Office of the Historian

831.24/563

The American Ambassador in Venezuela (Corrigan) to the Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs (Parra-Pérez)3

No. 1229
Caracas, February 19, 1943.

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to recent conversations between officials of the Venezuelan Government, and representatives of the United States Board of Economic Warfare, the Department of State, and this Embassy, regarding certain proposed changes in control [Page 292] procedure over export licensing of materials and the use of shipping space from the United States to Venezuela during the present war emergency.

There is enclosed for the consideration of the appropriate Venezuelan authorities a memorandum6 outlining in general terms the “decentralized” procedure and the reason for its adoption as set forth to the Venezuelan Import Control Commission and the Minister of Finance7 by the representatives above-mentioned. It is believed that the strict application of this procedure will be of material assistance in maintaining the flow of commodities essential to Venezuela’s economy under the difficult supply conditions imposed by the war.

Since the program envisaged constitutes only procedural modifications of the controls system already in effect, it is hoped that the Venezuelan authorities will give prompt sanction to its application at an early date.

Please accept [etc.]

Frank P. Corrigan
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 4146, March 30; received April 6.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Alfredo Machado Hernández.↩