837.61351/216: Telegram
The Representative on Special Mission in Cuba (Crowder) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:05 p.m.]
28. Referring to the Department’s telegram of February 11, 6 p.m., I can give most ample assurance that the views of the Department are fully understood and concurred in by the President and Commission; that for the identical reasons given by you the maximum price indicated in your February 11 [10], 6 p.m. was omitted from the decree but confidentially communicated in a separate note as already reported and with proper explanation that the purpose of said note was to indicate in the most unmistakable way that the Department would not consent to have the powers conferred upon the Commission be used to bring about an artificial increase in the cost of sugar to the American consumer; that before entering conferences I had carefully summarized the debate on the bill for continued operation of the War Finance Corporation and used the argument of that debate to make plain that any artificial and unjustifiable increase of price of sugar would encounter adverse public sentiment in the United States.
[Page 799]Out of abundance of caution, Department’s telegram under discussion and this reply are being paraphrased to the President of Cuba. Confidential note mentioned herein will be sent by first pouch.95
- Transmitted with despatch of Feb. 14; not printed.↩