Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The American Republics, Volume V

835.00/1531: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State

Buenos Aires, June 11, 1943—5 p.m.
[Received 8 p.m.]

1300. Embassy’s telegram 1296, June 11.²⁰ Foreign Minister received me less than an hour [after?] presentation of note of recognition. Interview which lasted some 20 minutes was cordial and I received an excellent impression. Minister opened conversation by saying he would like to speak to me as a man and not a Minister. He was of Swiss descent, the spirit of independence was in his veins and anything to do with dictatorship was abhorrent to him. At the time of Neibuhr incident²¹ he had been firmly of opinion that Government should not only have broken relations but declared war. When this was not done he had retired to his corner and stayed there. He had never been connected with any revolutionary movement and was in the country at the time he had been requested to join present Government. The movement was he could assure me entirely democratic in its principles.

Speaking as Minister he asked me what he could do to be of assistance. I first communicated to him the declaration contained in Department’s telegram 851, June 9, 4 p.m. which he received with interest and apparent approval. He told me he could assure me these were the sentiments animating his Government. I said I felt sure my Government would receive with satisfaction the news of decree issued last night prohibiting international radio messages in code.²³ He said this would be strictly applied and as an additional precaution he had ordered strict application of decree which had not been applied by previous government regulating entrance of visitors to ports and prohibiting photographs within port area.

He said he had two practical matters to take up with me:

(1) Petroleum negotiations.²⁴ He felt that it was important that this matter should be settled as soon as possible as it would be a forward step in continental collaboration. I told him I would be glad to present this to my Government.

(2) In speaking with Macedo Soares yesterday, latter had informed him a large Brazilian army was being trained (he mentioned 150,000 men) to be sent to United States for further training before going to Europe. He had told this to Cabinet colleagues and asked them whether the role of Argentina, descendants of San Martin who crossed the Andes in the fight for independence, was to be one of sitting with crossed arms selling grain, or whether they were to take their proper role in present world struggle. He mentioned this to me only because any information I could give him in confirmation of this report would be of assistance as an argument with his colleagues. The line of his reasoning was obvious.

In conclusion he said he felt sure we would understand they would have to proceed somewhat carefully at first; the average Argentine was essentially a Gaucho and liked to reach his decisions independently and not under pressure. I told him we entirely understood this and he could count on our Government’s cooperation in refraining from anything that could be interpreted as pressure. We naturally looked forward to the time when we would find Argentina joined with us in the common cause but of course the decision would have to be reached by them and in their own way.

In a prior conversation with Gache,²⁵ I communicated to him declaration, referred to above, leaving a copy on understanding it was oral communication. Gache confirmed that radio decree would be strictly applied to all diplomatic missions on incoming as well as outgoing messages. Gache said that reference in German recognition note to previous note dated June 4 as reported in press must have been a mistake in data [date?] as only previous communication Foreign Office had received from them since revolution had been acknowledgment of Foreign Office note of June 8 informing them of constitution of Government.

Repeated to Rio.

Armour

20. This message read as follows: “Recognition note delivered 12:01 p.m.” (835.01/87)
21. For correspondence concerning Axis espionage activities in Argentina, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. v, pp. 201–261. passim.
23. For correspondence on the United States efforts to control communications with the Axis, see pp. 512 ff.
24. For correspondence on this subject, see pp. 379 ff.
25. Roberto Gache, Argentine Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs.