 
Faithfully yours,
 
 
The President,
 
The White House.