622.3531/2: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Ecuador (Long)

168. Your 198 March 14. The attitude of this Government is that it wishes to acquire all Ecuadoran rubber and requests you to take immediate steps to prevent the conclusion of any barter arrangement with Argentina or any other commitment with respect to Ecuadoran rubber. If Ecuadoran authorities agreeable in principle to the sale of rubber to United States, Rubber Reserve willing to enter into an agreement immediately to acquire it and is prepared to offer 35 cents per pound C & F United States continental ports for usual good quality Ecuadoran scrap as understood in New York (otherwise known as Manta or Andulla or Esmeralda Sausage Scrap), with other grades, if any, at appropriate differentials. It is understood that any Hevea type rubber is presumably exported through Brazil and loses its identification as Ecuadoran rubber. Reply urgently.

Welles