Office of the Historian

811.20 Defense (M) Bolivia/1322b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Bolivia (Boal)

Washington, December 4, 1943—5 p.m.

1394. This is to amplify a telegram of the Department of today’s date.98 It is FEA’s desire to emphasize that the proposal submitted to Etchenique99 which is contained in the draft contract cannot be regarded as a commitment which is definite or for an unlimited time. The longer the delay the more difficult it is to continue the offer; therefore, it should be made clear that it is necessary to arrive at prompt conclusion, by which is suggested the completion of negotiations during the next few weeks. We may feel compelled to withdraw this offer after such a time, because of rapidly changing circumstances. It is FEA’s desire to further emphasize that the proposal is contingent upon a simultaneous exchange of notes between the Department of State and the Bolivian Ambassador in Washington, as outlined in the memorandum delivered to the Bolivian Ambassador on September 22 by the Department.1

In the Embassy’s telegram of November 21, 1810,2 instructions were requested concerning quota of antimalarials which we may allow Bolivia to reserve for Argentina in the over-all agreement. FEA is still strongly opposed to the reservation by Bolivia for export to other countries of any quantity whatsoever. Our information is not only to the effect that Argentina has a large supply of quinine sulphate but also that Argentina is licensing quinine sulphate for export. In view of these circumstances, it is clear that a quota of antimalarials for Argentina is not in order. The issue never would have arisen had the agreement been signed in reasonable time. Therefore, we do not consent to any quota for export to Argentina or any other country by Bolivia. The Department concurs with the above which is from Scheuer, FEA,3 to the Ambassador and Kazen.4

Hull
  1. No. 1393, not printed; this telegram authorized simultaneous settlement of the quinine, cinchona, and tin agreements (811.20 Defense (M) Bolivia/1322a).↩
  2. Miguel Etchenique, representative of the Bolivian Development Commission.↩
  3. For the substance of this memorandum, see telegram No. 1180, September 22, to the Ambassador in Bolivia, p. 571.↩
  4. Not printed.↩
  5. Sidney H. Scheuer, Assistant to the Director in Chargé of Imports.↩
  6. Philip A. Kazen, representative of the Board of Economic Warfare in Bolivia.↩