Office of the Historian

824.50/44

The Secretary of State to the Chief of the United States Economic Mission to Bolivia (Bohan)

Washington, January 21, 1942.

The Secretary of State refers to telegram no. 5, January 5, 1942, 11 a.m.,59 from the Chief of the United States Economic Mission to Bolivia, suggesting that there be established in Bolivia a managing and technical organization to supervise the carrying out of the program of economic and financial cooperation with Bolivia which will be formulated by the Economic Mission and suggesting the general outline of such an organization.

The Department will give careful consideration to the suggestion that there be established a managing and technical organization, but it is believed that the advisability and nature of such an entity will depend upon the nature and variety of projects eventually recommended by the Economic Mission and approved by the two Governments. It is suggested that the final report of the Economic Mission might include a detailed recommendation on this subject. The Department agrees that it would not be advisable to discuss this subject with Bolivian officials at this time.60

Pending the organization of a control entity, the Department would of course assist in every possible way in carrying out any specific recommendations the Economic Mission may make for the assignment of technical experts to assist in rapid increases in production of strategic minerals.

  1. Not printed.↩
  2. The discussion on the proposed corporation and other projects for the economic development of Bolivia was resumed by the representatives of both countries at the Third Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American Republics at Rio de Janeiro January 15–28, 1942; for correspondence on this Meeting, see pp. 6 ff.↩