810.154/4–2247

The Secretary of State to the Administrator of the Federal Works Agency (Fleming)

My Dear General Fleming: Reference is made to your letter of April 22, 1947, calling this Department’s attention to the Independent Offices Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1946 which appropriated $1,000,000 for use on the Inter-American Highway on the cooperative construction program outlined in the provisions of Public Law 375. It has been noted that under this appropriation act the appropriation shall be available only after the cooperating country in which the money is to be expended executes a written agreement concerning the use of the highway.

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In view of previous information received by the Department from the Public Roads Administration to the effect that construction on the highway had been suspended in certain cooperating countries and that funds were not available for the resumption of such work (notwithstanding the fact that, according to your letter under acknowledgment, on March 18, 1947 more than $7,900,000 were still available from the original authorization of $20,000,000), the Department desires more definite information concerning your plans for the expenditure of the present balance.

If there is no immediate prospect for obtaining additional funds so that construction may be resumed in all the cooperating countries, it is believed that the present is not an appropriate time to undertake negotiations for the execution of the proposed new agreements with the countries in which construction has been suspended. However, the Department is prepared to take the necessary action, in compliance with this new legal requirement, with the respective country in which the Public Roads Administration plans to expend the funds obtained under the above-mentioned appropriation act.

It is requested, therefore, that the Department be informed more specifically in which country the above-mentioned appropriation will be used.7

Sincerely yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Spruille Braden
  1. General Fleming replied in a letter of July 3, as follows:

    “We find that the entire appropriation of one million dollars referred to can be included in the allotment made to Guatemala and we have prepared an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with that country which will specifically include as a part of the allotment the entire sum appropriated by the said Independent Offices Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1946.” (810.154/7–347)