611.3131/179: Telegram
The Minister in Venezuela (Nicholson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:56 p.m.]
22. My telegram No. 21, March 19, 10 a.m.10 The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance are studying my note of March 12.11 An immediate reply cannot be expected. I have endeavored to present the Department’s viewpoint with respect to memoranda 1 and 2 with the utmost care to both ministries and am following the matter closely to ensure the promptest action possible. It is my impression that the Venezuelan Government may make proposals looking to the conditional inclusion of certain of the products in the Department’s group 3, notably salt and magnesite, which the government [Page 966] expects will shortly be produced in large quantities. It regards as particularly desirable the exportation of these commodities to the United States since they would provide cheap return cargoes for vessels calling at Venezuelan ports.
The Foreign Minister has suggested to me the desirability of entering into a modus vivendi guaranteeing unconditional most-favored-nation treatment between the two countries pending conclusion of the trade agreement negotiations. He informs me that contrary to my previous understanding the extension of such treatment to the United States is not general at present but is confined to the benefits of the Franco-Venezuelan commercial accord.