Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The American Republics, Volume XI

740.00112A EW/3–2846

The Ambassador in Colombia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State

secret
No. 1550

Bogotá, March 28, 1946.
[Received April 12.]

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s circular secret telegram of February 11, 1946,³⁰ in which was outlined the four (4) alternatives with regard to the continuation or abolishment of the Proclaimed List in the Western Hemisphere.

It is the opinion of the Embassy that the continuation of a part of the actual Proclaimed List in Colombia will serve a useful purpose up to the time that the replacement program for the fifteen spearhead firms (Rembtel no. 1049, August 7, 1945³¹) is successfully carried out. That date, from the information available at the Embassy, appears to be within three to six months. In the meantime, the Embassy is analysing its information with regard to those names still on the Proclaimed List with the view of recommending a substantial reduction in the List on May 8, 1946.

After the completion of the replacement program, it is thought that the continuation of the Proclaimed List will become more of a burden than a help to our relations, inasmuch as the List is a very effective block to many business enterprises in Colombia, and the United States must bear the bulk of the responsibility for the economic sanctions and their effects on the Colombian economy.³²

Respectfully yours,

For the Ambassador:

R. M. Connell

Commercial Attaché

30. Ante, p. 76.
31. Not printed.
32. In telegram 253, May 6, 1946, 5 p.m., to Bogotá, the Department indicated that the List could not be maintained for Colombia after its withdrawal elsewhere (740.00112A/4-2546).