835.00/1580: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:51 p.m.]
1489. For the Under Secretary. Following the luncheon today at which the Minister for Foreign Affairs made his important speech (for text see Embassy’s telegram number 149023) Storni asked me to return with him to the Foreign Office and spoke to me for an hour. He told me his speech had been carefully prepared, one of its main objectives being to smoke out those army men and others opposed to a break. He had warned the President that he intended to “go to the limit” in his speech—that the delay in decision could not continue. All the Cabinet, he said, favors the break except Galíndez, Minister of Public Works, but there is unfortunately a certain group of army officers backing Galíndez and Ramírez is hesitant to act until convinced it will not lead to civil war. Ramírez is, Storni says, determined and intelligent but lacks prestige in the country. Storni has suggested to him the following procedure: A Cabinet meeting shortly at which a vote will, he hopes, be taken to break; then have Ramírez summon a council of notables (Consejo de Notables) as was done [Page 428] twice by President Roca and once by Saenz Peña in similar crises. Storni has already presented the President with a list of 150 names—largely I judge civilians, he mentioned Leopoldo Melo24 and Ramón Carcano.25 If, as he is convinced they will, the majority favors a break, the Government would then act.
I asked him how long he thought this would take. He said it could be done in a week but in any case he had told the President the situation must be cleared up this month. If a break does not occur Storni intends to resign.
Storni said the President wishes to see me tomorrow or Wednesday. In the meantime he wished Storni to ask me what I thought our Government could do for them in the way of material if and when the break came. I said we could make no promises; that as he probably knew, our position in this respect had been made clear to Chile in similar circumstances and he must realize that a lot had happened even since last January. I then took off the gloves and stated our position to him very frankly and unequivocally. He appeared to understand and it was agreed that I would speak with equal frankness to the President when I see him. Storni feels that much will depend on this talk.
Storni’s idea is that if they break, the Government should use their destroyers for convoy, sending them four at a time to New Orleans and return. If their ships are attacked, then they should declare war at once. He hopes that if they break, we will at least be able to furnish them some of the oil machinery, also perhaps help in reconditioning such of their war vessels as need it, although the destroyers are in pretty good condition.
Storni hopes as a result of his speech today to see mass demonstrations by democratic groups in favor of a break, admitting that these may be inspired if he can persuade the police not to break them up. I gather he also hopes to have the democratic press permitted to comment favorably on his declarations at luncheon today—the stumbling block however being Colonel Gonzalez, the President’s secretary who handles the press and censorship.
Storni said the Argentine Naval Attaché to London26 just back who was formerly in the other camp, now favors a break. This officer has told Storni and will so inform Ramírez that the British Government is solidly with us and that Argentina can expect no help from the British unless or until they come over to our side.
- Dated July 5, 1943, not printed; this telegram indicated that Storni eulogized Roosevelt, praised Pan-Americanism, and declared that Argentina would take her place in support of continental solidarity (835.00/1581).↩
- Member of the Club del Plata which cooperated closely with the G.O.U., a group of young army officers among whom was Col. Juan Perón.↩
- Former Argentine Ambassador to France.↩
- J. S. Zuloaga.↩