611.2331/81
The Ambassador in Peru ( Steinhardt ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have had my first official talk with Dr. Carlos Concha since he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. I was with him at the Foreign Office for over an hour.
In connection with the Department’s desire to negotiate a trade agreement with Peru, Dr. Concha expressed himself as equally desirous, in principle, of negotiating such an agreement. He said that he could envisage many advantages to both countries and that he personally believed the time was propitious to explore the possibilities. He added that I must understand President Benavides had the last word in such matters and that it was his intention to discuss the subject with the President in the immediate future, and to recommend to him that he be authorized to proceed with the negotiations. He said that if the President approved, he would at once designate someone in the commercial division of the Foreign Office to undertake the assembly of material.
Dr. Concha assured me that as soon as he had talked the matter over with the President he would discuss the subject further with me. He added that in the meantime he would be very pleased to have any suggestions from the Department as to the modus operandi to be followed in connection with the probable negotiations.
Respectfully yours,