740.10112 RP/8–1346
The Ambassador in Peru (Cooper) to
the Secretary of State
confidential
No. 220
Lima, August 13, 1946.
[Received August
28.]
The Ambassador has the honor to refer to the Department’s confidential
circular airgram of July 22, 1946, 11:05 a.m.,48 emphasizing the importance of
maintaining close working relations with local governments.
A copy of the Embassy’s communication in this regard to the Peruvian
Minister of Foreign Affairs is enclosed.
The Lima morning press of July 7 [sic] reported
that on Wednesday, August 6 [7?] there was read
in the Peruvian Chamber of Deputies a report of a Commission appointed
to investigate the activities of the Superintendency of Economy
regarding the handling of assets of Axis nationals. The report stated
that during and since the war there have been serious irregularities,
illegal transfers, partiality and preference, auctions for less than a
third of value, accounts not certified, errors in
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proceedings, etc. The report recommends
that new evaluations be made, that proceedings be reviewed, that new
auctions be held, that responsibility be ascertained and that the
officials involved be accused of negligence and personal interest. There
may be further developments. Additional details will be reported by the
Embassy.
[Enclosure]
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to
the Embassy’s communication No. 614 of June 7, 194649 regarding the withdrawal
of the Proclaimed List of Certain Blocked Nationals.
In further connection therewith I am instructed to inform Your
Excellency’s Government that the withdrawal of the Proclaimed List
of Certain Blocked Nationals has not lessened the need of my
Government for information regarding any progress made in divesting
individual spear-head firms of enemy ownership and in the general
program of replacing Proclaimed List Nationals. On the contrary, it
is considered that the termination of the Proclaimed List makes it
more important than ever for our respective Governments to maintain
close working arrangements for the most effective continued
development of the replacement program.
My Government considers that it is particularly important that this
Embassy and the Department of State be afforded an opportunity to
review proposed reorganizations or liquidations of spear-head firms
before such firms are officially or legally removed from
intervention by Your Excellency’s Government. New information
regarding enemy ownership of firms in the Western Hemisphere is
constantly reaching the authorities of my Government from Germany,
and the examination of this information may disclose enemy ownership
hitherto unknown to this Embassy or to the Peruvian Government.
Although the Proclaimed List of Certain Blocked Nationals has been
withdrawn, such withdrawal does not mean that former Proclaimed List
Nationals are regarded as satisfactory agents for American business.
It is therefore highly desirable that my Government be informed
promptly of reorganizations or liquidations of spearhead firms so
that the Department of Commerce of the United States will be able
immediately to inform interested United States business firms.
I wish to reiterate that my Government has every confidence that Your
Excellency’s Government will fulfill its inter-American commitments
and complete the replacement program which has progressed so
satisfactorily.
I avail myself [etc.]
