822.014G/471

The Under Secretary of State ( Welles ) to the Secretary of the Navy ( Knox )

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have received your letter of October 19 with regard to the matter of the Galápagos Islands.

I have consulted again with the President concerning this question and he tells me that the sole transaction which he had in mind when he spoke of the matter at the last Cabinet meeting was the arrangement which is now being negotiated by Secretary Jones34 and the Export-Import Bank with former Commander Foster. This is technically a commercial project. Captain Callaghan, the President’s Naval Aide, can give you full information regarding the details of this project.

Believe me

Sincerely yours,

Sumner Welles
  1. Jesse Jones, Secretary of Commerce.