810.20 Defense/6–1140
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of
State39
No. 774
Buenos Aires, June 11,
1940.
Sir: I have the honor, with reference
to the Department’s telegram no. 82 of May 30, 3 p.m., to report
that Captain William O. Spears, U. S. N., arrived in Buenos
Aires on Saturday, June 8. He was met at the airport by the
Naval Attaché and a representative of the Ministry of Marine,
both in civilian clothes.
In as much as it was not practicable to arrange a meeting with
the Argentine officials before Monday, Saturday and Sunday were
given over to informal conversations between Captain Spears,
Captain William Brereton, U. S. N., Naval Attaché, and Captain
Guy Baker, U. S. N., Chief of the American Naval Mission on duty
at the Argentine War College. The first meeting was held at the
Embassy residence yesterday, June 10, at 5 p.m. and was attended
by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Marine. There is enclosed for the information of the
Department a memorandum summarizing the discussion that took
place.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the First Secretary of
Embassy in Argentina (Davis)
Buenos Aires, June 11,
1940.
In accordance with arrangements made with the Foreign Office
an informal meeting took place at the Embassy residence at 5
p.m. on Monday, June 10, for the purpose of initiating
conversations between Captain William O. Spears, U. S. N.,
and Argentine officials. The meeting was attended by the
Ambassador, the First Secretary and the Naval Attaché from
the Embassy, Dr. Pablo Santos Muñoz, Secretary General of
the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Captain Francisco R.
Renta (Capitán de Navío) now second in rank in the Argentine
General Staff (Estado Mayor General) and formerly in command
of the Argentine battleship Moreno,
and Captain Francisco J. Clarissa (Capitán de Navío) now on
the staff of the Naval War College (Escuela de Guerra Naval)
and formerly on the General Staff in the position Captain
Renta now holds.
The Ambassador explained to Dr. Santos Muñoz and subsequently
to Captains Renta and Clarissa that the purpose of the
meeting was to
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initiate the discussions which the Argentine Government had
expressed its willingness to have take place, and suggested
that Captain Spears outline the questions that he had in
mind. The latter said that the purpose of his mission was
quite simple, viz. that it was merely to consult with
Argentine officials as provided for by the Declaration of
Lima in the event of threatened danger. In view of the
seriousness of the situation, the United States Government
considers that the time has come for consultation
particularly with respect to defense in the event of an
attempted invasion.
Captain Spears stressed that he did not propose to discuss
details at the present time, but that he did wish to
ascertain the answers to several important questions of
policy, namely (1) whether the Argentine Government would be
disposed to join in the common defense of the Western
Hemisphere, (2) whether her military and naval forces are
sufficient to protect her own territory from attack, (3)
what assistance from the armed forces of the United States
might be needed, (4) what assistance Argentina would be able
and willing to give other countries, and (5) whether the
American forces used in this area would be granted necessary
facilities in the way of permission to fly aircraft over
Argentine territory, make use of landing fields, have access
to ports for use as bases of operations, etc. Captain Spears
expressed the view that once these questions of policy have
been determined it would be a comparatively easy matter to
work out the details of a joint defense plan, which might be
accomplished by one or more meetings between representatives
with the General Staffs concerned.
Captain Renta of the Argentine General Staff said that he of
course was not authorized to reply to these questions but
that he would be very pleased to outline to the Minister of
Marine the scope of the discussions contemplated and the
questions of policy involved. Dr. Santos Muñoz indicated
that he would make a similar report to the Minister of
Foreign Affairs. Although he had not taken an active part in
the discussions, he did give voice to the question asked
earlier by the Minister of Foreign Affairs which was “Would
the United States be able to defend the South American
continent effectively in the event the Allies are defeated,
even if it should be willing to do so?” To this Captain
Spears replied that the American Government regarded the
question a very practical one and as might be imagined had
given it considerable thought in naval circles. He expressed
the belief that the United States would be in a position to
protect effectively the Western Hemisphere from any probable
combination of forces even in the event of the elimination
of the French as belligerents and the defeat of Great
Britain in Europe. Captain Spears fell in with the
suggestion made by Captain Renta that some informal talks
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might take place
at the Argentine War College and said he would be very glad
to participate. It was mentioned also that Captain Guy
Baker, head of the American Naval Mission on duty at the War
College, might have a valuable contribution to make to these
conversations. It was understood moreover that the Naval
Attaché would as a matter of course take part in such
conversations as might take place.
