Office of the Historian

800.8830/2242: Telegram

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

Buenos Aires, February 26, 1943—4 p.m.
[Received 6:30 p.m.]

441. For Rockefeller72 from Wells. The newsprint question in Argentina has reached most critical situation to date. In this connection, please read Embassy’s 432, February 25, 6 p.m., with the contents of which we emphatically agree. Our records of content analysis of Argentine press which we have been keeping for over a year show that situation today has improved to a point where now 50% of our material is being used and we are sending you from 500 to 600 clippings weekly of actual use. As respects newsprint Buenos Aires newspapers have been reduced 30% to 40% and those in the interior 40% to 50%. Unless some relief is provided in the immediate future consequences will be:

(1)
Some newspapers will go out of business and the remaining ones will be reduced to publishing only spot and local news.
(2)
Serious harm to Argentine press which is that group in this country most friendly to our cause.

  • [Wells]
  • Armour
  1. Nelson A. Rockefeller, Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.↩