837.24/6–2644

The Secretary of State to the Cuban Ambassador (Concheso)

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s Note of December 16, 1942,32 concerning the presentation of schedules and accounts of deliveries of, and payment for, defense articles made available to the Cuban Government under the terms of the Lend-Lease Agreement signed on November 7, 1941 between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba.33

[Page 909]

In this connection there are enclosed two copies of a statement34 prepared by the Foreign Economic Administration concerning the materials and equipment transferred to the Government of Cuba up to the date of March 31, 1944. It is noted that the total amount of the items listed is $2,415,079.74. In addition to the copies of the statement mentioned, there are enclosed four copies of detailed schedules and lists34 of supplies and equipment arranged under the headings of the respective divisions of the agencies through which the materials were obtained.

The Department will submit at a later date a supplementary statement which will include such additional items as may be delivered to the Government of Cuba subsequent to March 31, 1944 and which do not appear in the enclosed statement.

I should be pleased if Your Excellency would be so kind as to transmit copies of the enclosed schedules and accounts to the appropriate officials of the Cuban Government to the end that steps could be taken to effect payment to this Government in the manner prescribed in Article II of the November 7, 1941 Agreement.

It would be appreciated if payment could now be made in the amount of $1,400,000 which is due as of July 1, 1943, in the form of a check drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States of America, which could be sent to this Department for appropriate disposition.

For reasons of military security, I trust that the schedules and accounts which are enclosed herewith will be treated by Your Excellency’s Government on a most confidential basis.

Accept [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Dean Acheson
  1. Not printed.
  2. For text of the agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vii, p. 122.
  3. Not printed.
  4. Not printed.