831.24/7–1544
The Secretary of State to the Venezuelan Ambassador (Escalante)
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s note of December 16, 19425 concerning the presentation of schedules and accounts of deliveries of, and payment for, defense articles made available to the Venezuelan Government under the terms of the Lend Lease Agreement signed on March 18, 1942 by representatives of the United States of America and of the United States of Venezuela.
In this connection there are enclosed two copies of a statement prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration5 listing the materials and equipment transferred to the Government of Venezuela up to the date of April 30, 1944. It is noted that the total amount of the items listed is $2,101,802.33. In addition to the copies of the statement mentioned, there are enclosed three copies of detailed schedules and lists of supplies and equipment5 arranged under the headings of the respective divisions of the agencies through which the materials were obtained.
The Department will submit at a later date a supplementary statement which will include such additional items as may be delivered to the Government of Venezuela subsequent to April 30, 1944 and which do not appear in the enclosed statement.
I should be pleased if Your Excellency would be so kind as to transmit copies of the enclosed statement, schedules and accounts to the appropriate officials of the Venezuelan Government to the end that [Page 1643] steps could be taken to effect the payments to this Government in the manner prescribed in Article IV of the March 18, 1942 Agreement.
It would be appreciated if payment could now be made in the amount of $945,000 which represents the appropriate percentage of the scheduled cost of the materials which were delivered by April 30, 1944. Payment should be in the form of a check drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States of America which could be sent to this Department for appropriate disposition.
For reasons of military security, I trust that the schedules and accounts which are enclosed herewith will be treated by Your Excellency’s Government on a most confidential basis.
Accept [etc.]