File No. No. 763.72112C26/39
The Peruvian Legation to the Department of State
[Received April 29.]
Memorandum
The Legation has the honor to request that the long-deferred settlement of the difficulties arising from the restrictions placed by [Page 403] the United States Government upon the discount of drafts by the Casa Grande Sugar Plant, be expedited, if possible without further delay, and in accordance with the plan proposed, whereby an administrator appointed by the Peruvian Government would take full charge of the Plant, with power to dismiss employees, to deposit in the Peruvian Treasury until after the termination of the war the proceeds of the Plant, to prevent the actual owners of the Casa Grande Sugar Plant from raising funds on these deposits, and to dispose of the shares of the Plant, whenever the actual owners of these shares should wish to sell them.
The Government of Peru ascribes great importance to the prompt settlement of this question, in the first place, because, having met all the demands of the Government of the United States compatible with the laws of Peru in the matter, it feels that it should expect an equally conciliatory attitude on the part of the United States Government. Secondly, because public sentiment in Peru would be greatly perplexed at the refusal of a friendly Government to assist in preserving economical interests in Peru, when these interests are not harmful to those of the friendly Government. And thirdly, because of the great loss and trouble which the closing of the Casa Grande Sugar Plant would cause, as has been stated in detail on a former occasion.
If negotiations should exist, as it is understood, tending to the purchase of the Plant by a responsible concern agreeable to the United States Government, these negotiations, in the judgement of the Government of Peru, should not interfere with the immediate granting of the licenses required to enable the Plant to continue its operations, for, the conditions under which the licenses would be granted would permit to continue these negotiations and would even facilitate them.
The Legation, therefore, trusts that the Department of State will kindly hasten the favorable adjustment of the question, advising the Legation at its earliest convenience of its decision thereon.