862.20225/759: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)
1659. From the Under Secretary. Your 2173, November 4, 4 p.m.77 I delivered the duplicate memorandum to Espil yesterday, telling him that you had already the previous evening delivered the copy thereof to Ruiz-Guiñazú.
Espil urged that no publication be given to this document, alleging that publication thereof would intensify ill-will against Argentina, [Page 237] not only in the United States but in the other American republics as well. I told him that the Argentine Government itself was solely responsible for the present situation and that I could make no commitment whatever with regard to withholding publicity.
I wish you would telegraph me your views as to the most desirable time for the presentation of the document to the Inter-American Defense Committee. It had been my thought that approximately November 12 would be an expedient date. It would seem to be unwarranted from every standpoint for this Government to make public the facts concerning Axis activities in Chile and not to make public documentation covering similar activities in Argentina.
I wish you would also telegraph me your opinion as to the public reaction in Argentina if this document is published. My own judgment would be that it would decidedly strengthen the hands of all of the elements who are opposed to the present course in foreign policy pursued by the Argentine Government. But I realize, of course, that you are a far better judge of this question. [Welles.]
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