811.20 Defense(M)Peru/841: Telegram

The Ambassador in Peru (Norweb) to the Secretary of State

892. Reference Department’s telegram 704, June 19, 8 p.m. Finance Minister yesterday accepted clauses A and B including modification of clause A as proposed by BEW in telegram 617 of May 28, 10 p.m.

The Minister stated he accepted clauses A and B of article 3 unconditionally including their publication as a part of the agreement if [Page 743] Washington definitely insists upon such publication. He would prefer, however, and requested that I submit his suggestion that clauses A and B of article 3 be included in a separate exchange of letters.

There would be no objection on the part of the Embassy to treating article 3 in this way providing there is no objection in Washington. However, as stated above, the Minister has not stipulated this as a condition but rather as a decided preference as was done in the case, of Bolivia.58

The Minister stated further that he is now desirous of proceeding at once with the agreement. Consequently I wish to present below the text as we understand it here for confirmation.

It will be noted that the original article 4 pertaining to living and working conditions has been omitted at Finance Minister’s request as reported in the Embassy’s telegram 1172 of November 11, 5 p.m.59 Consequently the text of the agreement would consist of the paragraphs given in the Embassy’s telegram 893 of June 22, 7 p.m.60 plus exhibit A listing the minerals and metals and prices.

Please telegraph confirmation of the articles quoted in telegram 893 or necessary modifications; and also exhibit A which we presume will include the paragraph clarifying F.O.B. prices.

Norweb
  1. For correspondence on procurement of strategic materials from Bolivia by the United States, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, pp. 452 ff., and ibid., 1942, vol. v, pp. 536 ff.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Infra.