825.77/287
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Chile (Scotten)
Sir: With reference to your despatch No. 255 of December 29, 1934, with regard to recent bids for equipment for the Chilean State Railways, you are requested, when suitable opportunity presents, to express informally to the Minister of Foreign Affairs the hope of this Government that American concerns shall have the opportunity to bid on even terms with other foreign concerns for future supplies of the Chilean Government and state-owned enterprises. You may say that American firms feel that the notice of the recent bids for equipment for the Chilean State Railways was too brief to permit of proper study of the specifications and calculation of prices. You may point out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that this Government maintains its policy of equal opportunity for trade, and in compliance with it recently refused an arrangement providing for the exchange of American cotton for German synthetic nitrates.
Very truly yours,