611.1631/157
The Chargé in El Salvador ( Fisher ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s telegram No. 29 of November 7, 1 p.m., relative to the trade agreement negotiations.
In accordance with the instructions contained in the last portion thereof, Mr. Cochran had an informal conversation with Dr. Alfonso Rochac, Head of the Office of Customs Income. Dr. Rochac approved the idea of terminating and signing the treaty during the Buenos Aires Conference, thought that it was a good opportunity for El Salvador to show her friendly feeling for the United States, and said that he believed that the Ministry of Finance would be entirely disposed to give the matter immediate consideration, as soon as it should have received the Department’s reply to its proposals (to arrive shortly by air mail). Dr. Rochac stated that the Ministry of Finance considered the trade agreement as a settled matter; and added that, were he called in for consultation, he would lend his efforts to securing early and favorable action. He suggested, however, that the most pressing item was the matter of the phraseology of the general provisions.
Immediately upon the receipt of the Department’s telegram, Mr. Cochran went to see Dr. Arturo Ramón Avila, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, to whom the general provisions have been referred for study. Dr. Avila said that his report thereon was almost ready, awaiting only his final revision, and the approval of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He stated that the changes to be suggested were all minor, and in general were to bring the terms of the treaty into conformity with the revised Schedules I and II. He thought that the note on this subject would be delivered to the Legation within a week.
Dr. Avila was of the opinion that the tables, as approved by the Department, would be referred again to the Ministry of Finance, and that the matter would now be handled by Dr. Rodrigo Samayoa, the Minister, (in the absence of Dr. Brannon), and suggested that Mr. Cochran call on him as soon as the actual proposals had been received. Dr. Avila added that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs was [Page 567] entirely inclined to bring the negotiations to a prompt conclusion, in order to be able to announce the signing of the treaty during the Buenos Aires Conference.
The Department will of course be kept fully advised of developments.
Respectfully yours,