833.24/7–1944
The Secretary of State to the Deputy War Shipping Administrator (Conway)
My Dear Captain Conway: The Department is in receipt of urgent cables from the American Embassy in Montevideo which state that the Uruguayan Government has requested assistance for the transportation of from 8,000 to 10,000 tons of salt within the next two months from Areia Branca in North Brazil to Montevideo. This request is the result of recent action taken by the Argentine Government in denying export permits for the shipment of salt to Uruguay. The Embassy has informed the Department that the stocks of salt [Page 1625] held by the frigoríficos in Uruguay will last for only sixty days and that the total Uruguayan stocks are sufficient to meet total salt requirements for only ninety days.
In view of the instructions given to the American Embassy in Montevideo that the Uruguayan Government be informed that this Government will extend to Uruguay all necessary economic assistance, and in support of the war effort, the Department very strongly requests the War Shipping Administration to make available sufficient shipping to move the 8,000 to 10,000 tons of salt from Areia Branca to Montevideo within the next two months, if such a movement is found to be necessary.
On the basis of informal talks between Messrs. Darr and Barnicle of the War Shipping Administration and representatives of the Department on July 15 and 17, the American Embassy in Montevideo has been informed by cable that the Department has been assured by the War Shipping Administration that the necessary shipping will be made available for transportation of the salt. This letter is the Department’s formal request for assistance in arranging the necessary shipping space on behalf of the Uruguayan Government.
Sincerely yours,
Director, Office of
Wartime Economic Affairs