893.51/12–2945: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (Robertson)
Washington, January 4,
1946—4 p.m.
17. For General Marshall. Paragraph numbers refer to Urtel 2241, December 29.
- 1. The Department notes with satisfaction your recommendations and has communicated them to ExImBank.
- 2. ExImBank has also been advised that pending your recommendation no further negotiations are to be had on the Chinese request for 560 million credit.
- 2. a. Your recommendation that large ExImBank credit should be contingent among other things upon conclusion of satisfactory commercial treaty goes somewhat further than Deptel 2057, December 24, contemplated. Further comment will be sent you10 after discussion with other interested divisions of Department.
- 2. b. 1 & 2. Reply to your suggestions will follow further discussion in Department and with Treasury. Negotiation on these and other matters will be through you.
- 2. c. Department believes problems you mention can best be resolved in connection with approval of specific projects under large line of credit. Magnitude of such credit and timing of utilization for specific projects will be reasonably related to China’s progress in matters under reference.
- 2. c. 2. Department agrees with your comment but strongly believes present tendency of Chinese Government is unduly restrictive of private trade and enterprise.
- 2. c. 3. Department concurs in policy of approval of each specific item or project for use of portions of larger credit. This has been the usual practice of ExImBank.
Byrnes
- Apparently no further comment was sent.↩