800.85/561: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Braden) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:30 p.m.]
166. My telegram 154, February 6, midnight.79 Turbay80 before leaving told me today that he was instructed by the President to propose in the Subcommittee of the Inter-American Economic Advisory Committee that the Italian tankers be turned over to the United [Page 196] States in accordance with the resolutions approved by the Subcommittee. Turbay hopes in this way Colombia in return for the vessels will be assured of certain shipping—but not acquisition of merchant steamers—and thus the transaction can be made to appear as a mutually beneficial one and not the unilateral transfer of the tankers with Colombia receiving no benefit therefrom.