611.3331/154
The Minister in Uruguay (Dawson) to
the Secretary of State
No. 66
Montevideo, March 17, 1938.
[Received April
22.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose the Spanish
text and an English translation of a note dated March 15 and received
today in which the Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs discusses the
difficulties affecting American trade in Uruguay. In his introductory
paragraph, Dr. Espalter refers to the representations of the Legation
but mentions no specific note or aide-mémoire.
His note is perhaps to be considered as a reply to the aide-mémoire which I handed him on February 25 (text enclosed
in my despatch No. 28 of February 25).60
It will be observed that the Minister disclaims any intention on the part
of Uruguay to discriminate against the United States, says that
restrictions are applied uniformly to all foreign countries, and asserts
that “it is a question of the carrying out of internal laws and
regulations at present in effect, and not of discriminatory treatment of
the United States.” The closing paragraph of the note deals with the
accumulation of American merchandise now in the Montevideo customs, a
situation for which the Minister holds out hope of an early remedy.
While I doubt the advisability of engaging in any extended argument, I
believe that it would be well for the Legation to reply to the Foreign
Office along the lines of the draft which I enclose for the Department’s
consideration. If the Department approves the text and desires that I
address the note to Dr. Espalter, I trust that it will instruct me to
this effect as promptly as possible either by cable or by airmail.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure 1—Translation]
The Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Espalter) to the American
Minister (Dawson)
Montevideo, March 15, 1938.
Mr. Minister: With reference to the
question raised by the Legation, relating to the situation of
imports from the United States into Uruguay as a consequence of the
measures applied by the Bank of the Republic governing the
introduction into this market of merchandise originating in
countries having no exchange, I have the honor to advise
[Page 943]
Your Excellency that the
Foreign Office has considered the matter with the utmost good
will.
I must point out that the measures taken by the Government of Uruguay
with respect to imports of merchandise from countries without a
quota are not due to any intention to discriminate against imports
from the United States, inasmuch as the restrictions at present
imposed upon the entry of merchandise are applied uniformly to all
States under equal conditions. It is a question of the carrying out
of internal laws and regulations at present in effect, and not of
discriminatory treatment of the United States.
I take pleasure in letting Your Excellency know that my Government is
endeavoring to devise measures necessary to facilitate the clearance
of the North American products accumulated in the warehouses of the
Montevideo customs, and that it is disposed to consider every
initiative tending to give to this matter the most favorable
solution. To this end the competent authorities of the country, to
whose special attention the matter has been referred, have placed
themselves in contact with the commercial circles concerned, and it
is hoped that within a short time the importation of the merchandise
of the United States now in the customs will be again
facilitated.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure 2]
Draft of Proposed Reply to Note From the
Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs
Montevideo, March. . . . .
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to
Your Excellency’s esteemed note of March 15 regarding the situation
affecting imports from the United States into Uruguay which has been
brought to the attention of the Foreign Office by this Legation on
various occasions.
Your Excellency is good enough to assure me that the Foreign Office
has considered the matter with the utmost good will. Your Excellency
points out further that the measures taken with respect to imports
from countries without a quota are not due to any intention to
discriminate against the United States and that the existing
restrictions are applied uniformly to all foreign countries under
equal conditions. In conclusion, Your Excellency informs me of the
interest of the Uruguayan Government in facilitating the early
clearance of the American products at present accumulated in the
Montevideo customs.
With reference to Your Excellency’s statement that there is no
intention to discriminate against the United States and that
restrictions are applied uniformly to all countries, I may be
permitted to
[Page 944]
point out
that, as Your Excellency is aware, no controlled exchange has been
made available for American products for several months and, if I am
correctly informed, Montevideo importers are unable to obtain import
permits for new orders which they may desire to place in the United
States. Under such conditions, American trade labors under
disadvantages of the most serious nature and it seems obvious that
the system of control at present in effect has resulted in a state
of affairs which constitutes in practice a grave discrimination
against imports from the United States. The interest of the
Uruguayan Government in facilitating the release of the American
goods now in the customs is greatly appreciated and, in view of Your
Excellency’s assurance that there is no intention to discriminate
against American imports, I venture to express the hope that the
Uruguayan Government will soon see its way to adopt measures of a
nature to remove the difficulties referred to and to permit the
resumption of importing from the United States.
I avail myself [etc.]
