810.74/315b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)
616. In the interest of common hemispheric defense it is essential that communications between this hemisphere and the Axis powers be completely severed. With this end in view Resolution XL of the Rio conference provided that each American Republic should adopt necessary and immediate measures to close all radiotelephone and radiotelegraph communications between the American Republics and the Axis powers.
The other American Republics have for all practical purposes closed channels of communication between their countries and the Axis powers and it is believed that at this time Argentina and Chile remain the only places in this hemisphere with radio stations in direct communication with the Axis powers. The traffic which formerly flowed through other stations is now flowing through stations in these two countries, as a result of which each is assuming an importance it did not have before. The three companies operating radio stations in Argentina are the consortium, the International Radio Company (the I. T. & T.—Mackay) and the Sociedad Anónima Radio Argentina (also I. T. & T.). The closing of the consortium station as far as Axis communications is concerned might present possibilities of internal difficulties for the Argentine Government in view of the fact that 16% of the stock is held by the public in Argentina and that the operating committee includes Italian and German membership which might cause the German and Italian Governments to bring pressure to bear upon the Argentine Government.
[Page 117]However, as already stated, it is essential in the interest of the common defense that these Argentine stations, as well as the stations in Chile, be closed to Axis communications. Various ways of bringing this about are at present being studied by the Department but before taking any definite steps in the matter the Department would appreciate your confidential views as soon as possible as to the extent to which the Argentine Government might be induced to go, bearing in mind the fact that it has not responded to the more important Rio resolution about breaking relations with the Axis powers.