Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The American Republics, Volume V

810.20 Defense/6–1440

The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State⁴⁰

No. 784

Buenos Aires, June 14, 1940.

Sir: I have the honor, with reference to the Department’s telegram no. 82 of May 30, 3 p.m. and the Embassy’s despatch no. 774 of June 11, 1940, to enclose for the Department’s information a memorandum prepared by Captain William O. Spears, U. S. N., regarding his call on Admiral Leon Scasso, Minister of Marine, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday June 12, accompanied by the Naval Attaché, Captain William Brereton, U. S. N.

Respectfully yours,

Norman Armour

[Enclosure]

Memorandum by Captain W. O. Spears, U.S.N., for the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)

Buenos Aires, June 13, 1940.

1. The following is the substance of the interview which I had with the Minister of Marine at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, in company with the Naval Attaché, Captain Brereton.

2. The atmosphere of the reception was neither cordial nor chilly. After the usual preliminaries of my thanking him for his having sent his aide to meet me at the airport and the discussion of the weather, I asked the Minister if he was aware of what my mission here was. He replied he knew in a general way but would like to hear from me personally what it was.

3. I explained that I was a member of the War Plans Division of the Navy Department and that we had gone as far as we could in making defense plans for this hemisphere without further consultation with South American countries; that we were particularly interested in Argentina on account of the Argentine Navy’s being the most powerful one in this hemisphere outside the United States; and in order to complete our plans it was necessary to know what we could expect as regards what the Argentine Navy could do for the protection of Argentina, as well as what cooperation it could be expected to render in the defense of other South American countries.

4. The Minister of Marine then interrupted me to ask whether I represented the Government of the United States or merely the Navy Department. I naturally replied that I represented the Navy Department.

5. From then on he proceeded to give his ideas of the situation. He stated that neither he nor any of the officers of the Navy could make any commitments as to future cooperation of the Navy, as this was a matter of foreign policy. He added that Argentina had nothing to fear from any other country now nor could he imagine any danger of an invasion any time in the future, and therefore he thought the question of making joint plans was too remote to be considered.

6. I asked the Minister directly if the Argentine Navy would cooperate, if requested, in the case of Uruguay or Brazil’s being attacked by foreign powers. He replied that in his opinion each country should take care of its own defense.

7. I then asked the Minister if he thought that the Declaration of Lima⁴¹ or the discussions of the Argentine delegates to this convention had any bearing on the commitments to talk over hemispherical defense. He replied that his interpretation was that this Declaration offered a vehicle which could be invoked in time of danger for ministers of state to initiate talks for the purpose of making a common defense.

8. I then inquired if he did not think it would be advantageous to make all plans in advance and try to anticipate all possible dangers. He reverted to his former arguments that this country was not in any danger and that he could not imagine any danger from outside aggression in the immediate or distant future.

9. I told him that while we considered the United States Fleet powerful enough to protect the Western Hemisphere against foreign aggression, it would be a great assistance in case we could be assured of help in this part of the world, in the use of bases and air ports. He then again fell back on the idea that he could not make any commitments in this respect as that was a function of the Foreign Office.

10. Also, I told the Minister that having conversations with a view of making plans was not a violation of foreign policy and that in my opinion there was a misunderstanding about the matter. I told him further that the Navy Department in Washington considered that all matters of policy had been arranged for having these talks before I arrived here. I finished by stating I would take the matter up with the American Ambassador.

W. O. Spears

40. Printed from carbon copy. Original not found in Department files. No receipt date indicated.
41. “Declaration of the Principles of the Solidarity of America,” Article CIX, Eighth International Conference of American States, December 1938, Final Act, (Lima, 1938), p. 115.