841.244/la: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay
In view of the combined needs of the United Nations for meat products and with a view to reaching the most effective procurement and allocation of canned meat, it has been agreed between the British and American Governments that all purchases of canned meat in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay for the United Nations will be made by the Ministry of Food of the United Kingdom. All quantities of canned meat purchased by the Ministry of Food under the arrangement is to be allocated to the United Kingdom, to the United States, and otherwise in such manner as may be agreed from time to time between the United States Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food. Such purchases as are allocated to the United States will be paid for directly to the local suppliers in dollars at the official equivalent of the sterling price fixed by the relevant Ministry of Food contract.
In your discretion, please inform the appropriate authorities of the foregoing arrangement, stressing that it has been reached only because of the pressing need for the most efficient organization of the procurement of an important food item. If you believe that it is preferable that the arrangement should come to the attention of the Government only indirectly as a result of cessation of direct purchases from the United States, you need not communicate the foregoing but in such event please inform the Department.