810.74/390: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant )
3841. Your 4321, August 3, 5 p.m. Department has felt that both in Argentina and Chile action by the governments to cut the circuits with Axis territory would be more definitive and less likely to create confusion and ill will than action by the consortium interests that would have to be taken without the concurrence of the governments and possibly in violation of the concessions under which the companies operate. Preparation for action by the consortium is being made only because of the likelihood that this is the only means of achieving this important objective in the near future. Nevertheless, our Embassies in Buenos Aires and Santiago are continuing, on every appropriate occasion, their representations to the governments, and there appears to be a possibility that these representations will succeed. Our Embassy in Chile feels that this possibility would be definitely increased, with regard to the Chilean Government, if the British Embassy in Santiago should likewise inform the Foreign Office there that it has evidence that the existing telecommunication circuits with the Axis are being wrongly used. It feels that otherwise the non-rupture element in the Chilean Cabinet will argue against cutting the circuit, pointing out that the British have made no objection to its continuation.
[Page 136]Should the circuits be closed by action of the consortium, it is possible though far from certain that the local governments would continue them under other auspices. This would, however, represent positive action by them in opposition to recommendations of the Rio Meeting which they would probably be reluctant to take. In any case, there are no “purely Axis-controlled communications companies” in either Argentina or Chile.