811.20 Defense(M)Colombia/555: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lame) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:37 p.m.]
348. Reference Embassy’s despatch 1557, of February 3,61 and other correspondence regarding agreement on rubber program.
[Page 31]The Embassy forwarded by courier pouch which should arrive in Washington Monday, March 1, the text of a proposed note from Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs specifying facilities analogous to those recently conceded for Rubber Reserve program which the Colombian Government is disposed to concede in connection with the Board of Economic Warfare’s program for the procurement and exportation to the United States of strategic materials. These proposals have been worked out at the Ambassador’s request in accordance with the desires of the special representative of the Board of Economic Warfare in Bogotá, who forwarded a separate copy of the proposed note to the Board of Economic Warfare in the above-mentioned pouch.
Subsequently the Acting Minister has explained that in view of the expected assuming of functions by a new Minister of Foreign Relations62 probably next week, a delay may naturally result in the final protoeolization of this note, and that therefore considerable time might be gained if this can be accomplished this week. He added that the President had authorized an immediate exchange of notes, having examined and approved the above text as the proposed Colombian note in the exchange.
For this reason the text is cabled herewith in order to make possible an immediate examination thereof by the Department and the Board of Economic Warfare.
In view of the time factor mentioned above it would be appreciated if the Department would telegraph to the Embassy as promptly as possible its views regarding the proposed text and instructions regarding action to be taken.
The text as translated by the representative of the Board of Economic Warfare is as follows:63
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