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The decimal file, basically a subject file with predetermined subjects designated by a decimal code, has subjects grouped into nine major classes as follows:
Class 0 Miscellaneous
Class 1 Administration of the U.S. Government
Class 2 Extradition
Class 3 Protection of private and national interests
Class 4 Claims
Class 5 International conferences and organizations
Class 6 Commerce, customs, trade
Class 7 Political relations of states
Class 8 Internal affairs of states
As papers accumulated under a specific subject they were assigned consecutive numbers, called enclosure numbers, subordinate to the decimal classification and set off from it by a slash mark (/). The incoming communication and accompanying reply were usually assigned the same enclosure number. The decimal file number and enclosure number are stamped or typed on the first paper in each file.
To illustrate the decimal filing system, a document dated in 1941 in the subject file for financial affairs in Switzerland is 854.51/391. Class 8 is for the internal affairs of states, 54 is the number for Switzerland, 51 is for financial affairs, and the number after the slash mark (/) indicates there were 390 other documents in the file dated from 1910 to 1941. A document dated in 1945 in the subject file for U.S. Claims against Germany is 462.11/3-2345. Class 4 is for claims against Germany(62) by citizens of the United States(11), and the number after the slash mark (/) indicates the date, March 23, 1945. The main subject file for documents relating to World War II is 740.0011. Class 7 is for relations between states, 40 is for Europe, 00 is for the world, and 11 is for war. Within the main file there are hundreds of subfiles each containing thousands of documents. Sometimes letters or words follow the number and are part of the file title. File 740.0016EW is for war crimes in Europe (13 boxes for the 1940-1944 period), file 740.00119EW is for the termination of the war in Europe (15 boxes for the 1940-1944 period), and file 740.00119 Control (Germany) is for the occupation of Germany (134 boxes for the 1945-1949 period).
The decimal file changed in 1950 although most country numbers remained the same:
Class 0 Miscellaneous
Class 1 Administration of the U.S. Government
Class 2 Protection of interests, persons and property [was class 3]
Class 3 International conferences and organizations [was class 5]
Class 4 International trade and commerce [was class 6]
Class 5 International informational and educational relations, cultural affairs
Class 6 International political relations [was in class 7]
[what was in class 8 was subdivided into classes 7,8, and 9]
Class 7 Internal political and national defense affairs
Class 8 Internal economic, industrial, and social affairs
Class 9 Other internal affairs--communications, transportation, science
Researchers not familiar with the State Department Central Files, as well as other State Department records, are advised to consult with our subject matter experts in the consultation area in Room 2600. They also should consult the filing manuals for the 1910-1949 and 1950-1963 periods.
There are three basic finding aids for the Decimal File: Name Cards; Purport Lists and Purport Cards; and, Source Card Index.
Name Cards
There is a name card index for each segment of the decimal file, arranged alphabetically, that helps to locate subject files and documents of interest. It is not comprehensive. There is not a card for each person named in every document, but it is useful for locating a document from or about a non-government entity or private individual.
Name Cards 1940-1949
Name Index to the Decimal File 1940-1944 (Entry 199C)
Boxes 1-1360 location: 250/1/19/01
Box # Subject location:
48 Argentina 250/1/19/05
75 Bank of International Settlements 250/1/19/08
270 Credit Suisse 250/1/21/08
980 Portugal 250/1/29/03
1162 Spain 250/1/31/02
1199 Sweden 250/1/31/05
1200 Switzerland
Swiss Bank Corporation
Swiss Bankers Association 250/1/31/05
1244 Turkey 250/1/31/08
Name Index to the Decimal File 1945-1949
Boxes 1-511 location: 250/1/33/03
Box # Subject location:
22 Argentina 250/1/33/05
32 Bank of International Settlements 250/1/33/06
102 Credit Suisse 250/1/34/04
368 Portugal 250/2/2/02
433 Spain 250/2/2/08
448 Sweden
Switzerland
Swiss Bank Corporation
Swiss Bankers Association 250/2/2/09
466 Turkey 250/2/3/02
469 Union Bank of Switzerland 250/2/3/02
Purport Lists and Purport Cards
Every document in every file is listed on purport lists (1910-1944, NARA Microfilm publication M-973) and purport cards (after July 1, 1944) that indicate date, from, to, file number, and a brief description ("purport") of each document. Purport lists and purport cards are arranged in the same order as the records. Researchers should use them to help locate subject files of interest or eliminate the need to examine other records in other subject files.
