834.00/8–1247: Telegram
The Chargé in Paraguay (Trueblood) to the Secretary of State
449….
Thirty Americans, principally women and children, now living Grand Hotel, two blocks from chancery. Embassy officer Harmon residing there designated in charge. This Embassy maintaining close contact with heads our various missions and other Americans. A few Americans in outlying district now cut off from communication with city and Embassy will attempt contact them soon as possible.
No commercial airplanes have arrived Asunción since August 6 and little likelihood service will be resumed for present. Dodero boats coming only as far as Pilcomayo. Embassy will have no mail service until shipping and air line traffic resumed.
Business in Asunción at standstill and many government offices are closed although public utilities still functioning. Six p.m. curfew in effect since Sunday. Food supply becoming increasingly difficult with no milk, butter or bread now available. Limited amount meat and vegetables still found but unless roads opened to surrounding producing areas within the next few days even these products likely disappear.
Repeated to Buenos Aires, repeated to Rio de Janerio.