710 Consultation 3(A)/742: Telegram
The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:13 p.m.]
514. For Spaeth and Knapp from Sanders. Guani today expressed to me his deep concern over developments in the Argentine situation. He believes that public opinion in Argentina is being gradually and skillfully hardened against Uruguay and the other Republics and he sees developments which deeply affect Uruguayan security and reflect tendencies which will operate to an increasing extent against a solution consonant with the best interests of the continent. He considers that this situation is favored by “present passive policy” and that steps should be taken either for: (1) Immediate recognition, (2) recognition upon fulfillment of certain conditions, or (3) adoption of definite program of pressure.
Guani considers that Argentine reply to Committee’s follow-up memorandum49 could offer basis for recognition in line with second [Page 15] alternative. He believes that he is in position, working informally through friends in Argentina and here, to make it certain that the reply contains unequivocal assurances on all necessary points. To prevent Argentine Government from taking advantage of opportunity to make another meaningless step, adoption, prior to transmission of reply, of implementing decrees on more important points covered by memo would be required. This step would not only be an earnest of intention but also a test of strength to put through program against opposition by extreme Nationalists. CPD50 would serve only as intermediary and would submit the reply to the other Governments without recommendations of any kind.
Guani stresses urgent need for a preliminary step toward a break in the “present impasse”, to be taken preferably by an intermediary representative of collective interest. I am of opinion Guani has lately been approached by certain Argentine elements including perhaps Quintana51 in above sense. He assures me … that his conversation with me at this stage is of a purely personal character.
In considering Guani’s proposal, it looks to me that Argentine reply to Committee’s memo might reflect results of conversations between Armour and Peluffo,52 in event these are satisfactory. Reply would then offer opportunity for consultations leading to collective solution on basis satisfactory to Department and would render unnecessary Guani’s personal participation.
For Spaeth from Dawson. I recognize that Argentine reply to Committee’s memo might be used to advantage in working out a solution as suggested by Guani. However, it would seem that Guani’s personal interventi[on as] informal intermediary would not be essential.…
Repeated to Buenos Aires. [Sanders.]
- The substance of this memorandum appears to have been indicated in airgram A–87, from Montevideo, dated February 19, 1944, 11 a.m., in which it was recommended that Argentina more vigorously apply a policy of registering aliens, detaining Axis nationals, cancelling Axis naturalizations, restricting travel, fixing entry points, tightening censorship, etc. (710 Consultation 3A/646).↩
- Committee for Political Defense.↩
- Carlos Quintana, Argentine Ambassador to Uruguay.↩
- Gen. Orlando Lorenzo Peluffo, Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