Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 56 Part 2.djvu/763

This page needs to be proofread.

56 STAT.] HONDURAS-INTER-AMERICAN HIGHWAY-SOt. 26 1942 1849 Oct. 26 , 1942 [Translation] LEGATION OF HONDURAS WASHINGTON, D.C. SEPTEMBER 9, 1942. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I have the honor hereby to confirm the terms of my previous con- versations with reference to my Government's share in the construction of the Inter-American Highway. Accordingly, may I be permitted to refer to Law No. 375 of December 26, 1941,['] which provides for the cooperation of the United States of America with the Governments of the Republics of Central America for the construction of the above- mentioned Inter-American Highway, and to request, in execution of instructions and special authorization from my Government, that the cooperative provisions of the said law be extended to include the Republic of Honduras. To present the guaranties which the said law requires and in order to receive the cooperation provided for in the said law, my Government has made arrangements to assume at least one third of the expenses incurred by it and the United States Gov- ernment in the tracing and construction of the Highway within the boundaries of Honduras. To this end my Government, in accordance with Decree No. 52 of February 11, 1942 of the National Congress of Honduras, approved by the Executive Power February 18 of the same year, and in accord- ance with the powers and provisions of Legislative Decree No. 69 of March 5, 1942, published in the Gaceta no. 11652 of March 10, 1942, has negotiated, and will submit, as soon as possible, for approval by the National Congress, a contract with the Export-Import Bank of Washington for a credit of one million dollars, which, according to the terms of the said contract, shall not be invested without the consent of the bank or for any purpose other than the construction of the Inter-American Highway-note having been taken of the provision that, under the terms of Law No. 375, the tracing and work of con- struction which the law authorizes shall be under the direction of the Public Roads Administration, Federal Works Agency, and that sub- sidiary arrangements are being made with the Public Works Admin- istration for the carrying out of the contract in question. While submitting what is above set forth to Your Excellency's high consideration, I avail myself of the opportunity to renew the assur- ances of my highest and most distinguished consideration. JULI.N R. CACERES His Excellency COE:DELL HULL, Secretary of State of the United States, Washington, D.C. 1[55 Stat. 860.1 66714° -- 43 -PT. II ---48