Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The American Republics, Volume VI

824.796/118: Telegram

The Minister in Bolivia (Jenkins) to the Secretary of State

La Paz, May 6, 1941—8 p.m.
[Received 9:10 p.m.]

Manager of the Grace Line has just telephoned that Minister of Hacienda¹⁷ informed him decree was issued this afternoon nationalizing LAB, and Government will take charge of the property, tomorrow morning. Decree was signed by the President and all Ministers.¹⁸ This action was taken without prior knowledge of the Legation and others concerned. Will telegraph details tomorrow.

Grace manager states that he is telegraphing Vidal who is now in Lima to return immediately.

Jenkins

17. Joaquín Espada.
18. The decree was promulgated May 14; the Spanish text appears in República de Bolivia, Anuario Administrativo de 1941, Vol. 2, p. 1395.