611.2331/165
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. H. Gerald Smith of the Division of Trade Agreements
[Washington,] November 30, 1939.
| Participants: | Señor Juan Chavez, Commercial Counselor, Peruvian Embassy; |
| Señor Pedro Beltrán, Special Commercial Delegate of Peru; | |
| Mr. Hawkins; | |
| Mr. Smith. |
Señor Beltrán and Señor Chavez called by appointment to continue the discussions of the previous day regarding the possibility of establishing a basis for trade-agreement negotiations between the United States and Peru. Señor Beltrán furnished a list of the products4 on which Peru might be interested in securing concessions in a trade agreement and a general discussion took place out of which the following points emerged:
- 1.
- Mr. Hawkins indicated that the trade-agreements organization was not in a position at this time to give definitive consideration to the possibility of a trade agreement with Peru, and particularly with respect to sugar, that it would not be possible to consider this item until the domestic situation with respect to quotas, et cetera, had been clarified. It was pointed out, however, that studies would be undertaken as rapidly as possible on the various items on which the Peruvian Government had expressed interest.
- 2.
- Señor Beltrán made it clear that particularly with respect to sugar, the situation in Peru was critical and would remain so during the next four to five months until the current crop had been sold. He stated that it was highly important that Peru secure a greater outlet for its sugar in the United States market.
- 3.
- Señor Beltrán also indicated that if the economic situation in Peru, particularly regarding sugar, could not be improved through a trade agreement with the United States, Peru would undoubtedly have to seek a barter or some similar arrangement with the United Kingdom or France.
It was agreed that the conversations would be renewed in January when Señor Beltrán had returned from Lima.
- Not found in Department files.↩