The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Mr. Chester Welde Cuthell, a United States Civilian, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As a special representative of the Secretary of War, Mr. Cuthell built up and supervised an organization to liquidate the claims of the United States against he European allied governments growing out of the purchases of war materials by these governments in the United States, and, by reducing to accurate and clear statements vast and intricate transactions, brought about agreements with the representatives of the allied governments which not only promoted and maintained harmonious feeling, but settled difficult financial relation happily, speedily, and justly, leaving on all sides a sense of appreciation of the accuracy and fair dealing of the Government of the United States in its business relations with the allied and associated governments.