810.20 Defense/3–2045: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 21—12:05 a.m.]
428. My 415, March 17, 2 p.m.17 on the subject of the proposed staff conversations the Foreign Minister today expressed to me a great desire that these not be initiated until after his return from San Francisco.18 … The Foreign Minister went on to say that unofficially he [Page 853] intended to direct the course of the conversations from the Colombian side, that he was now beginning the sort of studies he desired to have made here and that he was most anxious to be on hand when the conversations began. He also said that the results at San Francisco obviously would have great bearing on what kind of a military organization Colombia might require in the future. He made it evident that he hoped that there might be a substantial reduction in the Colombian military budget. In view of the Foreign Minister’s remarks and the current political effervescence in the Army, I think it would be well to act favorably on the request of the Foreign Office for a relatively short postponement.19
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Minister Alberto Lleras Camargo attended the meeting of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, held at San Francisco, April 25–June 26, 1945.↩
- In telegram 332, March 21, 1945, 6 p.m., the Acting Secretary of State acquiesced in the request (810.20 Defense/3–2045).↩