800.857/678: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:20 p.m.]
1132. [For] Duggan. Department’s 848, June 11, 4 p.m. and 865, June 13, 3 p.m.47 The Foreign Office has not replied to the Embassy’s memorandum of May 8, 1942, which contained the substance of Department’s 605 of April 30, 8 p.m. The Ministry of Marine will however issue an order suspending the decree until June 30, 1942, but each request for repairing ships must be filed with the prefect of Maritime Police.
British Embassy advises that Admiral Stewart, Director of the Argentine State Merchant Marine, when consulted a few days ago on the status of the decree, stated that there was nothing to worry about since the decree was not operative.
The British Embassy is of the opinion that there need be no further apprehension about its becoming operative. Embassy understands Department’s position in withholding shipments of steel designed for ship repairs but suggests that we be authorized to inform the Argentine Government that shipments are being permitted to come forward on the understanding that the decree number 116,279 will be suppressed or modified in a manner also inimical to our war efforts.
- Latter not printed.↩