862.20210/2175
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations (Duggan)
Señor García Arias stated that the Ambassador had requested him to review with me the position of Argentina with respect to publication of the memorandum handed the Minister of Foreign Affairs by Ambassador Armour regarding the presence of Axis activities in Argentina. Señor García Arias added nothing new to the statement of Argentine views. I informed Señor García Arias that this Government did not present the memorandum with publication the prime consideration. Our first interest was in eliminating Axis activity. Although the Argentine Government had gone into certain phases of the activities rather carefully, it had failed to do anything whatsoever regarding other phases. Its record was definitely spotty. We were prepared to give the Argentine Government a fair interval to clean up the situation, just as we had the Chilean Government. No indication could be given now when action might be taken.
Señor García Arias expressed the hope that the Ambassador would be informed before a final decision was taken.