611.3531/514: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina ( Weddell ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:12 p.m.]
182. My 167, September 7, 5 [6] p.m. The pertinent portions of the Department’s telegram No. 83, September 3, 1 p.m. having been communicated to the Ministry of Finance and the Exchange Control Board, I wish to report as follows. There is still a tendency among officials here to consider existing discriminatory exchange regulations as a bargaining point. This was implied by the Under Secretary in a subsequent conversation with a member of the Embassy when he indicated that while Argentina may be willing to make the exchange offer a firm one he fears that even if announcement should be made of the trade treaty negotiations, bases for a satisfactory treaty might be lacking. Under Secretary also pointed out that any concessions which either or both sides may request would have to be made in substitution of those formulated several years ago. He went so far as to suggest the advisability of our sending a mission here to study Argentina’s requests to which he was told that the concessions Argentina desired had, we imagined, in the past been sent to the Argentine Embassy in Washington.
Head of the Exchange Control Office told Ravndal5 yesterday that he had advised Central Bank and Under Secretary of Finance that now would be an opportune time to grant full official exchange for imports from the United States provided we gave satisfactory—though informal and not binding—assurances that trade agreement negotiations will lead up to suitable concessions to Argentina. Louro stated, however, that it was not his intention to use exchange as a lever.
I hope to see the Minister of Finance early next week.
- Christian M. Ravndal, American Consul at Buenos Aires.↩