611.2531/250: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Chile (Frost)
12. Your despatch 830, January 15, final paragraph. The Department did not intend that you should discuss the text of the general provisions even informally with Chilean officials at this time. As special conditions in Chile might necessitate changes in the “standard” provisions in a trade agreement with that country, it was the Department’s desire, by its instruction 296 of January 5, to have your own comments as to the applicability and adequacy of the provisions, particularly regarding possible obstacles of a legal or policy nature which might make it difficult for Chile to accept certain of the principles or commitments embodied in the standard provisions. It was the Department’s thought that it would be possible for you to ascertain whether any such obstacles do exist without discussing the exact text of the provisions with Chilean officials. Experience has shown that the presentation of a draft text, even informally, before a mutually satisfactory agreement has been reached in regard to the broad principles upon which negotiations will be based, tends to complicate and delay rather than facilitate the progress of the exploratory conversations. In this connection, should you find that you would be assisted by having further information regarding the reasons for the inclusion of any particular article in the general provisions, the Department will be glad to supply you with such information.