List of Documents (Purport Books) 1940-1944 (Entry 202C)
Arranged according to Decimal File classification. Lists of all letters and other documents received and sent by the Department of State that are filed in the Decimal File. Boxes 1-594 location: 250/18/15/07
Lists of Documents (Purport Cards) July-December 1944 (Entry 203A)
Arranged according to Decimal File classification.
Boxes 1-101 location: 250/18/28/01
Lists of Documents (Purport Cards) 1945-1949 (Entry 203B)
Arranged according to Decimal File classification.
Boxes 1-1187 location: 250/18/29/01
Source Card Index
There is a comprehensive source card index for each segment that lists every document arranged by U.S. foreign service post, foreign embassy or legation, State Department office, or other agency of the U.S. Government, thereunder by "to" and "from" and thereunder chronologically. Source cards, like name cards, are useful primarily for identifying relevant subject file numbers.
Source Cards 1940-1944 (Entry 198C)
Boxes 1-1060 location: 250/17/02/05
Source Cards 1945-1949 (Entry 198D)
Boxes 1-1211 location: 250/17/12/09
As noted above class 7 of the decimal file is for political relations of States. Each country, continent, or geographical area had assigned a two-digit number; Europe was assigned number 40. When the war began, the State Department decided to index all war-related documents in file 740.0011EW for the European war. The documents relating to the Pacific war, considered an extension of the European war, were filed under 740.0011PW. These records, as well as records filed under decimals 740.00 (General Political Affairs of Europe); 740.0011LCC (London Coordinating Committee); 740.0011Moscow (Three-Power Conference held in Moscow in October 1943); and 740.0011Stettinius Mission (Mission to London headed by Under Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius in March 1944) have been microfilmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication M982.
Among the important decimal file numbers for both the 1940-1944 and 1945-1949 blocks of the decimal file are:
