862.20210/2071: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—2:23 a.m.]
2401. Our 2376, November 25, 6 p.m. Embassy has received several reports Germans preparing counter memorandum exposing activities [Page 255] so-called American agents Argentina. When subject broached to Minister Interior, he did not deny it. Nationalist press has stated that mere fact Americans able uncover German espionage activities is proof that Americans have even larger and more dangerous organization in Argentina. While Germans can have no information of value regarding us or be in a position do material harm; it is possible they could fabricate plausible story which would at the least give local Axis controlled press considerable ammunition with which further to attack us. There is no doubt that Foreign Office would welcome such a memorandum.
In view this possibility it is suggested we consider advisability maintaining in readiness for use some statement based on following: Information contained in memoranda obtained from study of clandestine messages intercepted in United States; statements of German spies arrested Brazil and Chile; statements German spies detained Trinidad; national censorship intercepts; use of monitoring services stationed in United States; commercial credit reports received from legally organized commercial investigating agencies in Buenos Aires. Also may be advisable stress fact that stupidity of German agents themselves in working openly as though they feared no local reprisals proved of considerable help.