611.3531/169
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Argentine Ambassador called merely to pay his respects and to speak kindly and approvingly of my course and activities at the London Conference.
We both indicated our mutual interest in the coming reciprocity negotiations between our two Governments. I suggested to him that we should not expect to go too fast or too far at the outset; that we were not to take the serious risk of bringing on a reaction among the political elements. I suggested that these complicated economic conditions have been growing worse for twelve years and more, and that they could not be disentangled over night but that it is necessary to proceed gradually with a certain number of commodities and then contemplate enlarging the list from time to time. I added that this course would prevent opposition elements from organizing farmers and other groups against the whole policy of commercial reciprocity.