818.6363/250: Telegram

The Minister in Costa Rica ( Scotten ) to the Secretary of State

208. Refer Legation’s strictly confidential despatch 1431 [1441], February 25,1 reporting negotiations by Señor Madrigal, President of the Banco de Brazil Nacional,2 for the importation of 50,000 gallons of gasoline from Mexico.3

I have today been asked by Mr. Jorge Escalante, head of the Costa Rican Gasoline Rationing Board, if such importation should be made whether there will be a corresponding reduction in the regular quota allotted for delivery to Costa Rica by the Latin American Supply Committee.4 It is understood that the importation in question would be made in bulk and would be merely the first of regular shipments.

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Since Señor Madrigal is now in Mexico arranging this deal, it is urgent that I be informed immediately whether all petroleum importations outside the pool will be deducted from pool deliveries.

Scotten
  1. Not printed.
  2. Actually Ramón Madrigal Antillon was president of the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.
  3. For correspondence concerning petroleum exports from Mexico, see letter of August 31 from the Ambassador in Mexico, and instruction No. 4606, October 23, to the Ambassador in Mexico, pp. 463 and 465, respectively.
  4. The Petroleum Supply Committee for Latin America, with headquarters in New York.