810.154/10–747: Airgram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Guatemala
A–239. The Embassy’s despatch No. 2658 of October 7, 1947 has been discussed with the PRA. No objection is perceived in principle to adding the suggested paragraph to the Embassy’s proposed’ note transmitted with the Department’s instruction No. 826 of July 29, 1947. However, it is felt this addition to the proposed Agreement may necessitate a further Agreement if at any time in the future it should become necessary to modify the memorandum of understanding signed September 1, 1944. In order to eliminate that possibility, if the Guatemalans insist that the currently proposed Agreement should provide that it will not affect the present financial obligations, it is suggested that this provision be covered in an additional paragraph in the following language:
“Except as amended herein, there shall remain in full force and effect the Agreement effected by the exchange of notes of May 19, 1943, and any memorandum of understanding related thereto concluded subsequently between the Director General of Roads on behalf of the Republic of Guatemala and the Commissioner of Public Roads on behalf of the Government of the United States of America.”
Referring to the penultimate paragraph of the Embassy’s despatch, it is believed that no attempt should be made at this time to have the currently proposed Agreement with Guatemala conform with the anticipated provisions of possible legislation that as yet has not been introduced in the Congress.
[The additional paragraph suggested in airgram A–239, printed supra, was communicated orally and in memorandum form to the Guatemalan Foreign Office on November 14, 1947, according to airgram A–78, March 24, 1948, from Guatemala, and the subject was twice followed up by personal discussions with the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, without progress (810.154/3–2448).]