Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

561.333D3/1639: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Colombia (Lane)

Washington, April 3, 1944—8 p.m.

441. The Colombian Embassy in Washington has delivered a memorandum to the Department which in translation is as follows:

“The Government of Colombia has found it impossible to manifest to the Junta Interamericana del Café, during the period of time which has been fixed, its assent to the prolongation of the Convenio Interamericano del Café from the first of October, 1944, since in the Consejo de Ministros, and the direction of the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros and in the coffee trade in general, it has been agreed at present that the development of the agreement is demonstrating that the quota for Colombia clearly results as insufficient for the absorption of an adequate part of the Colombian production. The fact that there have passed scarcely 6 months of the coffee year and it has been necessary to close the registers for exports because the Colombian quota has been filled, has awakened a great anxiety among the producers of exports which accentuates the force of these observations.

For these reasons, the Government and the Federación National de Cafeteros have considered it necessary to have a sufficient time for a greater study of the problem in order to seek the means which there may be to modify the situation and permit Colombia to continue to extend its cooperation in the Junta Interamericana del Café under equitable conditions and in accord with the present reality.”

This move is interpreted as an attempt to obtain an increase in the coffee quotas for the current quota year, an increase which, in any event, the Inter-American Coffee Board will probably authorize, possibly at the meeting on April 4.

Camargo⁹ has indicated that he will ask for an extension of the period during which participating countries may signify their decision regarding continuation of the Inter-American Coffee Agreement and this will undoubtedly be approved at the meeting on April 4.

Department is of the view that no pressure should be exercised to obtain Colombia’s consent to continuation of the agreement if Colombia is actually dissatisfied with it.

Embassy’s comments would be appreciated.

Hull

9. Mario Camargo, Columbian delegate to the Inter-American Coffee Board.