File No. 763.72111/532
The Chargé d’Affaires in Argentina ( Lorillard ) to the Secretary of State
Buenos Aires , September 30, 1914.
[Received October 27.]
No. 356]
Sir: During the past three months there have occurred two incidents which have indirectly affected Argentine neutrality in the present European war and which have caused considerable interest throughout the country, increasing the strong anti-German spirit reflected in all circles here.
The first of these incidents concerns the alleged execution by German troops of the honorary Vice Consul of the Argentine Republic at Dinant, Belgium, on or about August 18 last. This official was a Belgian subject and one of the leading manufacturers of the city. It is alleged that he fired on German soldiers from his house. It is further alleged that the consular shield was broken, the Argentine flag pulled down, and the consular archives searched and destroyed. The Argentine Ministers at Berlin, Antwerp, and The Hague have been instructed to investigate this matter, but up to the present they have been unable to ascertain the exact facts of the case. The point of view of the Argentine Government is that, while it is possible that the Vice Consul might have been guilty of the charge of which it appears he was accused, there can be no possible excuse for the indignity to which the symbols of Argentine representation were said to have been submitted. The irresponsible journals as well as the students are urging the Government to take active measures in regard to this matter, but I am assured by prominent foreign office [Page 683] officials that no action will be taken until the charges have been proven and the German Government given an opportunity to fully explain the matter.
The second incident results from the conduct of the survivors of the German auxiliary cruiser Cap Trafalgar which was destroyed by British steamers off the coast of Brazil. The vessel carrying the survivors to this port anchored in the roads last week and its officers refused to allow newspaper reporters and others to go on board, threatening them with boiling water. As a result of this action it appears that an excited newspaper man fired on the captain and a general disturbance then followed. The survivors of the Cap Trafalgar were finally taken in charge by the marines and conveyed to Martin Garcia Island where they will be interned until the end of the war.
Another neutrality case of minor importance occurred a few days ago when a British freight steamer conveying coal to a German electric company at Santa Fe was captured by a British war vessel in the estuary of the River Plate, but undoubtedly over three miles from either the Argentine or Uruguayan shore. It is alleged that the commander of the British Fleet in South American waters recently informed the President of Uruguay that his Government would not recognize Argentina’s claim that it controls the waters of the Plate excepting those within three miles of the Uruguayan shore, but this report has not been confirmed.
The Argentine Government is closely following the terms of the Hague convention of 1907 governing neutrality. It appears, however, that several of the belligerent powers are complaining of the manner in which neutrality provisions are observed here. The Argentine Embassy in Washington has cabled the substance of the instructions issued to Treasury officials and others by the United States Government. This Government wishes as far as possible to act in the same manner as ourselves respecting neutrality, although Argentina was not a party to the London Conference.
I have [etc.]