Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
President Roosevelt to Prime Minister Churchill1
priority
Number 613, personal and top secret, from the President for the Prime Minister.
In connection with the Argentine meat negotiations you have no doubt seen the message to Buenos Aires from the Argentine Ambassador in London2 in which the Ambassador warned his government that its difficulties were “no longer centered on suspension of relations with the United States” and that Argentina was being placed “in a position of isolation vis-à-vis the Allied and friendly nations.” He added that according to a “big meat packer the Allied Nations are now in a position to do without Argentine meat for six months with no trouble at all and for twelve months with some sacrifice.” The Ambassador also said that his information tallies with that from the Argentine Commercial Counsellor in Washington3 and with the view expressed for some time past by the Ambassador himself that the United Nations may make fewer purchases from Argentina.
Since we know that the Colonels are falling all over themselves to get you to buy their meat, I am confident that you will agree that the Ambassador’s message was an extremely bad piece of news for them.
All the evidence that has come to my attention reinforces our belief that you are in an excellent position to use the negotiations to support the whole Allied stand in this Hemisphere against this broad Fascist movement. You will certainly have no trouble on the beef and mutton matter in any event.