710.Peace/99: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina ( Weddell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
38. In conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs today he expressed the warm approval of his Government of the proposed extraordinary conference and said that he hoped to have ready by the end of the week for President Justo’s signature a reply to President Roosevelt’s letter in this sense; presumably to be sent by Saturday’s air mail.
He said he had yesterday telegraphed to Ambassador Espil at length his ideas concerning the program of the conference. In conversation with Mr. Braden, Dr. Saavedra Lamas referred briefly to the recommendations as to the various subjects which he felt should be considered in the conference and which evidently are in amplification of comments made to Mr. Braden (see his cable No. 22 of February 6, 7 p.m.) including, however, a few related economic subjects which he thought perhaps might be worked in appropriately. While he [Page 8] gave us both clearly to understand that he would not insist upon the inclusion of these, he pointed out that some of these economic subjects might be called pressing and might well be considered by the extraordinary conference since otherwise they could not be treated until the Eighth International Conference11 which will not take place for 2 years.
The Minister also said that he was delighted with the idea of holding the conference in Buenos Aires and emphasized the tremendous good which he thought it might do.
He added further that he had received visits from the Ministers of Chile, Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia all of whom voiced warm approval of President Roosevelt’s plan.