611.45C4/9–2453

The Consul General at Salisbury ( Hoover ) to the Department of State

restricted
No. 39

Ref:

  • CA–565, August 6, 1953.1

Subject:

  • Possibility of Negotiating Agreement of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

In its despatch No. 256 of May 8, 1953,2 the Consulate General recommended that consideration be given to inviting the government of the new Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to enter into negotiations for an Agreement of Commerce and Economic Development with the United States. It was contemplated that such an agreement would cover much of the scope of the type of treaty described in the airgram under reference. While, as indicated in the Consulate General’s despatch, it is too early to think of making any concrete proposal to the new Federal Government, the time may be appropriate the middle or latter part of next year.

It is believed that such a proposal from the United States would be welcome to the Federal Government, and that it would be able independently to enter into such negotiations with the United States.

Entering into such an agreement with the Federation would be one way in which the United States could support the development of Central Africa and encourage the participation of American private capital in that undertaking. That it would be in our national interest to support the development of Central Africa is suggested by the recent report of the Lewis Douglas mission,3 which indicates that the strengthening of the sterling area is in the national interest of the United States. The development of Central Africa’s resources should strengthen the sterling area. Moreover, our entering into such an agreement [Page 336] would be a most effective means of arousing the interest in this area of American private enterprise—which could certainly make a contribution to Central African development.

John P. Hoover
  1. Not printed; it discussed Senate approval of recent treaties of friendship, commerce, and navigation. (611.004/8–653)
  2. Ante, p. 318.
  3. Following economic discussions in Washington between representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States in March 1953, Lewis W. Douglas was appointed to investigate dollar-sterling relationships. He submitted his report to President Eisenhower on July 14, 1953. For further information, see the Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 31, 1953, pp. 275–279.