824.61311/9–646: Telegram
The Ambassador in Bolivia (Flack) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 3:10 p.m.]
876. Minister National Economy41 yesterday informed Embassy he would submit request thru FonOff for additional 18,000 tons wheat flour, 30,000 tons wheat, delivery at rate of 8,000 tons monthly beginning October. He expressed concern over impending food shortage which he attributes directly to non-arrivals from Argentina.42 Suplies of beef vegetable oils and dairy products considered dangerously low, all of which normally obtained from Argentina. YPFB oil camps facing food crisis due same cause and have requested Embassy assistance obtain shipment approximately 645 tons miscellaneous foodstuffs.
Newspaper reports deny existence Argentine embargo but Embassy believes Argentine pressure being exerted for political purposes (possibly related to pending political asylum matter). Further Peruvian Ambassador43 told me last night that negotiations with his country regarding supplying sugar and petroleum interrupted until asylum matter44 settled. Bolivian FonOff asked Galbraith45 orally yesterday that flour and wheat shipments from United States be urgently expedited. Subsecretary46 also stated orally he had complained to Argentine Chargé47 yesterday afternoon about non-arrival foodstuffs from Argentina for past 33 days regardless of statements of Argentine high officials. Chargé expressed personal sympathy and said he would inform his Government. Subsecretary also told Chargé FonOff contemplating [Page 423] public statement of food situation caused by Argentine failure to permit exports if no food arrives by September 9.
Repeated Buenos Aires.
- Eduardo Saenz García.↩
- Telegram 887, September 9, 11 a.m., from La Paz, reported that Argentine foods were beginning to enter Bolivia (824.61311/9–946).↩
- Eduardo Garland Roel.↩
- For documentation on the revolution in Bolivia, see pp. 340 ff.↩
- Willard Galbraith, First Secretary of Embassy.↩
- Julio Alvarado.↩
- Carlos Torres Gigena.↩