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

710 Consultation 3A/490: Telegram

The Ambassador in Uruguay (Dawson) to the Secretary of State

Montevideo, January 1, 1944—8 p.m.
[Received January 2—12:33 a.m.]

2. For Duggan⁵ from Spaeth.⁶ The suggestions transmitted Department’s 640 of December 31 [30]⁷ were discussed with Guani⁸ yesterday. I stressed the limited objectives and stated that Committee would merely furnish mechanism for facilitating the meeting. Because of friction between Guani and Foreign Office, I also emphasized that since Uruguay would be host country, it would be essential that we enjoy the full cooperation of Uruguayan Government. Guani’s first reaction was favorable but he asked me to see him again today for his opinion.

He informed me today that he considers proposal to be an appropriate supplementary step to Committee’s recommendation and a logical corollary of his own initiative. He stated that it is doubtful whether more than three or four countries would be able to furnish any significant information but he recognizes that it is desirable that all of the Governments possess same information as basis for consultation prior to recognition. Guani added that his opinion as to desirability of meeting was, of course, predicated upon assumption that Uruguay will unqualifiedly approve Committee’s resolution on non-recognition.

With reference to opinion of the members of majority, Guani and I agree that we can unquestionably obtain support of Pimental and Arroyo⁹ and almost certainly of Armendáriz.¹⁰ For this reason and because Guani is of opinion that he should present matter to Amezaga¹¹ before it is discussed with Committee, we agreed that it is desirable to postpone conversations with other members of majority. Guani agreed, however, that he would not discuss matter with anyone until I have received Department’s response to this report of our discussion. Dawson feels strongly and I concur that the proposal should be presented to the Uruguayan Government at earliest possible moment.

If it is decided to call the meeting, one of the following procedures could be adopted, after the key countries and Uruguayan Government have been consulted and their agreement obtained:

(a) Committee could take initiative and approve a resolution which, after appropriate recitals specifically indicating the special and restricted purpose of the meeting as stated in cable under reference and possibly referring to Resolution IX,¹² would recommend that the meeting be held during January and that Uruguayan Government invite governments of the interested countries; (b) The United States or one of the key countries could recommend that Committee call the meeting as above.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[Spaeth]
Dawson

5. Laurence Duggan, Adviser on Political Relations.
6. Carl Spaeth, American member, Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense.
7. Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. v, p. 36.
8. Alberto Guani, of Uruguay, Chairman of the Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense.
9. Mario de Pimental Brandão and Eduardo Arroyo Lameda, Committee members from Brazil and Venezuela, respectively.
10. Mariano Armendáriz del Castillo, Committee member from Mexico.
11. Juan José Amezaga, President of Uruguay.
12. Resolution IX concerned informal meetings of national officials charged with the execution of laws and regulations against subversive activities. For text, see Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense, Annual Report, July 1943 (Montevideo, 1943), p. 280.