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

835.00/2040: Telegram

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

Buenos Aires, October 20, 1943—8 p.m.
[Received 11:45 p.m.]

2481. I called by appointment on Ramírez this afternoon. The interview was even less satisfactory than I had expected. I found the President tired and nervous and at times irritable, particularly when I referred to the manifesto by prominent Argentines (see telegram 2447 [2457], October 18, 11 p.m.⁵⁵), and expressed my surprise at the communication sent by the Minister of Justice and Public Instruction⁵⁶ to the Rector of Córdoba University⁵⁷ in which he had categorically denied that Argentina had any international commitments which it had not fulfilled. Ramírez expressed great indignation over the manifesto and defended the Minister’s statement by saying that he undoubtedly had specific reference to the question of breaking relations; that article III of Resolution I had left it to each country to decide when and how it would proceed to carry out the terms of the Resolution and that it therefore could not be considered as a commitment which had not been fulfilled. Ramírez said that he still hoped to work things out so that eventually the action could be taken but that various things had hitherto made it impossible. He then referred to the unfortunate effect produced in Argentina by the publication of the Secretary’s reply to Admiral Storni, indicating that this as well as certain subsequent statements emanating from the United States (he mentioned specifically Mayor La Guardia’s speech and the President’s declaration on the closing of the Jewish newspapers⁵⁸) had not created a favorable atmosphere inviting cooperation by his Government. He was emphatic on the lack of understanding and comprehension in the United States of Argentina’s position. I told him very frankly why I felt neither the Government nor the people of the United States sympathized with or could pretend to understand the course followed by his Government.

The interview lacked entirely the cordial tone which marked my talk with him last July.

Repeated to Rio, Montevideo and Santiago.

Armour

55. Not printed; in this telegram the Ambassador indicated that a number of distinguished signers of the manifesto of protest had been summarily removed from their posts (835.00/2021).
56. Gustavo Martínez Zuviria.
57. S. Novillo Corvalán.
58. Department of State Bulletin, October 16, 1943, p. 264.