Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

833.24/1031

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Bonsal)¹

[ Washington ,] December 30, 1943.

I had lunch yesterday with the Uruguayan Ambassador.² In the course of the conversation he again brought up the question of Lend-Lease materials³ for Uruguay. He has consistently taken the position that Uruguay has been neglected by us in this respect. In view of the present circumstances and potential developments, he brought up a new argument. He said that Montevideo is very vulnerable to attack from Buenos Aires and that a successful assault on the Uruguayan Capital could under present conditions be carried out by a very small “commando” group.

I would appreciate guidance as to whether we should take this matter up with the War Department and whether a special Lend-Lease shipment could legally be made to Uruguay in order to ward off attack from her powerful neighbor.⁴

Philip W. Bonsal

1. Addressed to the Secretary of State and to Assistant Secretary Adolf A. Berle, Jr.
2. Juan Carlos Blanco.
3. For a note on the Lend-Lease Agreement between the United States and Uruguay, signed January 13, 1942, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. vi, p. 703.
4. A marginal note on the original reads: “I think Uruguay’s position should be strengthened. A. A. B[erle].”