833.24/686: Airgram
The Chargé in Uruguay (Dwyre) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 1—11 a.m.]
A–333. Reference is made to Department’s telegram No. 332, June 18 [17], 1943, 5:30 a.m. [5 p.m.]. The Department’s telegram herewith mentioned and several interchanges of telegraphic communications between the Department and the Embassy all refer to a situation created by diverse interpretations of Current Export Bulletin No. 99 issued by the Office of Exports of the Board of Economic Warfare.
The Embassy informs the Department that the contents of the specific telegram under reference have been communicated to the Country Agency and that this Uruguayan Government organization has received the exposition of the attitude of the Department and the Board of Economic Warfare toward Decentralization Plan A with extreme satisfaction and with an expression of great appreciation for its candor and completeness.
The Embassy and the Country Agency are now considering a publication in the local press based upon the contents of the Department’s telegram and authorized by the Department as a means of counteracting the apathetic and confused attitude of the Uruguayan importers caused by misinterpretations of Current Export Bulletin No. [Page 286] 99. This attitude has threatened to nullify the efforts of the Country Agency and the Embassy to increase the flow of applications for Import Recommendations in order to take advantage of the improved shipping situation.
Prior to the receipt of the Department’s specific telegram under reference, the Country Agency had received directly a copy of Current Export Bulletin No. 99. Copies of this bulletin also have been received by numerous importers, sent to them by exporters in the United States.
The Department directs that the attention of the Country Agency be called to the reservation of right in Paragraph No. 9 of Decentralization Plan A. This particular paragraph had been contemplated both by the Country Agency and the Embassy prior to the receipt of the Department’s telegram. With respect to the paragraph under reference, the Country Agency made the frank statement to the Embassy that, even at the risk of appearing obtuse, it could not reconcile the proposal of the licensing authorities of our Government with any “action necessary to the best interests of the war program of the United Nations”.
The Embassy is able to inform the Department that the atmosphere created by Current Export Bulletin No. 99 has been entirely cleared as far as the Country Agency is concerned. It is believed that, in fairness to this Government organization, it should be brought to the attention of the Department and the Board of Economic Warfare that the Country Agency, in treating with the Embassy on the situation under reference, has adhered always to friendly and frank discussions and has not permitted the incident to diminish in the slightest degree the full cooperation which it always has extended to the Embassy and the authorities of our Government.