810.24/130

Memorandum of Conversations, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

I had interviews separately this morning and this afternoon with the Ambassadors of Argentina, Peru, Cuba and Colombia and with the Ministers of Bolivia and Uruguay. I communicated to them the allocation made for their respective governments from the amount determined by the War and Navy Departments and approved by the President to come under the terms of the Lend-Lease Bill as assistance to be granted by the Government of the United States to the other American Republics in building up their own defense resources. I explained to them that I was conveying this information to them in the greatest confidence and that I trusted that their respective governments would, in the shortest time possible, designate responsible military and naval officers to discuss the formulation of final arrangements with the appropriate authorities in the War and Navy Departments here.

I indicated to them the provisions of the Lend-Lease Act insofar as compensation was involved and I stressed the point that the proposed arrangements did not imply that all of the material desired by the respective countries was immediately available but that it would be forthcoming in accordance with the terms of the specific agreements to be entered into and always provided that our own requirements and the requirements of the nations actually resisting aggression made it possible.

All of the diplomatic representatives expressed their great appreciation and informed me that they would consult promptly with their governments and advise me of the replies received.

S[umner] W[elles]