810.154/797
The Secretary of State to
the Chargé in Guatemala (
O’Donoghue
)33
No. 223
Washington
, September 3, 1935.
Sir: There is enclosed for your information a
copy of a letter dated July 25, 1935,34 from the Acting Secretary of Agriculture, regarding
the conditions on which this Government proposes to cooperate with the
other interested governments in constructing certain specified bridges
along the route of the Inter American Highway. There is also enclosed a
copy of the portion relating to Guatemala of the report, enclosed with
the letter, regarding the results of conferences which Mr. E. W. James,
Chief of the Division of Highway Transport of the Bureau of Public
Roads, and diplomatic representatives of the United States, had during
April and May of the present year with officials of the governments of
the other interested countries regarding their desires with reference to
the proposed cooperation between their governments and the Government of
the United States in further work on the Inter American Highway. Those
portions of the report are added which relate to, or are of interest to,
all or several of those countries. Copies are also included of the
communications mentioned in the enclosed portions of the report.
The President, to whom the letter from the Acting Secretary of
Agriculture, together with all of its enclosures, was referred, has
approved the recommended procedure.
There is appended hereto the text of a note which you are requested to
address to the Government of Guatemala.
You are authorized also in your discretion to discuss informally with the
appropriate Guatemalan authorities any of the statements contained in
any of the enclosures with this instruction. Please inform them that Mr.
James, identified above in this instruction and in the [Page 261] attached proposed note, expects again
to be in Guatemala City about the middle of September to initiate the
work of the second of the two surveying parties mentioned in the first
numbered paragraph in the latter part of the enclosed portion of his
report. He will also be prepared to discuss with them the details of the
proposed bridge construction.
Very truly yours,
For the Secretary of State:
Wilbur
J. Carr
[Enclosure]
Text of Note To Be Addressed to the Guatemalan
Government
35
Excellency: I have the honor to inform Your
Excellency that my Government is prepared to cooperate with Your
Excellency’s Government in the construction of a bridge over the
Tamazulapa River, on the conditions set forth below. This is a part
of the program of bridge construction in the several interested
countries that has been prepared in consequence of conferences which
Mr. E. W. James, Chief of the Division of Highway Transport of the
Bureau of Public Roads, and diplomatic representatives of the United
States, had during April and May of the present year with officials
of Your Excellency’s Government, and the governments of the other
interested countries, regarding their desires with reference to the
proposed cooperation between their governments and that of the
United States in further work on the Inter-American Highway.
The following are the proposed conditions of cooperation:
The United States will furnish surveys of bridge sites and
make all needed borings; will furnish plans, specifications
and estimates; all steel, or other fabricated material,
whether used in the permanent structure or in any temporary
auxiliary work; will furnish all mechanical equipment
needed; will transport all materials and equipment furnished
by the United States to the site of the work; will construct
complete ready for traffic all the superstructure, either by
day labor or by contract; will supervise all construction to
completion; and will furnish all inspection and supervision
when needed in connection with getting out materials
furnished by Guatemala.
Guatemala will furnish all labor for getting out local
materials, such as timber, sand, gravel, and stone, except,
in agreed cases, those to be used by a contractor; will
furnish all such local materials; will furnish all labor
needed in constructing the foundations and substructures,
and in removing falsework except steel sheet piling; will
furnish all labor for cleaning up site and grading
approaches for a distance sufficient to complete the stream
crossing and make the structure [Page 262] usable; and will provide transportation to
the bridge site for all materials furnished by Guatemala,
except, in agreed cases, those to be used by a contractor.
Guatemala will furnish all rights of way needed and in
connection with all transportation and construction, provide
easements sufficient for needed operations, and will hold
the United States harmless under local law for all employees
liability obligations.
Both countries will endeavor to cooperate fully in the
projected construction and will use their utmost combined
efforts not to disturb labor conditions, and each, including
any contractors employed, will pay to their respective
personnel the customary and prevailing wage for the several
classes of service rendered. Equipment needed on the project
and furnished by the United States may be permanently
allotted to Guatemala or removed as may be determined by the
United States. Plans and specifications for substructures
will be provided in both Spanish and English, if necessary.
If a contract is let for the superstructure, the obligation
to pay labor costs for producing and transporting needed
local materials will in each case be a subject for separate
agreement between the United States and Guatemala.
The foregoing are the conditions on which my
Government proposes to cooperate not only with Your Excellency’s
Government but also with the governments of the other interested
countries in similar work within their territories.
If the proposed procedure is acceptable to your Government, I would
appreciate having you address to me a note in reply stating that
fact. On receipt of your reply I shall be pleased to forward a copy
of it to the Department of State of my Government. As soon as your
statement that the proposed procedure is acceptable to your
Government shall have reached the Department of State, the necessary
steps will be taken to carry out the proposed bridge
construction.
