740.24112A/246: Airgram
The Chargé in Bolivia (Woodward) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 20—11 a.m.]
A–199. Reference is made to this Embassy’s despatch No. 2351 under date of October 8, 1943,40 relating to the possibility of post-war sanctions against Proclaimed List firms, and to the Department’s telegram no. 1445 of December 20, 1943,40 which stated that discussions were being held on the matter.
On May 4 and 5, two La Paz newspapers (La Razón and Ultima Hora) carried Reuters despatches from Hot Springs, Virginia and quoted from a speech purportedly made to the American Manufacturers’ Association by Mr. Francis H. Russell of the Department.41 Mr. Russell is quoted as stating, in substance, that the sanctions of the Proclaimed List will not be relaxed immediately upon the termination of the war but the quotation of his remarks in Spanish leaves some doubt as to whether his statement applied only to neutral European nations or to all nations (including the other American Republics) in which the Proclaimed List is maintained.
If the Department perceives no objection, this Embassy should appreciate clarification on the point raised in the preceding paragraph and on the Department’s present policy in respect of the post-war application of Proclaimed List sanctions. The Embassy has received queries on the subject which it is not in a position to answer.