824.24/12–645

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Bolivia ( Thurston )

No. 406

Sir: I transmit for your confidential information and files a copy of this Department’s note to the Bolivian Embassy in Washington together with a copy of Statement LL–6,20 showing charges made against the Government of Bolivia during the period from June 1, 1945, through August 31, 1945, for defense matériel transferred to Bolivia under the Lend-Lease Agreement signed on December 6, 1941.

It will be noted that the amount of charges made during the period under reference is $157,793.11. The charges made through August 31, 1945 for all matériel transferred to Bolivia aggregate the grand total of $5,461,451.79. Of this grand total the sum of $992,000 represents the approximate appropriate percentage which is due on account from Bolivia. This includes the sum of $964,000 now in arrears, payment of which was requested in the Department’s note dated August 22, 1945.21

This Government will continue to maintain the policy of requesting reimbursement payments in accordance with the terms stipulated in the Lend-Lease Agreements with the various American republics.22

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
William L. Clayton
  1. Neither printed.
  2. Not printed, but see footnote infra.
  3. In a note of February 3, 1945, to the Bolivian Ambassador, the Secretary of State indicated that the amount of reimbursement due was $542,000 and payment was requested (824.24/1–645). The Acting Secretary of State in a note of May 18, 1945, informed the Ambassador that the grand total of lead-lease charges for matériel transferred to Bolivia was $3,612,400.13 and that of this amount Bolivia owed $656,000 (824.24/5–1845). Again, in a note of August 22, 1945, the Secretary indicated that Bolivia was in arrears to the extent of $;964,000 for matériel valued at $5,303,658.68, through May 31, 1945 (824.24/8–2245). The Ambassador in Bolivia reported in his despatch 1529, September 10, 1945, that Bolivia planned to pay $300,000 for 1945, $500,000 for 1946, and $500,000 for 1947 (824.24/9–1045).