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  4. Document 384

824.00/1686

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Bonsal)

[ Washington ,] January 5, 1944.

Señor de Lozada10 came in at his request. He informed me that there is on the docks in United States ports a certain amount of lend-lease material11 consigned to the Bolivian Government. He asked me whether this would be allowed to go forward. I answered in the negative.

Señor de Lozada then showed me a letter which he had received from Señor Augusto de Céspedes, editor of the M. N. R.12 organ, La Calle, and Secretary-General of the revolutionary Junta. This letter, written in a very friendly and familiar style, covers the following points:

(1)
A description of the revolution itself with particular emphasis on the widespread and enthusiastic manifestations of popular approval at the overthrow of the Peñaranda regime.
(2)
A statement regarding the honest desire of the Junta to cooperate with the United States, since such cooperation is in the best interests of the two countries.
(3)
A very stern and forthright statement to the effect that if the Department of State maintains a cold attitude toward the new regime, the latter will defend itself to the last.

I made no specific comment regarding this letter, which was dated December 24, i.e., four days after the revolution. I did, however, express pessimism regarding the general outlook.

  1. Enrique Lozada, Bolivian confidential agent in Washington.↩
  2. For correspondence on the negotiation of a Lend-Lease agreement between the United States and Bolivia, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vi, pp. 422 ff.↩
  3. Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario, founded and led by Victor Paz Estenssoro.↩