825.6362/18: Telegram

The Ambassador in Chile ( Collier ) to the Secretary of State

119. Government has sent to Congress proposed law to aid coal industry. It provides for a Government coal board, imposes heavy increased duties on coal and crude petroleum, creates fund for port [Page 538] works and for loans not exceeding 20 million pesos to private persons for construction of [colliers], grants annual subsidy of 10 pesos per ton of cargo capacity for ships constructed in Chile and a mileage subsidy of 2 pesos per ton of coal transported in Chilean vessels per 1,000 kilometers. Full text and analysis of bill will reach you September 29th.27 This should be considered in connection with proposed ship subsidy law.28

Collier
  1. Despatch No. 1166, Sept. 1, not printed.
  2. See pp. 526 ff.