811.79620 Boeing Airplane Co./34: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss)

38. Department of Commerce states that Captain Ralph A. O’Neil, who was in charge of the Boeing expedition,12 negotiated with Argentine postal authorities a very favorable air mail concession. Upon his return to the United States he endeavored to interest Boeing Company in financing it but they declined and the Remington-Rand Corporation has agreed to finance it.

In view of the fact that the time limit within which O’Neil was to notify Argentine authorities that he was able adequately to finance the project has practically expired, he anticipates there may be some difficulty in actually securing the grant. Department of Commerce states that if you were informed that O’Neil has secured adequate financing for the project you might be in a position to assist in getting the concession.

As European Governments are reported to have already secured a foothold in Argentina, the Department would of course be glad to have American interests obtain contracts there also.

For your information the Post Office Department has already given contracts to an American Company to carry air mails to Panama via Central America and to Porto Rico via Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.13 It is hoped eventually to extend these lines from the Canal Zone down the west coast of South America and across to Buenos Aires and from Porto Rico to Venezuela and down the east coast of South America.

Kellogg
  1. See pp. 818 ff.
  2. See telegram No. 60, July 11, to the Minister in Honduras, p. 786.