821.24/792: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—3:17 a.m.]
2245. Reference my telegram No. 1990 of November 4, 9 p.m.22 At a conference held today between the Minister of Finance (Dr. Carlos Lleras Restrepo), the Superintendent of Importations (Dr. Ramón Muñoz) and Connell, the Minister said he felt that Colombian business dependent upon imports from the United States have been from time to time almost desperate as a result of the multiplicity between controls and delays encountered in passing upon applications. He said that now that Colombia had declared a state of belligerency with Germany23 any relief or simplifications that could be accomplished in such controls might well be attributed to the belligerency declaration and would assist in establishing favorable public opinion behind it.
The Minister stated that he was anxious immediately to comb the possibilities of export-import control simplifications and said that he believed the first step should be abrogation of Decree No. 2001 of October 8 which would authorize independent Colombian import permits effective January 1.
The Minister has requested memoranda from the Superintendent of Importations and Connell on the present operation of the Decentralization Plan with a view of promptly continuing discussions as to future possible simplifications measures.
In discussing the possibilities of limiting Colombian import control wherever possible to issuance of customary exchange permits the Minister expressed as his opinion that “with Colombia at war” a much closer working arrangement can and should be established between the Colombian and the United States Governments on consignee control. He said he saw no reason why this closer arrangement could not develop into the exchange commission’s receiving from the Embassy names of all undesirable consignees which would be circulated through the Exchange Control offices with instructions that import permits not be issued to such consignees, nor why this arrangement could not be openly acknowledged or announced by the Colombian Government.
The Minister stated that as soon as definite steps could be decided upon regarding import control he was anxious to study actively with the Embassy the disposition of alien properties in Colombia.
[Page 182]I mentioned the foregoing to Acting President Echandia24 this afternoon. He offered no comment.
Please inform FEA.25
- Not printed.↩
- For correspondence on this subject, see vol. vi, pp. 1 ff.↩
- During the absence of President López in the United States, Dario Echandia administered the office.↩
- Foreign Economic Administration; the Office of Economic Warfare, successor to the Board of Economic Warfare, was consolidated into the Foreign Economic Administration, September 25, 1943.↩