810.20 Defense/1263: Telegram

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

810. Department’s 511, August 6, 7 p.m. Confirming information communicated to Ravndal6 by telephone yesterday, on July 30 last after discussing the matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs,7 I left with the Under Minister a memorandum based on the Department’s telegram under reference. He read it in my presence and raised no objections and I have since been given to understand that the memorandum has been discussed not only in Cabinet meetings but has been taken up by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the extraordinary sessions of the Chamber of Deputies in connection with defense equipment.

In a recent conversation with the Acting President the question came up and Dr. Castillo, who showed that he was familiar with our memorandum, expressed general approval of the idea which he said was still being studied.

I feel that the Department’s telegram and the Embassy’s memorandum based on it made it abundantly clear that the obtaining of military and naval equipment is in no way contingent on the outcome of staff conversations and that the suggestion for the appointment of a commission to deal with these two matters was based on the practical advantage of having both questions dealt with as rapidly as possible.

However, should the Government here raise the question or appear to have any doubts I shall follow the line suggested in the last paragraph of the Department’s telegram in the meantime continuing to stress the importance of having staff conversations renewed as soon as practicable.

Armour
  1. Christian M. Ravndal, Assistant Chief of the Division of the American Republics.
  2. Enrique Ruiz Guiñazú.