835.24/145a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your despatches nos. 1012 of July 26, and 1490 and 1491 of October 3148 in which you refer to the desire of the Argentine authorities to acquire military equipment, particularly airplanes, in the United States. You call attention to the importance of this matter from the standpoint of maintaining the good will of Argentina.
You will please point out to the Argentine authorities that the United States Government views with sympathy their wish to improve their country’s military and naval defenses and will give immediate and careful consideration to any official request for military equipment or supplies that may be addressed to it by the Argentine Government. You should explain, however, that in view of the fact that so many requests of this character are being received from the various American republics this Government will be unable to reach a final decision on any request that Argentina might submit until the desires of all the others are known.
This Department is pleased to state that the War Department is prepared to accept an increased number of students in the Argentine [Page 39] Military Service at the United States Army schools. Arrangements therefor can be discussed by the Military Attaché of the Argentine Embassy in Washington with the appropriate officer of the War Department. In addition the War Department can supply the Argentine Government with model specifications, handbooks, and changes, technical orders, technical instructions, maintenance manual and Form 1 items required by specific models of airplanes that may be purchased by that Government.
Very truly yours,
- None printed.↩