838.24/535: Airgram
The Ambassador in Haiti (White) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 31—2 p.m.]
A–419. Reference Department’s airgram of August 23, 7 p.m., 1943,50 to certain American diplomatic missions in the other American republics. The following are the Embassy’s comments on the three [Page 230] plans for the simplification of export control outlined in the communication under reference:
Plan No. I.
This would appear to be the most desirable alternative for the simplification of control so far as Haiti is concerned. The Embassy is submitting herewith (see below) a fourth plan which contemplate certain modifications of Plan No. I, with a view to relieving some of the burden which the present system imposes upon the importer.
Plan No. II.
Since Haitian law does not require the importer to apply for a “permit to import” or similar document, this alternative would not appear to be feasible here. The Embassy knows of no other way in which complete consignee control could be exercised without some form similar to the Import Recommendation and which would carry sufficient data to enable the Embassy to effectively screen orders placed in the United States.
Plan No. III.
The principal objection to this alternative, as in the case of Plan No. II, from the Embassy’s point of view is that there appears to be no way in which commercial orders could be processed at this end with a view to control of consignee and the maintenance of trade in pre-war channels.
As an alternative, which the Embassy and the Representative of the Office of Economic Warfare feel would be preferable from the various angles, there is submitted the following control procedure:
Plan No. IV.
Plan IV as advocated by this Embassy consists in part of a modification of Plan I and in balance of new suggestions. In outline, the Embassy’s suggestion is as follows:
- 1)
- A modified form of the present Import Recommendation will be required for items in free supply.
- 2)
- This form may include all items ordered by one importer from one supplier in the United States not including any CMP51 or allocated materials.
- 3)
- To aid the importer in determining what items may be ordered under the “blanket IR”,52 the Embassy is prepared to list the Schedule B numbers and commodity description of all items under estimate of supply. Schedule B numbers corresponding to CMP numbers will be included on the list. The list will be mimeographed and made available to the public. All items not found on the list may be grouped in “blanket IR’s”.
- Items found on the list will require the usual Import Recommendation in its present form and subject to the present regulations.
- 4)
- On the modified Import Recommendation form the face of the present form will be retained, but there will be no requirement that items no. 11, 12 and 15 be completed. The reverse of the form will be blank providing space for a complete listing of the items under order, with these headings—Description, Amount and Value.
- 5)
- These special forms will be checked to ascertain that they do not include allocated or CMP items.
- 6)
- The special forms will also be screened for consignee control.
- 7)
- Disposal of the quadruplicate copy is subject to decision in Washington, but it is suggested that the copy not be returned to the importer.
- 8)
- The original and triplicate will be forwarded to Washington as usual.