740.21112 RP/41: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Colombia ( Lane )
138. Department is informed by Office of Alien Property Custodian, with reference to your Airgram A–39, January 17, 1944, that it is difficult to continue to suspend definite plans for sales of Schering and General Aniline products in Colombia for any extensive additional period of time. The commercial decisions of these, as well as other American companies, with regard to the Colombian market cannot be postponed much longer. It may therefore be indicated to the Colombian authorities that it is highly desirable that a decision be reached soon, especially in view of the length of time during which the Colombian replacement project has been discussed.
For your confidential information, the Department feels that if local conditions make it unlikely that a formal replacement program will be adopted by the Colombian Government within a reasonable period of time, the interests of both this Government and American companies might better be served by encouraging such companies to make their own arrangements in Colombia, without regard to the possibility of reorganizing such companies as Bayer or Anilinas Alemanas. The Department appreciates the difficulties which have [Page 837] hampered your efforts to secure adoption of a definite program, and would like your comments on the suggestion of this paragraph.