837.6363/581: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba (Braden)

A–1019. The analysis contained in your airmail despatch no. 7047 of May 30, 194482 of the first four months’ consumption of petroleum products in comparison with pool allotments serves to call attention again to the gas oil for gasoline exchange which, as you rightfully point out, is the logical solution to the over-consumption of gas oil under present allotments.

Since this allotment was approved at the formal request of the Cuban Government and has not been taken advantage of, the Department would appreciate the Embassy’s opinion as to the possible advisability of notifying the Cuban Government that as a result of the approved exchange, gasoline quotas had been reduced and gas oil quotas accordingly increased. Of course it would be understood that shipments of gasoline would be cut down and additional gas oil deliveries made in commensurate quantities but only after gasoline consumption had shown approximate decreases. A sufficient interval of time before the effective date of the suggested revision in gasoline quotas could be contemplated in order to allow a reasonable period for achieving measures necessary to increase the consumption of indigenous substitutes.

Hull
  1. Not printed.