800.6354/114: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United. Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

299. The tin situation was discussed with Todd yesterday. The note will be presented tomorrow; a copy has been sent to The Hague.

Todd is convinced and rightly so that if the Committee could be persuaded in due course to change its price policy it would not set a tin price which would be unprofitable to the highest cost producing area, Bolivia. The figure which was given Todd and which also Campbell72 gave the Embassy (next to last paragraph No. 329, April 21, 6 p.m., 193873) is £189 per ton without interest charges. In view of the fact that under B–1 of the Department’s 163, March 4, 1 p.m., data are asked for regarding costs of production it seems inadvisable to emphasize the specific figures given in B–2 unless Campbell’s figure of £189 per ton can be called into question. Todd concurs.

Kennedy
  1. Sir John Campbell, Chairman of the International Tin Regulation Committee.
  2. Not printed.