834.7962/62: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Paraguay (Frost)
483. Under present plans, the Paraguayans will acquire an airport that for a long time to come will be entirely adequate to their needs. It will be a credit to the national capital and superior to airports in this country in most cities of approximately comparable size. To the Paraguayans who hold title and have the beneficial use of the airport and facilities, the cost will have been little or nothing at all, except for the land. To the United States Government, however, the cost according to present plans is estimated at over $603,000. Under these conditions, the Department is satisfied, in spite of your 633, November 26, 5 p.m.,33 that this Government has adequately discharged all reasonable obligations arising from the agreement to construct this airport.
The War Department has issued orders to USED, Recife, to send a competent officer to Asunción at the earliest possible date to discuss this whole matter with you and, if necessary, with the Paraguayan officials. For your information, the prospect of authorizing any additional expenditure on this airport is so remote as to be practically negligible and you should conduct future negotiations accordingly.
- Not printed.↩