831.24/695: Telegram
The Chargé in Venezuela (Flack) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 6—8:27 a.m.]
519. Current Export Bulletin No. 98 received today announces effective immediately newsprint paper and wheat flour are under general license. Assume this means important [Import] Recommendations not required for these commodities.
If this abandonment of Decentralization Plan for newsprint and flour is official, effort must be made for modification of Finance Ministry resolution March 15 applying Decentralization Plan and requiring prior permits for imports into Venezuela which now constitutes an effective barrier to general license shipments excepting those valued at $25 or less.
On the other hand, Department’s airgram A–620, June 1, 12:30 p.m.22 from BEW for Eisenhardt implies that Import Recommendations are still expected for wheat flour in accordance with special procedure outlined in instruction No. 1901, May 1943.22
Full clarification of apparent contradiction and course of action desired is most urgently requested.