811.20 Defense (M) Argentina/80

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

No. 3617

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
[Page 383]
[Enclosure 1]

The Ambassador in Argentina ( Armour ) to the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs ( Ruiz Guiñazú )

No. 624

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 )

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

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 )

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]
  1. See footnote 84, p. 365.
  2. By note of September 25, 1942, the Ambassador informed the Argentine Foreign Minister that the price was being increased (811.20 Defense (M) Argentina/343).