833.00/12–1945: Airgram
The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 2, 1946—9:12 a.m.]
A–430. Reference Embassy’s airgram no. 384, November 16, 1945,59 concerning political situation and developments:
(1) Political interest and activity have centered around Foreign Minister’s initiative of November 21 with respect to multilateral pronouncement aimed at preventing use of non-intervention principle as shield to cover violation of human and civil rights, protection of Axis agents, etc. Proposal was seized upon by opposition for vigorous and bitter attack on Government, culminating in long debate in Senate in which opposition motion condemning Foreign Minister’s action was defeated by margin of only one vote (16 to 15). Opposition has not given up and is now seeking to embarrass Government by exploiting allegation that initiative was U.S.-inspired. Press has devoted and continues to devote much space to terrific editorial battle over initiative, position of various newspapers being determined in main by their domestic political affiliations. (Initiative and developments to which it has given rise have been fully covered by Embassy in special reports—see in particular despatch no. 6704, December 12.)61
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