811.515/2072: Telegram

The Chargé in Colombia ( Warren ) to the Secretary of State

1151. Embassy’s telegram No. 1121, June 30, 1 p.m.27 Based on a study made for the Minister of Hacienda by the Banco de la República, the former informed the Embassy today that in view of the [Page 58] strict regulations already governing transactions in dollar currency provided for in extraordinary decree 1528 of 1942, the new measures suggested for consideration in the Department’s circular airgram of April 7, 8:10 p.m.29 would cause no difficulty in Colombia, and that the appropriate Colombian agency would be ready if requested to notify the public along the lines indicated in the Department’s airgram under reference.

He said that he wished to make clear however that the regulations under consideration should not become effective in Colombia prior to such notification to the public by the Colombian authorities and that his expressed conformity with the proposed regulations was subject to the following conditions, which he understood to be envisaged in the Department’s circular:

(a)
That American notes now possessed by the Banco de la República will be accepted by the authorities of the U. S. when sent for collection to the Federal Reserve Bank.
(b)
That the Banco de la República can continue to purchase from travelers small residues of American currency, these likewise to be accepted when sent for collection;
(c)
That the new regulations will not apply to remittances of notes previously despatched and which are under study by the respective American authorities.

Warren
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed: this airgram transmitted a Treasury Department proposal that it not release currency received in the United States for collection after a given date on the assumption that the currency was Axis-tainted. (811.515/1911b)