862.20210/2070
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of
State
No. 7408
Buenos
Aires, November 20, 1942.
[Received
November 27 (?) ]
Sir: With reference to the Embassy’s telegram
no. 2302 of November 18, 5 p.m., I have the honor to enclose herewith
two memoranda90 regarding the results of conversations between
officers of the Embassy, the Minister of the Interior and the chief of
the Argentine secret police.
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The memoranda also include additional information regarding the progress
made to date by the Argentines in the detention of Axis agents.
It should be mentioned that in spite of the explanation of the Minister
of the Interior that he did not desire the Embassy to cooperate with the
police because it was not desired that even the police know the
Americans were involved in the matter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
gave a statement to the public explaining that the American Embassy had
delivered three memoranda regarding the activities of Axis agents in
Argentina and that arrests were being carried out based on the
information contained in the memoranda. This would indicate that there
is either (1) a serious divergence of opinion among the government
leaders as to the action which should be taken against these agents, and
that as a consequence some sort of compromise was made, implying that a
middle course is being pursued in these investigations whereby it is
hoped to arouse neither the ire of Germany or the United States, or (2)
it was not desired that the Embassy be in a position to know the
intimate details of the investigations being carried out and thus see
the inefficiency or lack of sincerity of the Argentine Government. It is
possible that a little of both conclusions apply, but the fact that in
spite of repeated requests we have not yet received any information of
value from the Argentines would indicate that they [at] least wish to
cover up some phases of the investigations.
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador:
Richard
Ford
First Secretary of
Embassy
[Enclosure]
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Ambassador in
Argentina (Armour)
[Buenos
Aires,] November 9, 1942.
I called on the Minister of the Interior by appointment this
afternoon at 3:30. I first handed Dr. Culaciati a list of questions
which Mr. English had prepared for use by the police in questioning
certain of the Nazi agents mentioned in the memorandum handed to the
Government. I also gave him a list of the leading figures mentioned
in the memorandum showing that out of 44, only 14 had actually been
arrested or detained for questioning. Thirdly, I handed him a list
of seven leading firms, only one of which—DIN—had been, to our
knowledge, investigated thus far.
I then went on to discuss with Dr. Culaciati the great importance of
having the Government proceed vigorously and rapidly in making
arrests, searching premises, and in general bringing the case to a
head
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as soon as possible.
I told him that my Government was considering publishing the
memorandum and that while I was prepared to recommend a delay
sufficient for them to make a thorough investigation on the basis of
facts presented, it was asking a good deal of my Government to
refrain from publication unless they had concrete evidence presented
of results to date.
In my presence he called up Galatto, Chief of the Secret Police, and
Morano, and told them both that he wished to have as soon as
possible a report on the results to date. This he promised me he
would send to the Foreign Minister in time for him to give it to me
when I called on the latter at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
The Minister told me that the evidence secured to date had been very
voluminous and many of the documents in German would require some
time for translation. I asked him whether their investigations had
been carried into the Province of Buenos Aires, and he replied
somewhat evasively to the effect that this was somewhat difficult
but pointed to the La Plata raid on Hirner as evidence of some
action in the Province.
I asked the Minister whether our memorandum had been shown to the
police. He said that it had not, as he did not feel it advisable to
let the police know at this time that our Embassy had come into the
case. I said that I thought it must be difficult for the police to
carry on an intelligent and coordinated investigation without having
read the memorandum, and having an opportunity to know how the
various elements were co-related.
I was impressed by a total lack of any system in the methods employed
by Culaciati, and his whole approach to the question seemed to be
superficial and extremely “hit or miss”.
