File No. 763.72119/587½
The Argentine Ambassador (
Naón) to the
Secretary of State
Washington,
May 17, 1917.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: As I promised you
this morning, I have the pleasure of sending to you a paraphrase of
the cable received by me to-day. As I stated to you, I am most
interested in discussing this subject thoroughly and if the
President and you yourself would think advisable, I would be very
glad and highly honored to pay a visit to the President with that
object in view.
As I stated to you this morning the most earnest desire both of my
Government and of myself would be completely to remove any
misunderstanding, no matter how slight it might be, that may have
arisen by the initiative to which that cable refers. I beg you to
advise me whether an interview with the President could be
arranged.
With my kindest regards [etc.]
[Enclosure]
Paraphrase of Telegram Received by the
Argentine Embassy
The Argentine Embassy has received official information in regard
to a meeting of the American nations at the initiative of the
Argentine Government with the purpose of trying to come to an
understanding between them on the occasion of the present war
and its aggravation from day to day. The Argentine Government
thinks that the American nations should concrete an uniform
judgment in that regard, bringing into realization the earnest
desire of establishing ties capable of strengthening their
situation and personality in the general concert of the nations.
The idea has been accepted by Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile,
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Guatemala, Nicaragua, San
Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Haiti, and the
Department of Foreign Affairs is expecting the responses of the
other nations in order to propose the date for the international
meeting. The Argentine Government will be desirous to know the
thought of the Government of the United States about this
initiative and thinks that it is most interesting that it
realizes the true spirit and purposes of such a meeting, lending
to it its moral adherence.
The fact that the Government of the United States of America was
already in war with Germany when the idea of this meeting was
initiated was the reason why it did not receive the same
invitation sent to the other American nations.
It is unnecessary to say that in initiating this idea the
Argentine Government has not been prompted in any way or shape
whatsoever to separate itself from its traditional policy toward
the United States which has always been consequent [sic] and frank. The most constant [Page 283] cordiality and
friendship of our relations with the American people as well as
our plain recognition of the justice of its position publicly
stated when the state of war with Germany was declared, are
facts conclusive enough to prove that any act initiated or
seconded by the Argentine Government can not be interpreted as
in any way unfriendly by it toward the United States.
