811.20 Defense (M)/6431
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Minister in Costa Rica (Scotten)6
In conversation with the President this afternoon, he brought up the impending contract with the Rubber Reserve Board for the purchase of rubber. He stated that although his Government would sign this contract exactly as we had requested, without conditions, he sincerely hoped that once the contract is signed we will assist Costa Rica to obtain the return of a small part of the rubber in the form of tires. He added that unless we do so the consequent paralyzation of automotive traffic will, of course, reduce the consumption of gasoline to zero, and the very important revenues which the Government now obtains from this source will be completely lost.
He asked whether I would not, out of a sense of pure justice, attempt to secure the permission of the State Department for Costa Rica to obtain some tires after the contract has been signed. Although I, of course, told him that I would do what I could, I gave him no assurances as to the probable result of my endeavors.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in his despatch No. 122, April 27; received May 1.↩