611.3131/169: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Venezuela (Nicholson)
2. Your telegram No. 5, January 18, 4 p.m. You should inform the Venezuelan Foreign Minister that the revised list of products on which the Venezuelan Government desires concessions in a trade agreement is now being studied. If, because of the rule of principal supplier or for other compelling reasons regarding which the Venezuelan Government would be informed, this Government should find that it could not consider granting concessions on certain products contained in the Venezuelan Government’s revised list, and consequently that it would be impracticable to publish such products with the second announcement, the matter would be discussed with the Venezuelan Government and the latter’s approval to the elimination of such products from the published list would be sought.
As previously explained, the list of products handed the Venezuelan Government on which this Government may request concessions of Venezuela is necessarily tentative pending completion of public hearings here pursuant to the second announcement. This tentative list was not prepared with a view to its publication. Therefore, if the Venezuelan Government definitely desires to publish a list of products on which Venezuela will consider granting concessions to the United States, this Government would expect to be advised in detail concerning the products which the Venezuelan Government proposes to include in such list. On its part, the Government of the United States would expect that such list would include all products of which the United States has been the principal supplier and probably also a number of products of which the United States, although not the chief supplier, has been an important source or is potentially an important source of imports into Venezuela. This is in accord with the basis upon which the revised Venezuelan list is being examined here.
As soon as decision has been reached concerning the publication of lists by both Governments, and such of the foregoing steps as may be necessary have been completed, the Department will consult with the Venezuelan Foreign Minister regarding a mutually satisfactory date for the simultaneous issuance of the second public announcement here and at Caracas.