818.248/11–1446
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Costa Rica
No. 732
The Secretary of State refers to the Embassy’s despatch no. 2552 of November 14, 1946,27 which quoted a statement published locally to the effect that Costa Rica was included on a list of American republics to which the United States was preparing to make available airplanes and military equipment and which stated that the Embassy would be glad to be informed as to the accuracy of this information.
Reference is made to the Department’s instruction no. 646 of October 30, 194627 relative to rejection by the Department of a request from the Costa Rican Government for assistance in purchasing military aircraft and to the Department’s telegram no. 357 of December 12, 194628 concurring with the position of the Ambassador in disapproving a proposed requisition for military equipment by the United States Military Mission in Costa Rica.
The Embassy’s further attention is called to a Departmental memorandum of March 14, 194627 a copy of which was furnished the Embassy. That memorandum referred to a conversation held by officers of the Department with the Costa Rican Ambassador,29 during which it was explained to him that this Government was not disposed to make military equipment available as long as Costa Rica was in complete default on its Lend Lease account.
There has been no change in the Department’s policy with respect to the furnishing of military equipment to Costa Rica since the transmission to the Embassy of the material under reference.