834.156/130: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Paraguay (Mooney)
18. After several Conferences with the officials of the Department, the Asunción Port Concessions Corporation, the new Company seeking to revive the port works concession, has submitted a formal [Page 626] statement in writing to the Department, covering the following points:
- 1.
- The Corporation is ready to proceed with the work immediately the concession is reinstated.
- 2.
- The Corporation will not assign the concession, but on the contrary will build and operate the port.
- 3.
- The Corporation and the International Products Company have deposited with the Department a signed statement4 that on May 13th the above mentioned Corporations entered into an agreement in settlement of their differences.
The Banking firm of Blair and Company, Incorporated, which firm the Department understands will finance the new project, has submitted the following statement in writing:
“We have known some of the officials of the Asunción Port Concession Corporation well and favorably for a number of years, and, should that Corporation receive from the Government of Paraguay certain concessions, for which we understand it is negotiating, we have no doubt of its ability to obtain the financing necessary in connection with the construction of the Port of Asunción.”
You are therefore instructed to arrange an interview with President Gondra at which you will present Dr. Baque, and state to the President that in view of the assurances submitted to the Department and in view of the willingness of the Corporation to have such changes made in the concession as may be reasonable and necessary, the Department hopes that the Government of Paraguay may find it possible to reach an agreement with the Asunción Port Concession Corporation under which the latter may proceed to carry on the projected work in such a way as to benefit Paraguay as well as the American interests involved.
- Not printed.↩