811.20 Defense(M)Colombia/546: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:21 p.m.]
326. To Rosenthal, Board of Economic Warfare, from La Spina. In our negotiations with the Colombian Government through the Embassy endeavoring to secure an over-all agreement given [giving?] us the maximum facility in our strategic material import programs, we are asking for the right to enter into public work programs when necessary for the stimulation of production development and transportation of these materials. We are referring to items undertaken through the expenditure of development funds wherever established. The question has been raised by the Colombian Government as to the disposition of such public works after the emergency. Do you approve as a matter of policy a statement to the effect that although each project will be considered separately generally improvements of a permanent character would become the property of the Colombian Government whereas any equipment or facilities not fixtures would remain the property of the United States governmental agency and may or may not be made available at cost to the Colombian Government.
Please cable reply. [La Spina.]