835.01/427: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)23
Your 1305, May 23, 2 p.m. and 1308, May 23, 7 p.m.24 In personal conversation with Ambassador Messersmith last evening Padilla explained that Mexican political and governmental practice did not permit him to instruct Mexican Ambassador to attend Te Deum services on May 25. He considered that this left no other course than to instruct the Ambassador to attend one of the other ceremonies in [Page 313] order to avoid appearance of affront to Argentine people. The Ambassador would only attend other ceremony, however, on proper assurance that Argentine authorities would not regard it as implying recognition in any way. Instructions to foregoing effect are being sent to him and he is also being instructed to explain circumstances fully to his colleagues.
Padilla repeated previous statements that he would have preferred not to have his Ambassador attend any ceremonies. He reiterated strongly his feeling that there can be no question of recognition until such time as there are adequate, concrete acts by the Argentine regime to fulfill their inter-American commitments. In this connection he added that he had taken all safeguards against misinterpretation of attendance by Mexican Ambassador at some ceremony on May 25.