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

840.50/2340: Telegram

The Ambassador in Colombia (Lane) to the Secretary of State

Bogotá, August 6, 1943—6 p.m.
[Received August 7—1:51 a.m.]

1354. I discussed with Turbay this afternoon subject of the Department’s 971, August 5, midnight. Turbay requested me to express to the Department his deep appreciation for the frankness with which the Department discussed his proposal and to point out that the Colombian Government desires in no way to hinder or to delay the proposals for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, regarding which the Colombian Government has the deepest sympathy.

Turbay said that in his telegram to the Governments of Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela three points had been stressed: (1) desirability that all seven Governments should adhere to the relief and rehabilitation plan; (2) that the diplomatic representatives of the seven Governments in Washington should consult one another and with the Department regarding the most efficacious manner in which they might cooperate with the United Nations in this relief and rehabilitation plan; (3) Colombia raised the question as to whether it would not be advisable for all seven nations to adhere to the United Nations Agreement (Atlantic Charter).⁹

Turbay said that he has received replies from the Ecuadoran, Peruvian, Uruguayan and Venezuelan Governments. All four Governments accept in principle points 1 and 2. The Uruguayan Government stated that it is in principle in sympathy with the view of the Colombian Government regarding the desirability of taking favorable action on point 3 but that consultation with the President of Uruguay will be necessary before a final decision can be taken. The Government of Ecuador which according to Turbay is probably misinformed as to the actual situation in Argentina would be prepared to adhere to the Atlantic Charter but expressed the opinion that as the Argentine Government is likely to break with the Axis in the very near future adherence to the Charter at this moment might adversely prejudice the attitude of the Argentine Government. Dr. Turbay said that according to reports received from Ambassador Lleras¹⁰ the Argentine Government is not going to break relations with the Axis.¹¹ I informed Turbay that I had also confidentially received similar information.

Turbay informed me in strict confidence that if Colombia receives favorable responses from Chile and Paraguay, thus forming a bloc of the nations which are in the same international juridical status as Colombia, it will then be possible for this bloc to influence Argentina not to remain outside of the nations associated with the United States in the prosecution of the [war?]. He said further that the Colombian proposal has as its principal aim the unification of the continent and to avoid any idea of distinction of policy among the various nations during the postwar period and specifically at the peace conference.

The Minister said that he is especially appreciative of the Secretary’s “wisdom and tact” as indicated by the statements contained in the Department’s telegram under acknowledgment as it is evident that the Department is using no pressure whatever on the other American Republics yet at the same time desires to cooperate with the other Governments in bringing about a closer union of the continent.

Lane

9. Declaration of January 1, 1942, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25. For text of the Atlantic Charter, see ibid., 1941, vol. i, p. 367.
10. Alberto Lleras Camargo, Colombian Ambassador at Washington.
11. For correspondence on the concern of the United States at the failure of Argentina to sever political relations with the Axis Powers, see pp. 415 ff.