821.85/9–1047: Telegram
The Chargé in Colombia ( Warner ) to the Secretary of State
585. Bogotá liberal newspapers of September 9 sensationally headlined news agency account originating New York of interview with shipping spokesman who announced delivery by this Embassy of protest note to Colombian Government over discriminations against US shipping by National Coffee Federation and Flota Gran Colombiana. Spokesman indicated possible US retaliation to ships of Colombian flag if discrimination or suspension of commercial privileges in US not discontinued.
This publicity and threat of retaliation has extraordinarily inflamed public opinion and brought a rousing public pre-trial with decision adverse to US of his case. El Liberal editorialized that Secretary Marshall at Rio Conference2 counselled Latin American nations to help themselves economically, but that no one would have expected that US obstruct rather than help in this process. El Espectador characterizes US action as an “audacious attempt at economic aggression”. Elsewhere frequent references were inevitably made to the contradiction of US action with the good neighbor policy, the return to dollar diplomacy, et cetera. Communist Party and CTC chimed in with calls for support of citizens in freeing country from chains of imperialistic monopolies.
Colombian House of Representatives indulged in heated debate of question September 9 where US action was labeled as “imperialistic”, “—one of compulsion”, “insult” and “menace”, but it finally approved a motion to obtain the facts about the note from the government before doing anything further.
Embassy despatched note set forth in Department’s instructions 1273 on August 27. It deliberately avoided use of word “protest” but expressed “deep concern” in connection with shipping discriminations recently adopted. Rest of note exactly like that suggested by Department [Page 556] with specific additional request for Foreign Office views in premise. In view of change in wording Foreign Office yesterday was able to inform press that note simply states problem of violation of 1846 treaty in connection with the measures taken by Coffee Federation. If no additional fuel is added to the flames from US press, it is hoped that local excitement will subside.