837.24/10–2444
The Foreign Economic Administrator (Crowley) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25.]
Dear Mr. Hull: Ambassador Braden’s secret airgram (A–2223) of October 2, 1944, with reference to the Cuban Government’s failure to make any payment on account of the amount now overdue under our Lend-Lease agreement, raises a question which has been bothering me for some time.
Under the terms of Article II of the Cuban agreement the Republic of Cuba was required to pay not more than a total of $2,100,000 before July 1, 1944. I understand that bills aggregating more than that amount have already been submitted to the Cuban Government by the Department of State. However, the Cuban Government has paid nothing on account of this past-due indebtedness, and from the facts set forth in the airgram referred to above, it appears unlikely that that Government proposes to make any payment in the near future.
Having regard for the aid supplied to Cuba, as well at the considerable amounts paid by this Government under various procurement programs in Cuba, the attitude of the Cuban Government would appear to be indefensible. I am enclosing a secret statement54 of Cuba’s gold and dollar holdings, which makes the position the Cuban Government took with Ambassador Braden seem very strange. You may wish to make these figures available to the Ambassador for such use as he may desire to make of them in any further conversations he may have on this subject.
[Page 915]Subject to over-riding considerations of military policy and foreign policy, I would like to suggest that consideration be given to suspending further Lend-Lease aid to Cuba until such time as this default is cured. May I have your reaction to this suggestion?
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