862.20210/2018: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:13 p.m.]
2183. Department’s 1633, October 30, 3 p.m. Following is translation of note verbale from the Foreign Office, dated November 4, in reply to the aide-mémoire that I left with the Under Secretary at the Foreign Office on November 3.
[Page 236]“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honor to address the Embassy of the United States of America to acknowledge the receipt of the aide-mémoire of the 3d instant transmitting the memorandum which as is explained, ‘The Government of the United States of America presents to the Argentine Government regarding the activities of Axis agents in Argentine territory.’
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates the receipt of this information which answers the request which by instruction from the Chancellery was made by Ambassador Espil to the Acting Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, in view of the statements made by the latter in his Boston speech, in revealing in general terms the existence of such activities.
At this moment and with reference to the last paragraph of the aide-mémoire under acknowledgment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs desires to make clear that in giving publicity in Buenos Aires to the instructions given in this connection to Ambassador Espil, the intention was solely to reply to statements that had already been made public in the United States on the same subject, which naturally does not prevent the information now furnished, specifying the facts in question, from being maintained and examined with the secrecy appropriate to the purpose in mind.
In view of this information the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is called upon to repeat the statements made to the Embassy in its memorandum of July 8 last, to the effect that the Government of the United States may be assured that the Argentine Government will not disregard any concrete denunciation that may be brought to its attention regarding the existence of centers of espionage or of activities dangerous to continental defense. In accordance with this criterion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has immediately made known to the Ministry of the Interior the memorandum under reference, the police authorities through it having been called upon this very day to take appropriate action”.
Text of memorandum of July 8 mentioned in foregoing note and comment thereon was submitted to the Department with the Embassy’s despatch[es] nos. 5694 and 5769 of July 10 and 17.76
- Despatch No. 5694 of July 10 not printed.↩