835.00/2407: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State

551. I saw Benavides67 who is recommending to his Government that they take no action that in any way could be interpreted as recognition of the new regime pending a very careful examination of all facts surrounding yesterday’s events. Benavides feels that crux of situation is whether Ramírez made a voluntary transfer of power to Farrell. He is himself convinced that it was not voluntary and therefore a coup d’état. He remarked that actually we had no verification that Ramírez had signed any document, citing case of Peñaranda.68 He therefore thinks it most important that Dean of American Diplomatic Corps, Uruguayan Ambassador,69 should personally call on Ramírez to ascertain true story of what happened. Benavides told me that plain-clothes detective has been posted by police in front of his Embassy and when questioned admitted he had been placed there to prevent Ramírez from seeking asylum there. He thinks that Government suspects Ramírez will attempt to seek asylum or tell his story to some member of Diplomatic Corps which he feels is in itself evidence that Ramírez did not act voluntarily.

Repeated to Montevideo, Santiago and Lima.

Armour
  1. Marshal Oscar Benavides, Peruvian Ambassador in Argentina.
  2. Gen. Enrique Peñaranda y del Castillo, former President of Bolivia.
  3. Eugenio Martínez Thedy.