FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1942, VOLUME VI



   We will, of course, have to supply crews to remove the vessels from
 Cartagena.
   President is particularly anxious as part of this deal to obtain
 two merchant ships. I expressed great doubt this could be done for
 a considerable time; certainly not until our shipbuilding program
 reached a point where all war requirements were cared for. He said
 he understood this thoroughly but hoped it could be worked out in
 order to insure transportation of cargoes to and from Colombia during
 the war.
   The Minister of Foreign Relations is formally to confirm the fore-
 going to me tomorrow morning. Therefore, I would appreciate re-
 ceiving telegraphic instructions as soon as possible.
                                                           BRADEN

 800.85/525: Telegram
   The Ambassador in Colombia (Braden) to the Secretary of State

                                    BOGOTA, January 9,1942-3 p. m.
                                              [Received 5: 36 p. m.]
   38. My telegram No. 33 January 9, 3 a. m. . . . Minister of Foreign
 Relations this morning after lengthy explanation placing blame for
 delays so far on Argentina said Italians asked $2,850,000 for two
 tankers or approximately 2 million dollars more than our evaluation
 a sum which Colombia could not afford and he therefore requested us
 to make an offer for the vessels, including therein delivery to Colombia
 of either one large (up to 8000 tons) or two small (about 4000 tons
 each) merchant vessels.
 I pointed to discrepancy between his proposal and that of President
 Santos in that latter had suggested arbitration of price after the
 war and our taking possession of tankers immediately without mak-
 ing delivery of merchant vessels by us a condition but merely a facility
 which the President earnestly hoped we could give when possible.
 The Minister argued that arbitration in any case would be an ulti-
 mate measure and Colombia had learned from sad experience that
 a small country always lost in arbitration with a large one. I replied
 that this objection could be eliminated by the United States as a
 party in interest joining Colombia in the arbitration.
 The Minister had no further comeback excepting to say Italy
 would be enraged by Colombia's action and in fact already Colombian
 Minister in Rome was being discriminated against by being confined
 to the Legation whereas Mexican and other American diplomats were
 at liberty. Moreover he said Colombian merchants and industrialists
are so alarmed at possibility of not being able to make shipments



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