811.79620 Boeing Airplane Co./63

The Chargé in Guatemala ( Hawks ) to the Secretary of State

No. 2349

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a translation, furnished by the Office of the Commercial Attaché, of a proposed contract90 [Page 636] for air mail and passenger service to be entered into between the Government of Guatemala and the Latin American Airways, said to be amalgamated with the Boeing Airplane Company.91

Mr. Lee C. Balch, representative of this Company, arrived in Guatemala about a week ago and has since been negotiating with the Minister of Fomento. He showed the Legation and the Commercial Attaché a copy of a contract, which his Company has concluded with the Mexican Government, for air mail and passenger service between Tiajuana and Mexico City and Mexico City and Mariscal, Chiapas. Upon the basis of a wire received by the Commercial Attaché from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, a copy of which is enclosed,90 I presented a Memorandum to the Foreign Office stating that the Latin American Airways is a reputable American concern and requesting that the Minister of Fomento be so informed. As a representative of the Pan American Airways, Incorporated, is expected here shortly with a possible resultant competition between the two companies, the Legation will be extremely careful in any conversations it may have with the Government on this matter.

I received, today, a telegram from Mr. E. J. Goddard, representative of the National City Bank of New York, from Mexico City, stating that his bank is closely allied with the Boeing interests and asking whether Mr. A. K. Humphries, representative of the Boeing Air Transport Company, should come to Guatemala to conclude negotiations. I replied by telegraph, stating that Mr. Balch was progressing rapidly with the negotiations and suggesting that Mr. Humphries come as soon as possible.

I shall keep the Department informed as to the progress of these negotiations.

I have [etc.]

Stanley Hawks
  1. Not printed.
  2. For previous correspondence concerning the Boeing Airplane Company, see Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, pp. 818 ff.
  3. Not printed.