Editorial Note
During the spring and summer of 1953, Ambassador Nufer had several conversations with President Perón concerning United States-Argentine relations.
On May 14, Ambassador Nufer and President Perón met for 1 hour and 45 minutes. They discussed, inter alia, certain references critical of the United States contained in President Perón’s speech to the opening session of the Argentine Congress on May 1 and the Argentine Government’s suspension of the licenses of the UP, AP, and INS press services to use local communications facilities. Ambassador Nufer’s memorandum of their conversation, dated May 14 (transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 1464, from Buenos Aires, dated May 18, 1953), records President Perón as having stated that his speech was designed for domestic consumption and also as having instructed Foreign Minister Remorino, who was present during the meeting, to have the restrictions against the news agencies rescinded. The despatch reads in part as follows:
“I find it difficult at this point to judge the sincerity of Peron’s remarks and of his assurances of his continued desire to reach an agreement with the United States. His conciliatory attitude is, of course, encouraging. It might indicate that he feels he went too far in his May 1 speech. I believe, however, that we will have to have a little more time to watch the trend of developments before attempting to arrive at any conclusions. One test of his sincerity will be the attitude of the controlled press; another and more immediate test will be whether his order to have the restrictions on the news agencies rescinded is carried out.” (611.35/5–1853)
On July 3, Ambassador Nufer met again with President Perón. In the Ambassador’s memorandum of their conversation, dated July 3 (transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 13, from Buenos Aires, dated July 7, 1953), President Perón is recorded as having stated that he regretted the announcement that Ambassador Nufer would soon be replaced, and that he favored the entrance of “responsible” private investment capital into Argentina. He also promised that if the provincial administrations in Argentina would not pay for properties expropriated from the American and Foreign Power Company, the Federal Government would do so. (611.35/7–753)
On July 24, Ambassador Nufer and President Perón met a third time. In the Ambassador’s memorandum of their conversation, dated July 24 (transmitted to the Department of State under cover of despatch 93, from Buenos Aires, dated July 31, 1953), President Perón is recorded as having stated that he intended to take vigorous action against Communists in Argentina and that he would cooperate with the Embassy to solve outstanding problems between the two [Page 440] countries, including those affecting American business firms already in or seeking to enter Argentina. The despatch reads in part as follows:
“Over-all, I consider this interview with Perón to have been highly satisfactory and promising for future relations. However, I am sure the Department will readily perceive the need for the U.S. to make further gestures, following Dr. Eisenhower’s visit here, to fortify the evidence of its willingness to meet Perón half-way and to reciprocate some of the actions taken by him so far as positive evidences of his desire for better relations.” (611.35/7–3153)