611.3531/139
The Chargé in Argentina (White) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 19.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s Instruction No. 709 of May 23, setting forth the Department’s views in regard to the Argentine claim that the unconditional most-favored-nation clause of the United States-Argentine treaty of 1853 did not apply in regard to reductions in the Chilean modus vivendi extended to Great Britain, France and Italy, I have the honor to enclose herewith the copies of the text of a note sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs86 which is based upon the Department’s Instruction and is in great part a quotation of the same.
In the course of my interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs referred to in despatch No. 2100,87 the latter stated that he understood from Dr. Le Breton88 that the United States, if they failed to obtain a general adoption of the most-favored-nation clause at the Economic Conference, would be obliged to abandon this and make reciprocity treaties. I told him that it was my understanding that for the present my Government favored reciprocity treaties but with the unconditional most-favored-nation clause. He replied that he was quite sure that the unconditional most-favored-nation clause would not work. He [Page 720] asked me whether I was authorized to enter into negotiations for a commercial treaty with him.89 This I think he said more to express his desire to do so than with any idea that I might have the instructions.
As for the attitude of the Argentine commission to study international relations, Dr. Dye tells me that in the course of his conversations with a member of that body, he gathers that nothing will be done about the most-favored-nation clauses until after the Economic Conference.
Respectfully yours,