822.24/669: Telegram
The Ambassador in Ecuador (Scotten) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 3—3:45 a.m.]
770. Reference Department’s circular telegram of August 31, 4 p.m.,11 and Embassy’s telegram 763, August 31, 10 a.m. Ecuadoran authorities are in accord with the general principle of simplification but the Director General of Priorities states that under Ecuadoran law the import permit issued by the Exchange Control which has consistently been required by Ecuadoran Consuls before certifying shipping documents will still be required.
Since an import permit is granted only upon submission of an Import Recommendation jointly approved by Embassy and Office of Priorities this guarantees continuation of effective consignee control by Embassy and makes this work unnecessary in Washington.
The granting of import permits affords the Ecuadoran Government the degree of control over imports and exchange which it considers absolutely essential to Ecuadoran economy under present conditions. This control through import permits replaces the former control established in July 1940 which the Government exercised through preparation for monthly exchange quotas which have now been discontinued.
For goods in free supply it will not be necessary to forward copies of Import Recommendations to the United States. However, shipping space applications made in the United States will of necessity be based on Ecuadoran import permits. This will greatly simplify the exporters’ work and will materially expedite clearance of applications in Ecuador.
The continued Ecuadoran use of Import Recommendations, with the much simplified procedure, will be of inestimable value to the Embassy since the information supplied is absolutely essential for future requirements studies and postwar planning.
In announcing Ecuador’s acceptance of the plan exporters should be informed that this does not imply the abolition of Ecuadoran import permit.
- Not printed.↩