835.00/7–344: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)
Washington, July 3,
1944—7 p.m.
1079. A copy of an informal memorandum by the Argentine Government25 with respect to its implementation of the break in relations was made available to the Department today by the Chilean Chargé.26
[Page 280]The following is a summary of six points made by the memorandum:
- 1.
- Argentina’s international policy is based on the affirmation of her sovereignty and the faithful fulfillment of her contracted obligations. Argentina will continue to comply with her inter-American obligations. The break with the Axis is being carried out and will be carried out with firmness, in accordance with standards established by international practice.
- 2.
- German diplomats will leave in two groups on the 6th and 12th of this month.
- 3.
- Argentina has not spared efforts to prevent German firms from being converted into obstacles to the development of its policy of continental harmony, and for this purpose has adopted “a procedure of supervision which it will continue to perfect”. The Argentine Government will take “complementary measures of intervention and control”.
- 4.
- At the proper time the Argentine Government will take necessary steps to make public the measures which it may adopt in consequence of its break of relations.
- 5.
- The Argentine Government is proceeding to comply strictly with its undertakings. Many persons have been brought before the courts for espionage and several have been sentenced. Penalties have been applied to La Fronda for articles considered offensive to the United Nations.
- 6.
- Contrary to the views circulated, the Argentine Government does not tolerate any anti-Semitic stand or attitudes, and the isolated acts reported in Entre Rios have been strongly repressed.
Please cable the Embassy’s comments and report specifically with respect to the procedure of supervision which the memorandum states has been applied to German firms.
Hull