837.24/3–846

The Secretary of State to the Cuban Ambassador (Belt)

confidential

Excellency: I have the honor to transmit herewith two copies each of Statement LL–7 and supporting schedules96 reporting charges made against Government of Cuba during the period from September 1, 1945 through November 30, 1945, covering defense matériel transferred in accordance with the terms of the Lend-Lease Agreement signed on November 7, 1941 by representatives of the Governments of the Republic of Cuba and the United States of America.97

It will be noted that the amount of charges during the period under reference is $103,188.33, and that charges through November 30, 1945 aggregate the grand total of $4,114,804.07. Of this grand total the sum of $2,400,000 represents the approximate appropriate percentage due on account from Your Excellency’s Government under the terms specified in the Agreement.

In its note dated January 7, 194698 this Department requested the payment on account of $2,339,000, the cumulative amount which was due and payable as of that date and payment of which is now in arrears. Similar requests for payment were submitted in notes dated June 26, 1944;99 January 17, 1945, March 17, 1945, May 25, 1945, and August 25, 1945.1 No payments have been received.

I bring this matter most earnestly to the attention of Your Excellency’s Government in the hope that there may be received from the [Page 766] Government of Cuba a check in the amount of $2,400,000, which would cover sums due including arrears. Such a check should be drawn to the order of the “Treasurer of the United States” and should be sent to this Department for appropriate disposition.

It is requested that the enclosed statement and supporting schedules be treated by Your Excellency’s Government on a most confidential basis.2

Accept [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Spruille Braden
  1. Not printed.
  2. Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. vii, p. 122.
  3. Not printed.
  4. Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. vii, p. 908.
  5. None printed.
  6. In a memorandum of August 14, 1946, on the Cuban lend-lease debt, Mr. W. W. Walker, of the Division of Caribbean and Central American Affairs, informed Mr. John E. Peurifoy, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State, as follows:

    “Ambassador Belt recently submitted a proposal that the lend lease debt be paid in four instalments over a period of four years. At the same time he proposed that military and naval equipment totalling approximately $1,200,000 be made available to the Cuban Government. The Ambassador was informed that it would not be possible to grant an extension for the payment of the lend lease debt. He was also informed that in view of the present favorable financial condition of the Cuban Government, it was felt that the lend lease debt should be paid in full before any military or naval equipment is sold to Cuba.” (837.24/8–1446)

    Ambassador Norweb reported in telegram 680, September 11, 9 p.m., that the Cuban Minister of State (Alvarez) had just informed him that the Cabinet had that day authorized payment of 2.4 millions in one lump sum on the lend-lease account (837.24/9–1146).

    In airgram 2157, December 31, 1946, from Habana, the Ambassador reported to the Department that despite this authorization, delay in actual payment of the lend-lease account, resulting from confusion in the detailed supporting documentation required by Cuban official accounting procedure, persisted to the end of the year (837.24/12–3146).