File No. 763.72119/570

The Ambassador in Argentina ( Stimson) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

My April 20, noon. The Minister for Foreign Affairs called me to his office this afternoon to ask if my Government would look with sympathy on conference of neutral American nations to come to an understanding on their attitude toward the war, which conference excluded the United States. Brazil and Cuba would have to to be included because as he said they had already been invited at the time the United States severed relations with Germany; but he intimated that they might not attend. He then read to me the proposed formal invitation in the precise form described in my April 17, 1 p.m. and said that they did not wish to send it until I had [Page 261] heard from the United States; and he asked what I thought. I told him that I should have to cable for instructions; and anyhow I feared that the omission of the United States would excite comment unless the reasons he gave were fully published; to which he replied that they would be. He asked how soon I might get an answer, and I said not before Monday. He stated that he expected that said congress would come to an agreement morally favoring the United States and Allies much like the last Argentine note to the United States. I asked him what reason he had to think so and he replied that he was sure of it. He argued that such a conclusion of the congress would have little effect if the United States were party to it.

Stimson