Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

103.9169 Habana: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Cuba (Braden)

Washington, March 18, 1944—8 p.m.

244. From Crowley and Scheuer, FEA, and the Department. Reference your telegram 273, and dispatch No. 6297, March 14.⁸ FEA and the Department are in full accord with the view expressed by you that the exchange of notes proposed by the Cuban Government goes far beyond the agreements reached in Havana and would be unwarranted and unjustified besides having the tendency of reopening negotiations successfully concluded. In addition, the attempt to commit future action with respect to the domestic economy of the United States to proposed limitations cannot be countenanced in the light of the Congressional and press attitude resulting from the suspicion that such commitment has been made. In this connection, the Cubans should bear in mind that the quota agreed upon with them for Cuba gives them the advantage of equaling their highest year’s shipment, the size of which resulted directly from the action of the United States in preventing domestic production of whiskies and gins.

In the light of the above considerations, the Embassy is instructed that the position of this Government is fully covered by the exchange of notes dated February 12 and the Embassy’s supplementary memorandum of February 16.¹⁰ No further exchange of notes on this subject is authorized except as was indicated by the final paragraph of the memorandum of February 16.¹¹

Hull

8. Neither printed.
10. See bracketed note, p. 929.
11. Reference is to the closing sentence, which reads: “It [the United States Government] is further disposed to assure the Cuban Government by an exchange of notes that, in accordance with the spirit of the agreement reached, the blackstrap molasses and industrial alcohol made available by Cuba to the United States will be destined for industrial purposes.” (837,6151/4664)