740.24112 RP/74: Telegram

The Chargé in Bolivia (Woodward) to the Secretary of State

810. Reference despatch 3200, February 1935 expropriation of Axis firms. The prospective regulatory decree law transmitted with the reference despatch was reapproved by the Junta on March 31 and was published in April 5 La Razón. The text as published today contains only minor changes from that given in the enclosure to the cited despatch. According to the text released today the Economic Defense Board is required to approve the fair appraised value of the firms to be expropriated and penalties are provided for reductions in the capital of Axis firms as of March 31, 1944 compared with December 31, 1941. When they cannot be explained to the satisfaction of the Economic Defense Board the presumption being that such reductions represent flight of capital and illicit foreign exchange dealings interventories [interventors] are given until April 30 to submit their statements of account and inventories of the intervened firms. No specific provision is made for the financing of the program by the Bolivian Government.

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Woodward
  1. Not printed.