800.857/670: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:40 p.m.]
921. Department’s telegram number 676, May 14, midnight.44 Argentine Government’s reaction may best be described as one of injured innocence. Admiral Stewart45 called on me last evening and explained that measure was adopted at his suggestion in order to conserve stocks of steel plates to insure adequate supplies for repair of state merchant marine vessels and more especially to prevent what he described as illegal exports to certain countries, notably Spain, of considerable quantities of plates and materials ordered for repairs to foreign ships here in excess of materials actually required for them.
He insisted that there was no other or hidden reason for the measure and asserted most categorically that it was not the intention of his Government to delay in any way the servicing of foreign ships in Argentine ports. He added that the decree in question had been suspended until May 25 in order to allow for general discussion of the matter with a view to reaching a solution satisfactory to the British and ourselves. After conferring with British the Department will be advised of any conclusions reached.