824.51/950
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Duggan)
The Bolivian Minister14 stated that his Government desired to enter into discussions to secure a credit from this Government. In response to my inquiries as to additional details concerning the desire of the Bolivian Government, the Minister was unable to furnish further information. I informed the Minister, first, that it would be necessary for the Bolivian Government to present concrete proposals to this Government for its consideration, and secondly, that it appeared to me very doubtful whether this Government would wish to extend credits to the Bolivian Government until that Government had taken steps to clear up certain well known differences with American citizens.
The Minister stated that he agreed that it would probably be difficult, if not impossible, for this Government to move in the credit matter until the differences were straightened out. In this connection he inquired whether, as a result of further discussions between the Department and the Standard Oil Company, he could expect to receive in the near future a new draft of the proposed settlement.15 I informed the Minister that I had not had an opportunity to acquaint myself with the status of the negotiations concerning the Standard Oil dispute since my return, but that I would do so and inform him next Monday when he returned to town.
The Minister informed me that he would request further information from his Government as to its interests in a fcredit and what the credit would be used for if granted, et cetera.