Office of the Historian

611.2131/136½

Memorandum by Mr. Ray Atherton of the Division of Western European Affairs

[Washington,] November 29, 1933.

Colombia15

The negotiations on this treaty have been definitely terminated on all points of substance although the Colombian Minister has raised the [Page 929] question of increasing the duty on hog lard in the schedules from $.15 to $.20, which the committee as such have absolutely refused to consider.

The committee is now working with the Colombians on textual changes in the draft agreement in an endeavor to eliminate any exchange of notes between the two Governments supplementing the treaty or any protocols attached to the treaty. The Colombian Legation will advise the Department of State when they are prepared to continue this discussion.

Argentina16

The Argentine proposal has been received by the Department of State and studied, and referred to an interdepartmental committee. This committee in turn decided certain factual information was necessary and a request was made of the appropriate Government departments for information. This information, involving as it does a possible question of policy, is now on the desk of the Secretary of Agriculture awaiting his return from Warm Springs.

Brazil17

The American proposal was handed to the Brazilian Government on October 30, 1933, and is still under consideration by the Brazilian authorities in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian expert in Washington has on one or two occasions recently asked for supplementary information of the Department’s committee.

Sweden18

The possibilities of an American proposal are being studied at the present time by an interdepartmental committee. These preliminaries have almost reached a conclusion.

Portugal19

The American proposal to Portugal has been completed and drafted and is awaiting the determination of policy in regard to alcoholic beverages by the United States Government in order that the final conclusions may be drawn.

Cuba

The American proposal to Cuba is under study by an interdepartmental committee. An immediate draft is unlikely.

  1. See vol. v, pp. 217 ff.; for text of agreement signed December 15, see ibid., p. 249.↩
  2. See vol. iv, pp. 642 ff.↩
  3. See vol. v, pp. 13 ff.↩
  4. See vol. ii, pp. 719 ff.↩
  5. See Ibid., pp. 640 ff.↩