611.47H31/83
The Consul General at Wellington (Bucklin) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s cipher cablegram of October 11, 1935, 2 P.M., and to my despatch No. 210, of October 14, 1935, regarding negotiations as to reciprocal trade agreement and transmitting copy of a communication made on October 14, 1935, to the New Zealand Minister of Finance and Customs, the Right Honorable J. G. Coates, and now to quote the reply, just received, dated October 24, 1935, as follows: [Page 83]
“Dear Sir:
“I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 14th October in further reference to the question of trade relationships between the United States of America and this Dominion.
“I note that your Government find that it is unfortunately still not practicable to begin negotiations with a view to concluding a Trade Agreement with this country. I am pleased, however, to have the assurance that the Government of the United States is sincerely interested in the development of increased direct trade with New Zealand and that it will overlook no favourable opportunity to bring this about.
“In the meantime I trust that as a result of this Dominion’s products enjoying the benefits of Agreements concluded by the United States with other countries and also through normal expansion of trade that the improvement in the trading position between our two countries as evidenced from the figures quoted by you will continue to manifest itself on a mutually satisfactory basis.”
In conversations, Minister Coates has evidenced a lively interest in the negotiations being concluded with Canada, and it is believed that it will be helpful in maintaining friendly relations if this office could be supplied as soon as practicable with a copy of such reciprocal agreement17 when concluded, for the information of Minister Coates.
Respectfully yours,