652.62 Trade, German Exports to Spain
653.62 Trade, German Exports to Portugal
654.62 Trade, German Exports to Switzerland
658.62 Trade, German Exports to Sweden
662.52 Trade, Spanish Exports to Germany
662.53 Trade, Portuguese Exports to Germany
662.54 Trade, Swiss Exports to Germany
662.58 Trade, Swedish Exports to Germany
662.67 Trade, Turkish Exports to Germany
667.62 Trade, German Exports to Turkey
740.00111EW Neutrality
740.00112EW Neutral and Enemy Commerce
740.00113EW Enemy Property
740.00114EW Prisoners of War
740.00115EW Civilian Prisoners and Enemy Non-combatants
740.00116EW Illegal and Inhuman Warfare
740.00119EW Termination of the War
800.515 World monetary system; bullion; non-monetary gold
835.515 Argentine Bullion etc.
835.516 Argentine Banks
852.515 Spanish Bullion etc.
852.516 Spanish Banks
853.515 Poruguese Bullion etc.
853.516 Portuguese Banks
854.515 Swiss Bullion etc.
854.516 Swiss Banks
858.515 Swedish Bullion etc.
858.516 Swedish Banks
862.515 German Bullion etc.
862.516 German Banks
863.515 Austrian Bullion etc.
863.516 Austrian Banks
865.515 Italian Bullion etc.
865.516 Italian Banks
867.515 Turkish Bullion etc.
867.516 Turkish Banks
1930-1939 Decimal File
Box #s Decimal # location:
5888-5892 835.515 250/29/23/07
5892 835.516 250/29/23/07
6063 840.48{Note 1} 250/29/27/04
6063A-6074 840.48Refugees{Note 2} 250/29/27/05
6468-6470 852.515 250/30/1/01
6470 852.516 250/30/1/01
6485 853.515 250/30/1/03
6485-6486 853.516 250/30/1/03
6497 854.515 250/30/1/05
6497-6498 854.516 250/30/1/05
6553 858.515 250/30/2/06
6553-6554 858.516 250/30/2/06
6813-6817 862.515 250/30/8/02
6817-6820 862.516 250/30/8/02
6854 863.515 250/30/9/02
6854-6856 863.516 250/30/9/02
6889-6891 865.515 250/30/10/02
6891 865.516 250/30/10/02
6941 867.515 250/30/11/02
6941 867.516 250/30/11/02
1940-1944 Decimal File
Boxes 1-5930
Box #s Decimal # location:
1054-1055 311.5453 deals with the case U.S. vs. Swiss Bank Corporation. {Note 3}
1752 652.62 250/31/27/01
1752 653.62 250/31/27/01
1753 654.62 250/31/27/01
1756 658.62 250/31/27/01
1760 662.52 250/31/27/02
1760 662.54 250/31/27/02
1760 662.58 250/31/27/02
1760 662.67 250/31/27/02
1762 667.62 250/31/27/02
2294-2545 740.00111 250/32/4/04
2545-2754 740.00112 250/32/11/01
2755-2773 740.00113 250/32/17/03
2939-2964 740.00119 250/32/23/02
3272-3283 800.515 250/32/31/04
4619-4621 835.515 250/33/24/02
4621 835.516 250/33/24/02
4751-4764 840.48 250/33/26/07
4764-4791 840.48Refugees 250/33/27/02
5248-5249 852.515 250/34/2/01
5249 852.516 250/34/2/01
5268 853.515 250/34/2/04
5268 853.516 250/34/2/04
5283 854.515 250/34/2/06
5283 854.516 250/34/2/06
5343-5344 858.515 250/34/3/07
5344 858.516 250/34/4/01
5608-5610 862.515 250/34/9/03
5610 862.516 250/34/9/04
5635 863.515 250/34/9/07
5679-5680 865.515 250/34/10/06
5680 865.516 250/34/10/07
5698 867.515 250/34/11/02
5698 867.516 250/34/11/02
Boxes C1-C373 (Confidential File Boxes)
Box # Decimal# location:
C1-C2 800.515 250/34/15/07
C208 852.515 250/34/19/01
C213 853.515 250/34/19/02
C213 853.516 250/34/19/02
C216 854.515 250/34/19/03
C216 854.516 250/34/19/03
C223 858.515 250/34/19/04
C223 858.516 250/34/19/04
C369-C370 862.515 250/34/22/04
C370 862.516 250/34/22/04
1945-1949 Decimal File
Box #s Decimal #s location:
2846 652.62 250/36/3/07
2847 653.62 250/36/3/07
2850-2851 654.62 250/36/3/07
2866 658.62 250/36/4/03
2887 662.58 250/36/4/06
2888 662.67 250/36/4/06
3489-3517 740.00111 250/36/17/01
3517-3540 740.00112 250/36/17/05
3647-3648 740.00119 250/36/20/03
3648-3639 740.00119Control(Austria) {Note 4} 250/36/20/03
3662-3795 740.00119Control(Germany) {Note 5} 250/36/20/05
3797-3806 740.00119Control(Italy) {Note 6} 250/36/23/04
3836-3859 740.00119 Council{Note 7} 250/36/24/02
3857-3859 740.00119 EAC{Note 8} 250/36/24/05
3860-3936 740.00119EW 250/36/24/06
4177-4259{Note 9} 800.515 250/36/31/02
4209 800.515 (Washington Accord File) 250/36/31/06
5679-5683 840.48 250/37/26/07
5684-5700 840.48Refugees 250/37/27/01
6351 852.515 250/38/5/05
6352 852.516 250/38/5/05
6370 853.515 250/38/6/01
6370 853.516 250/38/6/01
6383 854.515 250/38/6/03
6384 854.516 250/38/6/03
6478 858.515 250/38/8/02
6478 858.516 250/38/8/02
6788-6791 862.515 250/38/14/04
6791 862.516 250/38/14/05
6862 863.515 250/38/17/01
6862 863.516 250/38/17/01
6947-6949 865.515 250/38/17/07
6950-6952 865.516 250/38/17/07
6985 867.515 250/38/18/05
6985 867.516 250/38/18/05
1950-1963 Decimal File{Note 10}
Among the most import Decimal File numbers for the 1950-1954, 1955-1959, and 1960-1963 time periods are those in class 2--protection of interests, class 3--international organizations, and class 6--international political relations. Important Country Numbers include 00--the world, 11--United States, 54--Switzerland, and 62--Germany.
