821.24/9–244
The Secretary of State to the Colombian Ambassador ( Turbay )
Excellency: I have the honor to transmit herewith two copies each of a statement prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration and supporting schedules45 reporting charges made against the Government of Colombia for the period from April 1, 1944 through July 31, 1944 covering articles transferred to the Government of Colombia, in accordance with the terms of the lend-lease agreement signed on March 17, 1942 by the United States of America and the Republic of Colombia.
It will be noted that the amount of the charges under reference is $1,266,278.03. It will be noted further that the total charges made through July 31, 1944 for all lend-lease articles transferred to the Government of Colombia aggregate the grand total of $4,325,445.56.
Of this grand total the sum of approximately $1,922,000 represents the appropriate percentage of reimbursement due from the Government of Colombia. Since your Excellency’s Government has already made a reimbursement payment in the amount of $1,200,000, the unpaid balance due is $722,000.00.
It would be appreciated if the payment of this balance of $722,000.00 could now be made in the form of a check drawn to the order of the “Treasurer of the United States, for the account of the Foreign Economic Administration”.46 Such check should be sent to this Department for appropriate disposition.
The Department will submit at a later date an additional statement prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration which will report similar charges made subsequent to July 31, 1944 and which do not appear in the enclosed statement.
[Page 820]For reasons of military security, may I request that the enclosed schedules be treated by your Excellency’s Government on a most confidential basis.
Accept [etc.]