Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The American Republics, Volume VI

810.79665/85

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

No. 590

Washington, January 14, 1941.

Sir: There is enclosed a copy of a despatch from the American Embassy at Rio de Janeiro²⁶ in which the technical director of the Italian airline L.A.T.I.²⁷ is quoted as saying that his company has every intention of extending its international service to Buenos Aires.

You are requested to report to the Department any activity of this company to engage in air transportation between its terminal point in Brazil and the Argentine. For your strictly confidential information, the Department does not look with favor on the expansion within the American republics of European airlines having a terminus in one of the American republics.²⁸

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:

Sumner Welles

26. Not printed.
27. Lineas Aéreas Transcontinentales Italianas.
28. On February 19, 1941, L.A.T.I. was authorized by the Argentine Government to provide commercial service between Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. See Decree 84948 in Anales de Legislación Argentina, 1941, p. 196.