611.3531/697a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Argentina (Tuck)
185. Your 327, December 15, 3 p.m. Unless you see objection you should refer to the visit of Fowler and Sappington as evidence of the intention of this Government to proceed as rapidly as possible to find a basis for trade agreement negotiations and point out that the action against our trade seriously complicates our problem of negotiating a trade agreement. You may remind the Argentine authorities that the granting of substantial concessions on Argentine agricultural products presents serious enough difficulties for us in any case and point out that these difficulties are very greatly increased by action which tends to strengthen the hands of opponents of the trade agreement. I do not think it advisable to request a truce limited even by implication to the duration of Fowler’s and Sappington’s visit or any other period, as this implies that if a basis cannot be found hostile action against our trade would be expected or even considered as warranted. Rather it seems advisable to register our objection on the general ground of increasing trade barriers in the face of a world situation which urgently demands action of the reverse order and particularly at a time when such action seriously prejudices concrete steps which we are trying to take to work out an arrangement for the expansion of trade.