who wanted to
get home as quickly and as safely as possible. So we tried to do it,
making use of the best means available, and praying that heaven and our
diplomatic colleagues would forgive any errors or gaffes that we might
make. We preserved a profound respect for etiquette and regularity. But
our predominant anxiety was to get the things done that had to be done.

Take an illustration. Excuse the personal references in it.

From the very beginning it seemed clear to me that one of the greatest
difficulties in the first days of war would be to secure a supply of
ready money for American travellers in flight. As a rule they carried
little hard cash with them. Paper money would be at a discount; checks
and drafts difficult, if not impossible, to negotiate in Holland.
Moratoriums were falling everywhere as thick as leaves in Vallombrosa.

So I went directly to my friend Foreign Minister Loudon, and asked him a
plain question.

"Would your Government be willing to help us in getting American
travellers' checks and drafts on letters of credit cashed if I should
indorse them as American Minister?"

He answered as promptly as if the suggestion had already been formed in
his own mind--as perhaps it had.

"Certainly, and gladly! Those pieces of paper would be the best
securities in the world--short-term notes of the American Government. If
you will get the authority from Washington to indorse, the Bank of the
Netherlands will honor the checks and drafts; and if the Bank hesitates
the National Treasury will cash them."

I cabled to the Department of State asking permission to make the
indorsements (a thing hitherto expressly forbidden by the instructions
to diplomatic officers), and explaining that I would take in each case
the best security obtainable, whether in the form of a draft on a letter
of credit or a personal note of hand with satisfactory references, and
that no money should be drawn except for necessary living expenses and
the cost of the journey home. The answer came promptly: "You have the
authority to indorse."

So a system of international banking between two Governments was
introduced. I believe it was absolutely a new plan. But it worked.

Then another idea occurred to me. The letters of credit were usually
drawn on London or Paris. In both cities a moratorium was on. Why not
make the drafts directly on New York? Why not call on the signer of the
letter of credit for the money instead of calling on