710.Consultation (3)A/302
The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I understand that Carl Spaeth is writing you fully with respect to the effort being made to remove Dr. Guani from the chairmanship of the Political Defense Committee, and particularly with respect to the role being played in that effort by the Argentine Ambassador to Uruguay.49
Carl and I considered the matter at length on the morning of April 3 and decided that the situation was sufficiently serious to justify my discussing it personally with President Amézaga.50 Furthermore, we felt that I should see the President, if possible, before this morning’s Cabinet meeting. He was out-of-town over the week-end but I was able to obtain an audience at 9:30 this morning.
In view of the delicate nature and importance of the matter, I prepared in advance exactly what I was going to say. In order that you may be fully informed, I enclose the text of my notes51 which I read verbatim to the President. Of course, no copy was given to him.
As you will see, my statement was extremely frank but couched in very friendly terms. Incidentally, it had been discussed with Carl who approved it and felt, as I did, that a vigorous and clear statement might have a salutary effect above and beyond the immediate issue.
I am happy to say that the President took my remarks in very good part. In fact, he said that he appreciated my frankness. He then [Page 21] went on to say that Dr. Guani’s retention of the chairmanship of the Committee was incompatible with the Vice Presidency and that furthermore Dr. Guani had been appointed Uruguayan delegate on the Committee in his capacity as Foreign Minister. For this reason, he said, Sr. Serrato52 ought to replace Dr. Guani on the Committee. The President added, however, that in view of my statement the matter would be held up and no change would be made for the present.
I reiterated to the President that my action was not influenced in the least by any question of persons.
With reference to the policy of his Administration, Dr. Amézaga remarked that, far from contemplating any change, he intended to accentuate Uruguay’s cooperation with the United States. I told him that I appreciated this and had not of course wished to imply anything to the contrary. I said that in referring to that phase of the matter I had merely desired to point out how the Nazis would exploit anything which might be distorted into an indication of a weakening of the all important united American front.
The Argentines are undoubtedly going to make a strong effort to regain their former influence now that Dr. Guani is no longer Minister of Foreign Affairs. They probably consider that conditions are favorable since both Dr. Amézaga and Sr. Serrato have many friends in Buenos Aires and have the reputation of maintaining rather close ties with Argentina. It is probable that both the President and his Minister desire to improve relations with Argentina and they may feel that Dr. Guani went further than was necessary in antagonizing the Argentines.
It is too early to form an accurate picture of the situation and to size up the new Administration and its tendencies. I do not for a moment question the loyalty to the democracies of either the President or Sr. Serrato. However, I think that we must consider the possibility that for various reasons the present Government may prove less likely than its predecessor to take a strong stand against Argentina. Consequently, if we are to maintain our own position and keep Uruguay in line, it is more essential than ever that we render every possible assistance and keep the Uruguayans convinced that we can and will help them.
[Here follows a paragraph on the desirability of providing Uruguay with armaments and other commodities.]
With cordial personal regards,
Sincerely yours,