835.01/452: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:04 p.m.]
1335. Twenty-fifth of May celebrations concluded last night with gala performance at Colón Opera. Absence of diplomats from this function as well as President’s dinner on 24th is widely known despite efforts of Government to play the fact down. Most newspapers refer to “the Diplomatic Corps” as being present at both, although La Prensa this morning qualifies expression by adding “who attended”. Persons present at Colón say affair lacked usual sparkle and applause for President was little more than polite, except from large representation from military circles among audience.
National holiday was much as other years, crowds being large and peaceable, only untoward incident during day being demonstration by group of two to three hundred men at ceremony honoring the Liberator in Plaza San Martín. This group entered square chanting “Free country, liberty” and other such expressions and was broken up by a charge of mounted police, which resulted in several being injured. This may have been a Communist demonstration since Embassy had heard Communists were planning something of the sort [Page 274] but if it was, it lacked the usual Communist finesse since the consequent danger to the large number of school children present at ceremony has aroused public indignation against demonstrators. The Press and Information Office released statement to press angrily placing full blame on the Communists.
It is too early to appraise reaction among Argentines to refusal to attend dinner and Colón but I feel reasonably sure that we have not alienated any of our friends here.