352.0022/8: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Third Secretary of Embassy in Spain (Wendelin)
162. Your X–226, October 18, 7 p.m. We entirely approve your statement to the Chilean Ambassador and share your opinion that our policy of affording refuge in the Embassy only to Americans is the best assurance that the inviolability of the Embassy will be respected.
For your information, our Ambassador at Buenos Aires reports that the Argentine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs has informed him that his presence would be welcome at meetings of the Latin American diplomatic representatives in Buenos Aires which would be held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the attitude which the Latin American members of the diplomatic corps in Madrid should take with regard to the Spanish Government’s note to the Chilean Ambassador concerning the question of asylum of Spanish citizens in foreign missions. Our Ambassador stated that unless otherwise instructed he would not attend these meetings. In reply we have informed our Ambassador that his action in not attending any meetings in connection with this matter is approved in view of the traditional attitude of the United States in the matter of asylum and since any intervention by this Government in the present dispute might weaken the effective action taken by our diplomatic representatives in Madrid to protect American nationals.