811.20 Defense (M) Argentina/80
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of
State
No. 3617
Buenos
Aires, December 2, 1941.
[Received
December 9.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith the
memoranda Nos. 624 and 625 together with the Confidential Notes which
were attached, that were transmitted to the Foreign Office under date of
November 26, 1941, in connection with the proposals for purchasing the
tungsten production of Argentina, and it is gratifying to be able to
inform the Department that on the following day a reply was received
from the Argentine Government accepting the terms set forth, in the
memoranda, and a statement was given to the press by the Argentine
Officials describing in some detail the terms and purpose of the
agreement which have been reached for the sale of Argentina’s entire
tungsten production to the United States.
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador:
Thomas L.
Hughes
Commercial
Attaché
[Enclosure 1]
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ruiz
Guiñazú)
No. 624
Buenos
Aires, November 26, 1941.
Excellency: With reference to and in
agreement with previous communications exchanged between this
Embassy and the Argentine Foreign Office, and in view of the fact
that by Decree No. 97,752 of August 21, 1941, the Argentine
Government established control over the exportation of certain
minerals, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the
Government of the United States, through the Metals Reserve Company
of Washington, D.C., agrees to purchase during a period of three
years beginning this date, the entire production of tungsten ores
and concentrates of Argentina, with the exception of quantities
exported to the United States through other channels. The purchase
will be effected in accordance with the terms for purchase, delivery
and payment made known to the Argentine Government in this Embassy’s
memorandum of June 18, 1941 and the proposal attached thereto,3 directly and/or through any Government
Department which the Argentine Government may indicate, the Metals
Reserve Company pledging itself to purchase all lots which may be
offered to it through the Argentine Government.
I avail myself [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
[Enclosure 2]
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ruiz
Giñazú)
Buenos
Aires, November 26, 1941.
Your Excellency: In connection with the
proposed tungsten purchases, as specified in this Embassy’s note No.
624 of November 26, 1941, and acting on instructions of my
Government, I have the honor to state, for Your Excellency’s
confidential information, that any improvement that the Metals
Reserve Company may make in the prices or in the terms stipulated
for the purchase of tungsten minerals of other origins in any other
long term general agreement with another country, shall be
immediately extended to tungsten ores and/or concentrates proceeding
from and originating in the Argentine Republic.4
I take this opportunity [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
[Page 384]
[Enclosure 3]
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ruiz
Guiñazú)
No. 625
Buenos
Aires, November 26, 1941.
Excellency: I take pleasure in stating that
I am instructed to advise you that the Metals Reserve Company hereby
exercises the option included in the proposal attached to this
Embassy’s memorandum of June 18, 1941, for the purchase, during the
three-year period and under the terms of the proposal, of all
tungsten ores or concentrates produced in Argentina in excess of the
quantities stipulated in the proposal mentioned up to a total of
3,000 tons of ores or concentrates per year.
I take this opportunity [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
[Enclosure 4]
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Ruiz
Guiñazú)
Buenos
Aires, November 26, 1941.
Excellency: Although I am not authorized to
make a further commitment at present, I can assure you that it is
the intention of the Metals Reserve Company to exercise additional
options on Argentine tungsten production in excess of the 3,000 tons
of ore or concentrates per year covered by this exercise of
option.
I take this opportunity [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
