810.154/8–1847: Circular airgram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics 11

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The Department is informed that the Public Roads Administration prepared a proposed amendment to Public Law 375, approved December 26, 1941, which would provide an additional authorization of $60,000,000 to be appropriated for the construction of the Inter-American Highway, and would also provide that $26,000,000 of the total [Page 150] additional amount authorized may be expended without requiring the cooperating country to match such funds as provided in the original law. The proposed legislation was not introduced before the adjournment of the first session of the Eightieth Congress but presumably will be presented to second session. The Department is prepared because of existing commitments to give appropriate support to the proposal.

PRA proposes to include in this amendment a provision that the additional funds to be authorized shall not be available for work in any cooperating country until after such country enters into an agreement with the United States which shall provide: (1) that no highway toll or payment having the effect of toll shall be levied or assessed for the use of the highway by vehicles or persons, (2) that no requirements will be established or imposed, nor any tax, charge, or fee levied directly or indirectly upon vehicles or persons from any other country using the highway that do not apply equally to the like use of the highway by vehicles or persons of the cooperating country, (3) that reciprocal recognition of vehicle registration and drivers’ licenses will continue to be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Convention For The Regulation Of Inter-American Automotive Traffic12 now in effect or that hereafter may be in effect and to which such country and the United States are signatories and, (4) for the adequate maintenance at all times of the Inter-American Highway within its borders in condition to serve the needs of national and international traffic.

Although no assurance can be given as to the exact details of any legislation to be introduced at the next session of Congress nor as to the prospects for the enactment of such legislation, the Department would appreciate such comments as the Embassy may wish to make in connection with the provisions of the proposed legislation prepared by PRA. The above should, of course, not be discussed with the local authorities.

Lovett
  1. At Managua, San Jose, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama.
  2. Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 1567; 61 Stat. (pt. 2) 1129.