103.9169/4034: Telegram

The Ambassador in Nicaragua (Stewart) to the Secretary of State

362. Regarding decentralization rollback to a minimum positive list, reference is made to the Department’s circular airgram dated May 25, 11:15 a.m.39 and Department’s A–127 [197], June 6, 5 [5:05] p.m. The Nicaraguan Country Agency has accepted the decentralization rollback and will discontinue June 30, 1944, requiring import permits for commodities that are not covered by import recommendations which will then be needed for the positive list only. Exchange control by the Nicaraguan Government will, however, continue for the time being at least since they state they find it necessary. In lieu of import permits, the importer will after July 1 submit his orders with the same number of copies as in the case of import permits to a one-man Nicaraguan Exchange Control Commission for exchange authorization, the disposition of copies remaining the same. Major Thomas Downing40 and in his temporary absence, Colonel Irving Lindberg,41 both Americans, will act as the Exchange Control Commission.

Stewart
  1. Not printed.
  2. Major Downing was President of the Nicaraguan Junta de Control de Precios and Assistant Collector of Customs.
  3. Colonel Lindberg was Collector General of Customs and High Commissioner in Nicaragua. For correspondence on the duties of Mr. Downing and Mr. Lindberg, see pp. 1396 ff.