Office of the Historian

811.51/5822

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Chile (Bowers)

No. 2617
Washington, January 16, 1943.

The Secretary of State refers to the Embassy’s despatch 5116, December 9 [3], 194292 in regard to the control over dollar currency in [Page 885] Chile and the Department’s telegram no. 1551, December 30, 1942,93 particularly the final sentence thereof.

The Department is in receipt of a letter from the Treasury Department in regard to the disposition to be made of the $50 per person which travelers can import into Chile, the pertinent portions of which follow:

“In view of the fact that the Central Bank has rejected suggestions that it purchase sums up to $50 brought into Chile by travelers, the Treasury is willing to permit the National City Bank to perform this function. Currency so purchased will be released by the Treasury upon its arrival in the United States, provided appropriate information is submitted regarding its origin. The National City Bank may likewise sell to persons departing for the United States up to but not more than $50 per person.”

The Embassy is requested to inform the Department in detail when final arrangements have been completed.

  1. Not printed; it reported that holders of dollars were to deposit them in the Central Bank to be forwarded for collection to the United States (811.51/5393).↩
  2. Not printed; it gave the Embassy some latitude in handling the amount of United States currency allowed each traveler (811.51/5393).↩