711.3512Anti-War/9
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 4.]
Sir: Referring to the closing paragraph of my despatch No. 378 of September 4, regarding the Argentine Government’s attitude towards the Multilateral Treaty for the Renunciation of War, I have the honor to report that a resolution was introduced in the Senate on Thursday, September 6, by Señor Alejandro Ruzo, Senator from Catamarca, by the terms of which that body would inform the Executive of the satisfaction with which it would see Argentina adhere to the Multilateral Treaty and see her endeavor to render the treaty effective.
The text of the resolution (which was also signed by Senators Teófilo Sanchez de Bustamante, C. Vallejo and R. Gomez) and of the debate on the subject which followed its introduction, are transmitted herewith in copy and translation.68
Although the discussion on the subject in the Senate is rather lengthy, it is important to transmit it in full that the Department may have accurate examples of two opinions held by Argentines regarding the Kellogg Pact which have a quite extensive support in Buenos Aires. I still find among those opposed to Argentina’s adhering [Page 200] to the treaty an underlying but definite objection based on wounded feelings because their country was not included among the original signers.
Senator Ruzo in presenting his resolution warmly advocated the adhesion of Argentina to the Treaty, and expressed surprise that there should be any hesitancy or delay on her part in joining the rest of the world in such an important effort to prevent war; he emphasized the pacific principles which Argentina had always advocated and upheld, and pointed out that it was not in accordance with her dignity or interest to be one of the last nations to signify its adhesion to the Treaty. He laid considerable stress on Article 27 of the Argentine Constitution on the necessity of maintaining relations of peace and commerce with foreign Powers by means of treaties, and drew attention to the liberality, clearness and superiority of the Argentine Constitution as compared with those of other Republics, even those established since the World War.
The motion of Señor Ruzo was opposed by Dr. Molinari, Senator for the Federal District, who has proved himself in this, his first, session the most militant member of the Senate,—sometimes referred to as “L’enfant térrible du Sénat”. Nevertheless, importance must be given to the opinions expressed by Dr. Molinari on this occasion when he opened his remarks by saying that he spoke in the name of the Unión Cívica Radical, “in the name of the Government which was chosen at the elections of April 1,” and for the man who is about to assume the presidency. It cannot be conceived that Dr. Molinari would make such a statement without the authorization of Señor Irigoyen, and the Senator’s opposition to the Pact and his reasons may, therefore, be a fairly definite indication of President Irigoyen’s attitude towards the Multilateral Treaty. Whether the dislike of the United States which this speech reflects is only personal or whether it reflects the feelings of the new President, I am not at present prepared to say.
Dr. Molinari based his opposition on the necessity of a careful study of the reservations made in the preliminary negotiations of the Multilateral Treaty, on the Monroe Doctrine and the intervention of the United States in Nicaragua. He devotes much attention also to the failure of the United States to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, a point to which he attaches importance as indicating that Mr. Kellogg’s main object in proposing and securing the signing of the Treaty was a purely internal political affair and was lacking in any form of sincerity. And he contends that there is no need for Argentina to sign any treaty to assure peace, for peace is understood by Argentina, war in itself is illegal and the only international conflicts in which Argentina has found itself in the past have been the [Page 201] result “of a generous sentiment, a noble and lofty cause, the cause of America, the cause of humanity!”
The Senate, after debating the resolution of Señor Ruzo, voted to refer the matter to committee before which the Minister for Foreign Affairs would be invited to appear to express the opinion of the Executive.
I have [etc.]
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