740.21112A/9–2744: Airgram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—5 p.m.]
A–851. The local press reports that the first resolutions covering expropriation of certain spearhead Nazi firms in Colombia have been issued by Ministry of Finance and sent to Attorney General for immediate action. The corresponding suits will be instituted by Attorney General before the National Judge of Prices (Juez Nacional de Precios) in accordance with Executive Decree 1723 of July 25, 1944 establishing the routine procedure in such cases. Because of very [Page 850] detailed nature of proceedings, progress of suits will likely be somewhat slow.
Minister of Government informed me Tuesday morning that La Química Bayer–Weskott & Cía. and Química Schering Colombiana were included in resolutions already issued.
Officers of the Embassy were also informed by officials of the Stabilization Fund on Wednesday that the first resolutions included also Empresa Hanseática, Instituto Behring, Anilinas Alemanas, and Cía. Colombiana de Colorantes y Productos Químicos, Ltda., and that additional resolutions covering other German firms would be issued within the near future.