811.24 Raw Materials/89c: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Belgium (Davies)
24. The Belgian Embassy here has been requested to inquire what interest the Belgian Government has in the possibility, reported by Prince de Ligne, of exchange of American cotton and wheat for strategic materials.
This Government is prepared to negotiate agreements for such exchanges and is pressing the proposal actively. London has been instructed to mail you a copy of the Department’s telegram on the subject,22 for your information and use. You are requested to inform the appropriate officials of the Belgian Government that you are prepared to discuss this matter if the Belgian Government is interested.
It is assumed that any agreement with the British and Netherlands Governments covering supplies of tin would necessitate a special production quota under the International Agreement. The Belgian Congo should be able to participate in such an extra-market quota and the Belgian Government thus be in a position to supply tin.