635.4131/105
The Chargé in Argentina (White) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to recall that in my despatch No. 2063 of May 12, page 2, I stated that I had hoped to get an estimate of the distribution of the British exchange in which the Department expressed interest in its telegram No. 24 of May 5, from the President of the Exchange Control Commission, and also from the British Embassy. I have spoken to the British Ambassador and also to the British Commercial Attaché, but have not succeeded in obtaining any definite estimates from them. As they did not appear to have any available information, and as all these figures are in the nature of guesses, I saw no good in pressing them further.
Yesterday Doctor Celedonio Pereda, President of the Exchange Control Commission, gave me, orally and from memory, the following figures.
| Paper pesos | |
| Government External Debt Service with the countries which do not supply sufficient exchange to cover this payment, £30,000,000 sterling, which would be roughly at present rate of exchange | 39,500,000 |
| Public Debt Charges, payable in the United Kingdom | 75,000,000 |
| For remittance on account of trade | 150,000,000 |
| Payments on account of British Debentures | 80,000,000 |
| Private Remittances | 20 to 30,000,000 |
| Dividends | 90,000,000 |
As the total of the foregoing amounts to 454,500,000 to 464,500,000 paper pesos, it is well in excess of the 400,000,000 reported to have been used as an estimate in the negotiations of the Roca Agreement. It will also be seen that the sum allowed for dividends by Doctor Pereda is less than the amount given in enclosure two of despatch No. 2063.
Inasmuch as these figures do not change the general conclusions which I telegraphed to the Department as of date May 10, 7:00 [6:00?] p.m. No. 40, I am sending this additional information by airmail instead of by telegram.
Respectfully yours,