710.Consultation (3)A/243: Telegram

The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State

194. For Duggan28 and Knapp29 from Spaeth. Reference Embassy’s telegram No. 186, February 8, 3 [4] p.m.30 Prior to meeting of February 9 the Argentine member spoke to each of the members expressing the hope that the letter of invitation of February 5 from the Argentine Foreign Minister31 would put an end to the discussion of the communication of January 25,32 referred to in the cable under reference. Chiappe was extremely anxious to have the members forget completely about the earlier Argentine rejection of the consultative visits. In speaking to the Brazilian member33 Chiappe stated that the letter from Ruiz Guiñazú proved that the Brazilian member had been right in the position which he took at the meeting on February 2. Since, as indicated in Embassy’s cable no. 169 of February 5, 10 a.m.,34 the Brazilian member went so far as to assert that Argentina could not properly have membership on the Committee, it will be appreciated that Chiappe’s concession went a very long way. At no point, however, did Chiappe offer any explanation of the change in the Argentine position. At the meeting, after a reading of the Argentine letter of February 5, [it was?] referred without discussion to the same subcommittee which was asked to consider the technical aspects of the earlier Argentine reply. The Committee is now inclined to forget the whole incident and to send representatives to Argentina at an early date. If, however, it seems desirable to request an explanation from the Argentine Government, it is believed that a majority of the Committee would be agreeable. Please instruct.

Plans now under consideration indicate that no Committee member will visit more than two of the five countries represented at Rivera.35 [Page 13] Confidential reports which I have received from the Department on Bolivia and Paraguay indicate that I might render useful service by going to those countries and tentative Committee discussions to date suggested that I will probably be given this assignment. Does the Department have any preference as to countries which American member should visit?

Part II. At the same meeting the Committee approved the censorship resolution.36 Chile voted with the five majority members and Argentina also voted affirmatively on all aspects of the resolution except subparagraph (c) of paragraph 2. This is the first time that the Argentine member has voted affirmatively in favor of a recommendation so directly aimed at the Tripartite Pact.37 The Argentine vote also is significant in view of the fact that the resolution recommends complete closure of telecommunications with the Axis38 and asserts in the introductory statement that a limitation upon the number of words that diplomats may use in code does not adequately protect hemisphere interests. A press release summarizing the censorship resolution is to be given to the press today (February 10) at 4 p.m. Uruguayan time. I shall send a copy of my report of the incident of the consultative visits and of the censorship action to Ambassador Armour. [Spaeth.]

Dawson
  1. Laurence Duggan, Adviser on Political Relations.
  2. Lawrence Knapp, Liaison Officer of the United States Government with the Emergency Advisory Committee.
  3. Not printed; the telegram indicated that Argentina had reversed its position and was now willing for consultative members of the Committee to come to Buenos Aires for interviews (710. Consultation (3)A/237).
  4. Ruiz Guinazú.
  5. Letter of January 25 from Miguel Chiappe, the Argentine member of the Advisory Committee for Political Defense, not found in Department files.
  6. Mario de Pimentel Brandão.
  7. Not printed.
  8. The Regional Meeting at Rivera, held at the instance of Brazil and the decision of the Emergency Advisory Committee, was concerned with safeguarding national boundaries from illegal and clandestine transit. For a summary of its work, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. v, pp. 9698.
  9. Resolution XIX; for text, see Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense, Annual Report, July 1943, p. 196.
  10. Between Germany, Italy, and Japan, signed at Berlin, September 27, 1940; for text, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cciv, p. 386.
  11. For correspondence on the effort to sever communications with the Axis, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. v, pp. 108 ff.