103.9169 Montevideo: Airgram
The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 3—8 a.m.]
A–333. For Crowley and Zopf,70 Foreign Economic Administration. Reference is made to Department’s airgram A–196, May 2, 1944, 3:35 p.m.71
The emergency in Uruguay’s supply situation precipitated by the denial of export permits by the Argentine Government, creating a virtual embargo on exports of many materials required by Uruguay, has eased considerably. The major factor in bringing about this improvement has been the quick action on the part of the authorities of our government in licensing and shipping those materials most urgently needed. Furthermore, Argentina recently has permitted shipments to Uruguay of various materials urgently required.
The supply situation of water purification materials, liquid chlorine, bleaching powder, anhydrous ammonia, and aluminum sulphate is no longer critical. The Department’s telegram no. 353 of June 17, 1944, 11:45 a.m., announces the licensing and early shipment of aluminum sulphate referred to in Embassy’s telegram no. 540 of June 9, 1944.72 One small shipment of liquid chlorine has arrived from Argentina, but the information is that no other shipments are [Page 1622] expected for the present. This information comes from Industrias Químicas Uruguayas “Duperial” which is affiliated with the Argentine establishment producing liquid chlorine.
The anhydrous ammonia situation of the four frigoríficos engaged in the fulfillment of bulk contracts, in view of present stocks and shipments, scheduled from the United States, seems secure. The Embassy has sought to clear up the confusion with respect to pending orders for Frigorífico Nacional in its telegram no. 533 of June 8, 1944, 6:00 p.m.,73 which stated that all pending documents covering anhydrous ammonia for Frigorífico Nacional should be cancelled and that new Letters of Approval would be issued as rapidly as empty cylinders are returned to the United States. If “Duperial” receives the shipment referred to in Embassy’s telegram no. 436 of May 11, 1944, 11:00 a.m.,73 the entire anhydrous ammonia supply situation will be at normal.
A shipment of three tons of carbon disulphide has been received from Argentina caring for the emergency situation related to the disinfecting of seeds. The shipment of ten metric tons of carbon disulphide from the United States will provide stocks for a protracted period.
With respect to the empty cylinders for anhydrous ammonia and liquid chlorine shipments, measures have been adopted by all consumers, upon the suggestion from the Embassy, to the end that the prompt return to the United States of these empty cylinders for refilling will be assured. A report on the cylinder situation estimating the number that will be returned during the balance of the current year, is being forwarded.
The Embassy interprets the airgram instruction under reply to indicate interest only in those materials generally supplied by Argentina which it is considered must be obtained for the present from the United States, and as requesting a recommendation of the minimum essential requirements during the third and fourth quarters of 1944 and the first and second quarters of 1945 of these same materials. The number of these materials has been greatly reduced by the loosening of export permits by the Argentine Government.
Uruguayan consumers of salt and gypsum do not believe that their supply from Argentina will be interrupted. Shipments of quebracho extract are being received from Argentina without difficulty. The Servicio Oficial de Semillas of the Uruguayan Government has arranged for Argentine seed potatoes for first crop planting under the normal procedure. A request for seed potatoes from Canada or Maine for the second crop planting, following the procedure of recent years, will be forthcoming shortly. A separate communication [Page 1623] will be transmitted covering the seed potato situation. Paper manufacturers state that they will not require mechanical woodpulp either from Argentina or the United States.
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