710.Consultation(2)/396: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 21—1:50 p.m.]
309. Referring to Department’s circular telegram of July 11, 5 p.m. and the Embassy’s despatch No. 947 of July 1661 regarding a draft convention and a draft resolution transmitted to the Foreign Office, a reply memorandum has today been received. It is understood that the Foreign Office has communicated the purport of its reply direct to its delegation in Habana.
After adverting to the occasion for the Habana conference as cited by our Government and after quoting subdivision 1 of chapter II of the amended agenda the memorandum states as follows:62
“This being the point which gave rise to the summoning of the meeting at Habana it should be the central topic of the discussions and it would seem to anticipate that its previous consideration would lessen the importance which the American Governments have wished to attribute to the meeting by sending to it their Foreign Ministers or high officials representing them.
However, in view of the request made by the Government of the United States through its Embassy the Argentine Government is disposed to study the proposals in general with the understanding that their detailed study is a task specifically pertaining to the consultative meeting at Habana where the Argentine representative will duly set forth the points of view of his Government.
As to the draft convention submitted, the Argentine Government, abiding by its traditional policy, by its adherence to the ‘Anti-War [Page 236] Pact’63 and by its declarations made before the recent Pan-American Conferences expresses its decision to subscribe once again to the principle that the American Republics do not recognize on this Continent changes of sovereignty obtained by force.
At Panama with the Argentine vote there was adopted the [a] resolution whereby changes of sovereignty of geographical regions of America subject to the jurisdiction of non-American States, would call for consultation if such a change should involve danger to the security of the American Continent. The Argentine Government, in maintaining the same policy [point of view], does not believe that in general any transfer whatsoever or prospective transfer of sovereignty, of jurisdiction, of possession or of interests in such regions is in itself inimical to the peace, security or independence of the American Republics.
Adhering to a policy of nonintervention in European affairs, the Argentine Government would be unable to adhere to the proposal that the American Republics reserve for themselves in a general and previous manner the right to judge whether the political changes of European powers impair the political independence or the freedom of action of the American Republics. In any case, that right could only result indirectly or implicitly, if, as a consequence of a change of regime in European countries, there should arise in American countries specific situations of danger which would lead to intervention on the part of the American Republics for the defense of their independence.
The right which the American Republics [States] would reserve for themselves to take measures tending to prevent in the American regions subject to the sovereignty of European nations [States] acts contrary to the [principles] proclaimed by the American Republics [States] practically implies the occupation of those regions and the possibility of a joint military action. Apart from the eventual act of making such territories independent, such military intervention would naturally follow the purpose of preventing transfers of sovereignty for the benefit of the present sovereigns.
[The Argentine Government believes] where [that] the American Republics [countries], instead of obligating themselves as guardians of the possessions of European countries in America, might proclaim the principle that no European possessions should exist in America, and that therefore the regions now under the sovereignty of non-American countries should be made independent or should be incorporated within the American Republics [countries].
As long as present capitals refuse to accept this principle and consequently continue to consider the American Continent as territory for colonization it is difficult to see how the American Republics [countries] would [could] expose themselves to the risk of a war in order to defend the interests of those capitals.
The Argentine Government considers therefore that if in any instance the intervention of the American Republics [countries] in American regions subject to the sovereignty of European countries were able to be justified it would be for the purpose of permitting those regions to decide upon their own destiny, there being exercised [Page 237] meanwhile in any case a provisional continental mandate, the organization and functioning of which can be discussed.
The foregoing observations made with regard to the proposed convention are, with greater reason, appreciable [applicable] to the project of a resolution. On the one [other] hand it is appropriate to point out that in matters which affect so fundamentally the sovereignty and the lofty interests of the American Republics it would not be possible to take action without the necessary and legal intervention of the legislative bodies.
In thus setting forth its observations frankly and loyally, the Argentine Government hopes that the Government of the United States will admit that, notwithstanding the differences existing between the points of view of both Governments, which are justified by the interests and the individual situation of each of them, it will always be possible to find a basis for agreement consistent with the spirit of good will and mutual understanding by which they are animated in attending the meeting in Habana.”
- Despatch not printed.↩
- Corrections based on text of the memorandum transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in Argentina in his despatch No. 982, July 23, 1940, received July 31.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. v, pp. 260 ff.; ibid., 1933, vol. iv, pp. 228 ff.↩