862.20210/1729
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Long)17
I addressed to Mr. Welles a rather exhaustive memorandum on this subject.18 That memorandum is referred to in Mr. Halle’s19 memorandum of April 30 attached.20
The telegrams to B. A. and Santiago21 went out. The reply from B. A.22 was unsatisfactory and the one from Santiago,23 after long delay, was more so.
There is no doubt in my mind that if the companies refuse to operate the beams to the Axis capitals that the respective governments will take them under control. Irrespective of this fact, I think, and for months have thought, that the attempt should be made or that the other governments of South America should be requested to withhold telegrams to B. A. and Santiago intended for enemy destination.
Late last fall and early winter I attempted through the intermediation of Harry Hopkins with Beaverbrook to accomplish the closing of these stations. Beaverbrook promised everything and nothing happened. The obstacle is very simple to be identified. It is Cables and Wireless, Limited. They do not want to lose the revenue. They are obdurate and obstructive. Their tactics are directed by Mr. Wilshire24 and Sir Campbell Stuart.25 Sir Campbell Stuart has just [Page 120] arrived in this country again. He has blocked direct communication between us and South Africa. He is prepared to give lip service to closing the stations down there but will not do so unless his Government directs it. His Government has eliminated the influence of Beaverbrook in communication matters. My recent information is that Cables and Wireless has driven a wedge between Beaverbrook and the Government, due very probably to his favorable attitude to our suggestions. Nevertheless, Beaverbrook is now, temporarily at least, divorced from any authority over communications. Campbell insists that he is not subordinate to Downing Street and that he is the head of a communicating system established by Parliament and co-extensive with the Empire. The British Embassy here will not recognize him, probably for two reasons: (a) he does not want to be subordinate to the Ambassador, and (b) it serves the interests of the British Empire to have Campbell Stuart operating independently. He recently sent word to me that he would like to talk to me during the coming week. I replied that I would be glad to see him but that I hoped that he would come with the authority of the British Embassy. Without authority from the Embassy for him to negotiate it is difficult to secure the cooperation of the British Government.
Because of the independent authority of this particular individual, the efforts that I have made for more than twelve months have been very difficult of successful prosecution and in certain respects frustrated. The frustrated attempts are B. A., Santiago, and Pretoria. In spite of his opposition we have succeeded in establishing telecommunications or permission for telecommunications of various kinds with Cairo, Baghdad, Lagos, Bathurst, Australia—two circuits, Wellington—two circuits, New Delhi (if equipment is furnished—which is not really needed), and Singapore and Rangoon too late.
The principle difficulties remain with Pretoria having just refused and having frankly stated in one paragraph that it was due to Cables and Wireless and their disinclination to lose the revenue because of rerouted traffic. The other two unsolved difficulties are Santiago and B. A.
The only way that I know to stop them is for the British Government itself to control its own creatures, that is, Cables and Wireless, Limited, as presently directed, and to tell them that revenue or no revenue they are to cease communications with the Axis powers out of B. A. and Santiago.
That can be done through the mediation of Halifax26 with contemporary pressure through Winant.27
If that is done, and if thereafter the Governments of Argentina and Chile desire to communicate on their own with the Axis, we will have [Page 121] more and better reason to request that other South American governments refrain from forwarding to them for transmission communications addressed to the Axis.
- Addressed to the Under Secretary of State (Welles) and to the Adviser on Political Relations (Duggan).↩
- i. e., “Radio Communications with Axis Powers from Argentina and Chile”; see memorandum of April 21, p. 110.↩
- Louis J. Halle, of the Division of the American Republics.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Telegrams No. 616 and No. 491, respectively, dated May 2, 9 p.m., pp. 116 and 117.↩
- Telegram No. 858, May 8, 6 p.m., p. 118.↩
- Despatch No. 3539, June 9, not printed; it enclosed a report by the Santiago Manager of All America Cables and Radio, Inc., on Transradio Chilena (810.74/341).↩
- Presumably this refers to Sir Edward Wilshaw, Chairman of the Board of Cables and Wireless, Ltd.↩
- Chairman, Commonwealth Communications Council, 1933–1945.↩
- Viscount Halifax, British Ambassador in the United States.↩
- John G. Winant, Ambassador in the United Kingdom.↩