740.24112 RP/9
The Bolivian Ambassador (Guachalla) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 18.]
Excellency: In accordance with the resolutions of the Third Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American Republics held in Rio de Janeiro in January of 1942, and of the Inter-American Conference on Systems of Economic and Financial Control held later in the same year in Washington, my Government promulgated the supreme Decree of April 30, 1943, which created an Economic Defense Board and envisaged the ultimate taking of concrete measures to eliminate from the economy of Bolivia those private interests whose continued existence endangers the security of the country.
In achieving the above-mentioned result it will be necessary, inter alia, to effect the transfer of interests in business enterprises essential to the economy of the country from undesirable parties identified with the Axis nations to acceptable persons or firms. The Government of Bolivia is desirous of promptly effecting this transfer. It is anticipated that appropriate measures, legislative and otherwise, to this end will be instituted by the Government of Bolivia.
[Page 605]The Government of Bolivia envisages the possibility that the successful consummation of the foregoing replacement program will require financial resources beyond those which the Government of Bolivia or private sources within the country will be able to furnish. I therefore have the honor to inquire, on behalf of my Government, whether the Government of the United States would be prepared to render financial assistance in carrying out the replacement program when such appropriate measures have been undertaken.
I avail myself [etc.]