800.8890/9732/6: Telegram
The Minister in Afghanistan ( Engert ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 6—9:48 a.m.]
48. The Legation has been requested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both orally and in writing to assist it in obtaining shipping space from Karachi to the United States for approximately 900 bales of karakul, 100 bales furs, 250 tons of wool and 40 tons pistachio nuts, all of which are now lying at Karachi. Ministry states that efforts made through Afghan Consul in New York have proved fruitless and points out that karakul is an extremely important item in Afghanistan’s foreign trade and that the United States is now the only market open to it. It hopes that in order to strengthen trade [Page 54] relations between the two countries the above and some similar shipments in the future may be accepted.
We have of course carefully explained the policy of the United States necessitated by the exigencies of the war and have referred to its circular of July 3.15
- Not printed.↩