Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 2.djvu/1135

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INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [59 STAT. the exclusive tariff preferences to Ecuador provided for in Article V of the Treaty of Commerce between Colombia and that country signed on July 6, 1942 and amended on October 14, 1943. You inquire whether the Government of the United States of America will agree, on the basis of this formula, to refrain from claim- ing, under the provisions of Article VII of the trade agreement between 49 Stat. 3882. our two countries signed on September 13, 1935, the benefit of the tariff preferences to Ecuador specifically provided for in the above- mentioned treaty. I have the honor to state that my Government, while recognizing its adherence to the formula recommended by the Inter-American Financial and Economic Advisory Committee, desires to call attention to the fact that, mindful of the fourth and fifth principles of the Atlantic Charter, it attaches great importance to the final requirement quoted in Your Excellency's note which states that regional prefer- ences should not be permitted to stand in the way of any broad program of economic reconstruction involving the reduction of tariffs and the scaling down or elimination of tariff and other trade prefer- ences with a view to the fullest possible development of international trade on a multilateral unconditional most-favored-nation basis. With these considerations in view, the Government of the United States agrees not to invoke the pertinent provisions of the trade agreement between our two countries for the purpose of claiming the benefit of the tariff preferences to Ecuador provided in Article V of the Treaty of Commerce between Colombia and Ecuador. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest con- sideration. JOHN C. WILEY His Excellency ALBERTO LLERAS CAMARGO, Minister of ForeignAfjairs of Colombia. 1818