103.9169/3187: Airgram

The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State

A–320. For Foreign Economic Administration. Reference is made to the Department’s Circular Airgram of March 3065 relevant to a further rollback of Decentralization to a minimum positive list as of July 1, 1944.

As stated in the Embassy’s Telegram No. 320 of February 24, Dr. Diego Mejía, Head of the Office of Exchange and Export Control, signified his complete acceptance to any proposals which may be forthcoming which will simplify the importation of commodities from the United States. In a recent conversation he stated that he would welcome all simplifications and confirmed the Colombian Government’s desire, as expressed in our Telegram No. 51 of January 13,64 of eliminating from Import Recommendation requirements all articles not [Page 826] under specific quota from the United States or Canada to Colombia. Commodities principally affected by this removal would be Cotton Wearing Apparel, Cotton House Furnishings, Wool Wearing Apparel, etc. The Embassy would also welcome this removal.

The Embassy is of the opinion that the present policy of freeing the importer of all possible restrictions by reducing to a minimum the paper work for exporters and importers on shipments will not only facilitate shipments to Colombia but will serve to strengthen our future trade position in this country.

Since it is the desire to propose a further rollback of Decentralization to become effective July 1st, the Embassy wishes to point out to the Department that Import Recommendations for the third quarter are now being received by the Colombian Certifying Agency, and it is hoped that the Embassy may be furnished the final list by May 1, at the latest, so as to avoid uselessly processing the Import Recommendations affected.

Lane
  1. Not printed.
  2. None printed except airgram dated February 15, 11:40 a.m., p. 653.