Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

821.61333/280: Airgram

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

[Extracts]

Washington, July 13, 1944—11:10 a.m.

A–487. Department’s circular instruction of August 30, 1943.¹³ The primary objective of the Department’s economic warfare program in Colombia is the elimination of German spearhead firms. The Department requests your comments on the desirability of approaching the Colombian authorities with the following plan for attaining this objective. It is not contemplated that you would approach the Colombian authorities until the Department has had an opportunity to consider your reply.

1. The Colombians would be informed that this Government is particularly interested in the elimination of firms such as the following which represent the core of German economic penetration in Colombia: La Química Bayer, Química Schering, Institute Behring, Anilinas Alemanas, Almacenes Helda, and Empresa Hanseática. This list should include the important spearhead firms but should be kept as small as possible. Your views as to the names which should be submitted are requested.

2. It would be pointed out that the elimination of the influence of these firms is recommended by the Washington Resolutions; and that the techniques of expropriation, forced sale, or liquidation should l)e applied (depending upon the circumstances) so as to completely and effectively eliminate Axis ownership and control. This could be done by applying to such firms the controls which are already in effect.

3. When substantial progress has been made in the elimination of the influence of the firms above-described, the Interdepartmental Committee is prepared to delete a substantial number of Colombian nationals from the Proclaimed List. In this connection please forward a list of the names which you believe could be deleted without injury to the prestige of the List and the effectiveness of the economic warfare program. The time schedule to be followed in deleting the names could be agreed upon at a later date.

4. It would be explained that such deletions would be possible because of the elimination of the dominant Axis influences in Colombia and the consequent reduction in the danger to the security of the hemisphere.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Also airmail your recommendations concerning the other questions as soon as possible.¹⁴

Hull

13. Not printed.
14. In despatch 4127, July 27, 1944, from Bogotá, the Ambassador transmitted the assurances that, given the list of spearhead firms, action would be immediately taken to expropriate their properties. The proposal to reduce the Proclaimed List if the spearhead firms were dealt with was also welcomed by the Colombian Government. (740.00113 EW/7–2744)