810.733/7–1744: Airgram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—8 a.m.]
A–636. Reference is made to the Embassy’s airgram No. A–626 of July 6, 11:30 a.m. regarding discussions held between Colombian authorities and Messrs. Wakefield and Otterman from Washington concerning adjustment of telecommunication rates.
Before the departure of Messrs. Wakefield and Otterman from Bogotá on July 4, President López telephoned Mr. Wakefield to visit him at the Palace, and during that conversation, as Mr. Wakefield subsequently informed a member of the Embassy staff, the President stated that he wished to have more time to study the whole rate question, as he was seriously considering taking over all the communications companies now operating in Colombia.
It is understood that the President had in mind international as well as domestic operations of these companies. Although Mr. Munro, the Bogotá manager of All America Cables Inc., saw Messrs. Wakefield and Otterman after the former’s conference with the President, they refrained from informing him fully of the President’s remarks, but Mr. Wakefield stated that he planned to get word to the head office of All America Cables in New York after his return to Washington.
The Embassy understands that Mr. Otterman will discuss this question with the Department as soon as he returns to Washington, and that the Department will instruct the Embassy in due course. Up to the present time no direct confirmation has reached the Embassy concerning the Government’s plans, but any developments will be reported promptly to the Department.