611.3131/98: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Venezuela ( Nicholson )
20. Your No. 31, April 15, 1937. Please call on the Foreign Minister at his earliest convenience and inform him that this Government [Page 767] would like to proceed as rapidly as possible with the negotiation of a trade agreement, and is prepared to issue the preliminary public announcement just as soon as he, speaking for his Government, can give the assurance requested with regard to the basis upon which negotiations will take place. You may say to the Minister that this Government is sure he will appreciate that it would serve no useful purpose to proceed with the negotiations unless the two Governments are in agreement in advance that the proposed general provisions will be based upon the unconditional most-favored-nation principle as applied to customs duties, exchange matters, quotas, et cetera. You may assure him that if his Government is disposed to agree to this principle as the primary basis of the general provisions, the precise language of the general provisions that will embody this principle can be discussed during the formal negotiations.
The Department will instruct you fully by air mail as to the procedural steps to be taken if and when agreement is reached on the basis for negotiations.