What is more, the neutrals were reluctant after the war to give in to Allied demands to return looted gold they had received in trade with Germany.

They refused to recognize any moral obligation to return looted Dutch gold when evidence became available after the conclusion of the 1946 negotiations.

It was a telling moment, because until his outburst the Swiss had not acknowledged holding anywhere near that much looted gold.

It said officials nonetheless "neglected taking measures to distinguish looted gold from other gold holdings of the Reichsbank."