810.154/1259
The Secretary of Agriculture ( Wallace ) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I am glad to receive in your letter of December 2 (RA) assurance that you are in accord with my proposal to approach the President with a view to obtaining his agreement to request of Congress a further appropriation of $500,000 for construction operations on the inter-American Highway. In line with your communication, I propose to take this matter up with the President and suggest that he seek also an expression of your views.
I am in entire agreement with you regarding the form which an additional appropriation should take, following the language of the Act of June, 1934 (Public No. 412, 73d Congress).
With respect to securing authorization to use already appropriated administrative funds, amounting to $34,000, for continuing the engineering organization during the balance of the present fiscal year, I am of the opinion that this authorization should be arranged for without necessary reference to a favorable decision regarding a further appropriation for construction. It is important in any case that the engineering organization be retained, for reasons already explained in previous communication to you on this general subject.
Your understanding with regard to the specific projects included in the estimate attached to Mr. MacDonald’s letter is correct. However, I understand that projects were selected in which the several countries have already expressed an interest.
Very truly yours,