File No. 656.119/268
The Ambassador in Argentina ( Stimson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2 p.m.]
Your March 24 [23], 2 [7] p.m. I saw the Minister of Foreign Affairs this afternoon and took up with him in conversation the matter of the status in Argentine ports of the Dutch ships now taken over by United States, according to instructions conveyed to me in the telegram above referred to.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs assured me definitely that when such vessels arrive in Argentine ports they will be considered as being the property of the United States, as national vessels, and that [Page 1794] the Argentine Government will neither make nor permit to be made any inquiry as to their former ownership; that since this is the attitude of the Government the courts in this country must adopt the same attitude in the event of any attempt to attach them by legal means. To confirm this promise the Minister informed me that he would address a note to me on this question reiterating these assurances.