816.24/593: Airgram
The Ambassador in El Salvador ( Thurston ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 19—4 p.m.]
A–218. Department’s confidential circular airgram dated June 7, 1943, 6:10 p.m.16 El Salvador is opposed to proposal BEW licensing of materials outside allocated materials without Import Recommendations even provided such materials are shipped only after all available materials covered by Import Recommendations have been shipped. The certifying agency states that its books show 19,000 tons of backlog [Page 216] orders, and suggests that any surplus shipping tonnage available to El Salvador be utilized by the War Shipping Administration in forwarding backlog badly needed.
[Here follows a list of pending orders for wheat, flour, paper, cement, and asphalt which comprises the backlog requested by the certifying agency.]
Mr. Renwick, President of the certifying agency, further states that the plan under consideration would totally wreck his records of prospective shipping for the balance of the year and feels that his organization is sufficiently organized to achieve entire flexibility to take advantage of unexpected increases in shipment.
The suggestion that the Embassy cooperate with the Country Agency in arranging with importers to place orders by telegram for an amount equal to three months’ shipping target tonnage will be immediately complied with.