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

835.00/2423a: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics Except Argentina and Bolivia

Washington, February 26, 1944—8 p.m.

Please call upon the Foreign Minister, of the country to which you are accredited and inform him that this Government has viewed with great concern recent events in Argentina resulting in the removal of President Ramírez.

It will be recalled that the Argentine Government itself admitted at the time of its rupture of relations with the Axis that Argentina was the center of a vast Axis espionage system working for the Axis⁶⁸ and in favor of subversive influences inimical to the safety of the Hemisphere. The circumstances under which the present regime seized power suggest that the maneuver was intended to prevent the cooperation of Argentina with her sister nations in the present grave military exigency, and to resume Argentine cooperation with the Axis powers. These developments raise the question whether this new regime would harm the Allied cause or be likely to encourage support of the Axis powers.

It is my belief that the Governments of all of the American Republics will desire to give thorough study to the question of whether, these developments have resulted in a change in the Argentine Government through the use of force and constitute a threat to continental security. This Government believes that the provisions of the resolution adopted last December by the Emergency Committee for Political Defense at Montevideo⁶⁹ may well be applicable in this case and that a thorough exchange of information and views should take place on the attitude to be adopted by the American Republics toward the maintenance of diplomatic relations with the new Argentine regime.

For your information and also for transmittal to the Foreign Minister, the American Ambassador in Buenos Aires is being instructed, pending the exchange of views by the American Republics, to refrain from all acts which might be construed as carrying approval of the activities of the Argentine regime or as recognizing it.

You should report promptly to the Department the reaction of the Foreign Minister to this Government’s attitude and any comments that he may make.

Stettinius

68. For correspondence on the concern of the United States with Argentina’s handling of espionage cases, see pp. 377 ff.
69. Resolution XXII of the Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense of December 24, 1943, which concerned the question of the recognition of new governments instituted by force. For text, see telegram from the Chairman of the Committee, December 24, 1943, Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. v, p. 34; also printed in Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense, Second Annual Report, July 15, 1943–October 15, 1944 (Montevideo, 1944), p. 79.