1950-1954 Decimal File
Box #s File # Subjects
863-864 200.1141 U.S. war claims, general; War Claims Commission; enemy property in allied and neutral countries.
865-872 200.6241 German war claims, general; looted property; Tripartite Gold Commission
894-897 211.6241 German assets in the United States
975 248.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Poland
983-900 249.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Czechoslovakia
1001-1005 251.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against France
1010 252.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Spain
1011 252.6241 German assets in Spain; the Spanish Accord
1012 253.6241 German assets in Portugal; the Portuguese Accord
1016-1017 254.1141 U.S. assets in Switzerland
1017-1018 254.6241 German assets in Switzerland; the Swiss Accord
1020 255.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Belgium
1024-1026 256.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against the Netherlands
1034-1035 258.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Sweden
1040 261.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against the Soviet Union
1041-1056 262.0041 Reparations from Germany, IARA, Jewish claims against Germany
1061-1064 262.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Germany
1080-1081 263.0041 Reparations from Austria, restitution, Jewish claims against Austria
1084-1088 263.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Austria
1089 263.6241 German assets in Austria
1092-1093 264.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Hungary
1093 265.0041 Reparations from Italy, the "Rome Treasure," disposition of non-monetary gold, Jewish claims
1147-1149 265.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Italy
1151-1152 265.6341 German assets in Italy
1513-1522 398.10 German Debt Commission
1528-1535 398.10 Bank for International Settlements
2720 611.00231 WWI Blacklist; enemy property seized by the United States
2818 611.54231 Safehaven; blocking Swiss funds
2928 611.62231 Safehaven; blocking German funds
2929 654.62231 Safehaven; German funds in Switzerland
2951A-2952 662.00231 Safehaven; German funds in the world
5048-5049 854.14 Banking in Switzerland; bank secrecy
1955-1959 Decimal File
Box # Decimal # Subjects
822-824 200.1141 U.S. war claims, general
825-827 200.6241 German war claims, general; Tripartite Gold Commission
856-993 211.6241 German assets in the United States
992-993 248.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Poland
998-1001 249.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Czechoslovakia
1022-1024 251.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against France
1037 252.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Spain
1037-1038 252.6241 German assets in Spain; the Spanish Accord
1039 253.6241 German assets in Portugal; the Portuguese Accord
1044-1045 254.1141 U.S. assets in Switzerland
1045 254.6241 German assets in Switzerland; the Swiss Accord
1047 255.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Belgium
1049-1051 256.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against the Netherlands
1060 258.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Sweden
1060 258.6241 German assets in Sweden
1067-1068 261.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against the Soviet Union
1070-1074 262.0041 Reparations from Germany, IARA, Jewish claims against Germany
1076-1079 262.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Germany
1098-1099 263.0041 Reparations from Austria, restitution, Jewish claims against Austria
1104-1107 263.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Austria
1108 263.6241 German assets in Austria
1110-1112 264.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Hungary
1115 265.0041 Reparations from Italy, the "Italian Treasure," division of gold, Jewish claims
1133-1146 265.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Italy
1147-1148 265.6341 German assets in Italy
1468-1469 398.10 German Debt Commission
1474-1479 398.10 Bank for International Settlements
2435 611.00231 WWI Blacklist; enemy property seized by the United States
2513 611.54231 Safehaven; blocking Swiss funds
2526-2527 611.62231 Safehaven; blocking German funds
4632 854.14 Banking in Switzerland; bank secrecy
1960-January 1963 Decimal File
Box # Decimal # Subjects
332-833 200.1141 U.S. war claims, general
333 200.6241 German war claims, general
340-341 211.6241 German assets in the United States
387 248.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Poland
388 249.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Czechoslovakia
393-394 251.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against France
398 252.6241 German assets in Spain; the Spanish Accord
399 253.6241 German assets in Portugal; the Portuguese Accord
401 254.6241 German assets in Switzerland; the liquidation of Swiss commitments under the Washington Accords
408 261.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against the Soviet Union
409 262.0041 Reparations from Germany, IARA, Jewish claims against Germany
410-411 262.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Germany
419-420 263.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Austria
