800.6363/670: Telegram

The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State

727. Public ill feeling in Chile is growing due to restrictions on gasoline partially at least due to lack of adequate publicity that similar or more drastic rationing is taking place in 17 Eastern States and 2 Northwestern States. An immediate effective press release showing to the South American countries but especially Chile that the petroleum [Page 100] restrictions they are suffering are only equal to those imposed on people in the United States is urgently desirable: that its policy of equal treatment of South American countries as regards petroleum supplies represents a great sacrifice to the American people and to the war effort.

Suggest that the Petroleum Coordinator or the Deputy give an interview along these lines, and that for the next 3 or 4 weeks arrangements can be made for follow up stories to be cabled the United Press and Associated Press. The air mail edition of Time and newsreel shots of the effect of gasoline rationing in the United States are also useful means of publicity.

Bowers