831.24/10–2744

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Venezuela (Corrigan)

No. 2838

Sir: I transmit for your confidential information a copy of the Department’s note of even date to the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington and a copy of Statement LL–2, prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration6 showing charges made during the period from May 1 through August 31, 1944 against the Government of Venezuela covering material transferred under the Lend-Lease Agreement.

It will be noted that the total charges made through August 31, 1944 for all lend-lease material transferred to Venezuela aggregate a grand total of $2,338,960.97. Of this grand total the sum of $1,052,000 represents the approximate appropriate percentage of payment now due on account from the Government of Venezuela. Included in this amount is the sum of $945,000 the payment of which was requested in the Department’s note to the Venezuelan Embassy dated July 15, 1944 (Department’s confidential instruction no. 26507). To date no payment has been received from Venezuela, nor has the Department received any information as to when a payment on account may be expected. However, in its note no. 2374 dated July 25, 1944,7 the Venezuelan Embassy informed the Department that a copy of the Statement and schedules transmitted in the Department’s note of July 15, 1944, would not be sent to its Government until Colonel Jones-Parra, Military Attaché, completes a study and an examination of such schedules with the cooperation of officials of the War Department, because of discrepancies between the schedules and the material actually [Page 1644] delivered. No information on the progress of such examination has been received by the Department.

You are requested to approach discreetly the appropriate Venezuelan officials concerning the payment due on account. Such officials should be informed that in the interim and without prejudice to the position of the Government of Venezuela with respect to any adjustments in the above-mentioned schedules which may be found necessary, this Government would appreciate it if a payment on account in the amount of $1,052,000 could now be made in the form of a check payable to the order of the “Treasurer of the United States, For the Account of the Foreign Economic Administration”.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Dean Acheson
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