421 264.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Hungary
426 265.1141 U.S. assets in, claims against Italy
778 398.10 German Debt Commission
11925 611.00231 WWI Blacklist; enemy assets seized by the United States
1261 611.54231 Safehaven; blocking Swiss funds and assets; the Interhandel case
1271 611.62231 Safehaven; blocking German funds
2952 854.14 Banking in Switzerland; bank secrecy
Subject-Numeric File February 1963-1966{Note 11}
February 1963-December 1963 Subject-Numeric File
Box # File # Subject
Box 341 FN 19 Gold Tripartite Gold Commission
1964-1966 Subject-Numeric File
Box # File # Subject
Boxes 825-826 FN /19 Gold Tripartite Gold Commission
{1}Return to text Decimal file 840.48 pertains to the general problem of calamities, disasters, and relief activities in Europe. Major topics covered in this file, for the 1938-1949 period, include State Department assistance to the American Red Cross in shipping drugs, medical supplies and equipment, and other relief supplies to Europe; wartime relief efforts for the civilians of occupied countries; postwar relief efforts of the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), and C.A.R.E. (Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, Inc.); and, overall relief aspects of European reconstruction, better known as the Marshall Plan. The 1938-1949 files are contained on rolls 1-18 of National Archives Microfilm Publication M1284.
{2}Return to text Decimal file 840.48Refugees pertains to the problem of European refugees. Major topics covered in this file, for the 1938-1949 period, include the Intergovernmental Meeting on Political Refugees; the Intergovernmental Committee for Political Refugees; the smuggling of refugees, particularly Jewish refugees, out of Europe to all parts of the world; illegal Jewish migration to Palestine; and, the activities of the War Refugee Board, including its weekly reports of activities and news and the appointment of special War Refugee Board attaches to U.S. missions. The 1938-1949 files are contained on rolls 19-70 of National Archives Microfilm Publication M1284.
{3}Return to text This case had its origins in a World War I Alien Property matter. The first phase of legal proceedings culminated in January 1937, when in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Government obtained a judgment ($6,967,987.30 plus interest) against the plaintiff, which was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Because the Government was unable to collect the full amount due, plus interest, a suit was brought on the judgment in the Civil Court of Basel, Switzerland in June 1939, and after the Swiss Bank Corporation opened an agency in New York City in July 1939, civil suit was filed against the Swiss Bank Corporation in the District Court for the Southern District of New York (Civil Action No. 10-328) in November 1939. By 1941 the amount due was some 14 million dollars. In the spring of 1941, after negotiations between the Swiss Government and the State Department and a series of communications between the Attorney General and the Secretary of State a compromise of some 2 million dollars was reached and on July 22, 1941, the case was dismissed with prejudice. The State Department file contains a substantial quantity of documentation about the case with many summary documents, correspondence between the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, and correspondence between the Department of State and the Swiss Government. In Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters File 65-30919-629 is a memorandum by S.S. Rubenstein, dated May 1, 1941, providing information on the case. In it he states that he had met with Brice Toole, an attorney in the Alien Property Bureau of the Department of Justice, and that Mr. Toole "advised that in connection with this case he had gone to Switzerland and was accompanied by Special Agent O.A. Herring, and that he would not be surprised if some scheme was effected whereby the Swiss Bank Corporation would endeavor to avoid paying this suit. He stated that it was his opinion that the Swiss Bank Corporation was nothing more than a German front to handle German financial matters in the United States. Mr. Toole further stated that the Department's position in this suit was that they desired to obtain the full amount due the United States Government, namely the seven million dollars plus interest; whereas the State Department was endeavoring to bring about a compromise settlement for about two million dollars." The Department of Justice case file number for the case is 9-17-9-10281.
{4}Return to text Occupation and control of Austria.
{5}Return to text Occupation and control of Germany.
{6}Return to text Occupation and control of Italy.
{7}Return to text Council of Foreign Ministers.
{8}Return to text European Advisory Commission.
{9}Return to text There are no boxes 4219 and 4221, but no records are missing.
{10}Return to text For assistance using these records, including the locations, please consult the staff in the consultation area in Room 2600.
{11}Return to text Please consult the staff in the consultation area in Room 2600 for the location of the 1963-1966 Subject-Numeric File.
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