File No. 600.119/431
The Assistant Director of the Bureau of War Trade Intelligence of the War Trade Board ( Dykman) to the Secretary of State
Sir: The Division of Latin American Affairs of the State Department has requested the War Trade Board in the future to apply to the consideration of applications for licenses for the export of arms and ammunition to Central and South America the principles heretofore applied by the Division of Latin American Affairs to such applications. The wishes of the division have been made known to the board and in the future, in accordance with this request, such applications will not be referred to the division for advice.
Among other details the Division of Latin American Affairs has recommended that no applications for arms and ammunitions be approved unless the application for license is accompanied by the approval of the embassy or legation in Washington of the country of destination. The Bureau of Exports of the War Trade Board would prefer to establish one rule for all proposed exports of arms [Page 979] and ammunitions and require a similar approval from the embassy or legation in every country including European countries.
We therefore ask advice from the Department of State whether the promulgation of such a rule meets with its approval.1
I am [etc.]
- Approved Nov. 1, 1917. (File No. 600.119/431.)↩