660f.116 Tractors/11
The Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Hibbard) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 31.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 192, of January 15, 1931, and to the Department’s Instruction No. 61, of March 12, 1931,4 concerning certain difficulties experienced by the importers of American tractors in receiving the necessary import licenses from the Czechoslovak authorities and to transmit herewith a translation of a note which I have received from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in reply to numerous notes sent to that office on this subject.
I have endeavored at various times to secure a statement by the Czechoslovak authorities as to how many tractors would be admitted during a given period. Such a decision would eliminate a great deal of the uncertainty now existing as practically all companies have been unable to import tractors without definite knowledge of how many would be admitted into the country. It will be seen from the enclosed note that eleven tractors have now been granted entry permits. However the authorities state that they are not prepared to make an import contingent for tractors but that they will consider favorably all applications for the entry of tractors of a special type [Page 152] not manufactured in Czechoslovakia. This decision appears satisfactory to the representatives of the tractor companies, and I believe it wise not to press the matter further for the time being. There is no doubt that the Czechoslovak Government is in a difficult position in its attempt to preserve its financial stability and every restrictive measure to guard the exchange will be resorted to. However my observation is that American imports are receiving favorable attention, perhaps even more favorable than that granted to other countries, and in view of the difficulties of the situation I believe that American industries must be satisfied for the time being with these results;
Respectfully yours,
- Latter not printed.↩