Office of the Historian

835.01/542a: Telegram

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

Washington, June 23, 1944—midnight.

1026. We do not feel that it would be advisable or desirable for you to make any effort to see Peluffo before your departure.22 If he should approach you on his own initiative, you may in your discretion agree to an informal meeting. At such a meeting you should state that 4 months have elapsed since the change in government in Argentina, that your Government considers that the time has come for a comprehensive review of the entire situation, and that you have been called to Washington for consultation to that end. It may be that in any such interview Peluffo would again seek to follow tactics of delay and might go so far as to promise some immediate implementation of the Axis break. In that event you should limit yourself to the statement that you will, of course, faithfully report whatever he may wish to say to your Government.

A brief announcement that you are being called home for consultation will be made within the next 2 days, after allowing time for the other American Governments to be informed of contents of circular telegram quoted in Department’s no. 1018, June 22, 11 p.m.23

[Page 279]

We are instructing our Ambassador in London24 to explain our position fully to the Foreign Minister and to request that British Ambassador in Buenos Aires be called home for consultation immediately. I have explained the situation fully to the British Ambassador who has undertaken to cable his Government immediately. You will wish to inform your British colleague of our action and the reasons therefor.

Hull
  1. In telegram 1019, June 22, midnight, the Ambassador had been instructed “to proceed at the earliest practical time by air to Washington for consultation”. It was stated that Mrs. Armour should accompany the Ambassador.↩
  2. See footnote 30, p. 315.↩
  3. For text of the instruction, see p. 321.↩