835.50/9–444: Telegram
The Secretary of State to
the Chargé in Argentina (Reed)
Washington, September
4, 1944—7 p.m.
1378. Your 105, January 13, 3 p.m.12 To re-enforce our political stand towards
Argentina, the Department proposes to put into effect as soon as
practicable the following revised export program quoted in paraphrase:
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- “1. With the exception of projects directly contributing
to the war effort no Argentine development project will be
approved.
- 2. Operational equipment used in connection with the
production of petroleum products and boring and oil field
equipment, as well as all other types of petroleum
equipment, shall not be exported. The exports of fuel oil
shall be limited to the minimum amounts necessary to assure
the continued services of Argentine tankers in transporting
vegetable oils to the United States.
- 3. The export of automotive vehicles, railway locomotives
or rolling stock is forbidden.
- 4. No further increase in the number or value limits of
products exportable to Argentina under general license shall
be permitted.
- 5. Exports to the Argentine Armed Forces and supplies and
materials for the Argentine armament industry are
forbidden.
- 6. The export of Fourdrinier phosphorous bronze screens
suitable for the manufacture of newsprint is
forbidden.
- 7. Through navicert control or other appropriate devices
an endeavor shall be made to obtain similar reductions in
exports to Argentina by other countries.
- 8. The quarterly issuance of licenses for the export of
all products not otherwise limited herein shall be
restricted to the requirements of those industries in
Argentina whose products are essential to the United Nations
war effort plus 1) minimum amounts for the maintenance,
repair and operations of industries and public utilities
contributing to the United Nations war effort, and 2)
minimum amounts in other fields for the maintenance of
public health and safety.
- (Products defined as necessary for the maintenance of
public health and safety shall consist exclusively of the
following: restricted amounts of essential drugs for the
avoidance of epidemics and the treatment of disease;
essential equipment for hospitals, clinics and other public
health centers; supplies essential for the maintenance,
repair and operation of the common public
utilities.)”
It is desired that the foregoing changes be accomplished with a minimum
of publicity. No announcement will be made here, and it is expected that
you will continue to accept from the Central Bank certificates of
necessity issued in accordance with existing procedure, which you should
screen closely against the above stipulations. No intimation of the
change should be given the Central Bank.
The foregoing program will be presented by the Department to the British
with a request that they adopt similar restrictions. Transmission of a
directive to FEA embodying this revision is being held up for your
comments.13
Instructions are also being given to WSA,14 effective October 1, 1944, to
withdraw all vessels under its control from the northbound service with
the exception of those nominated for the lifting of corn and one
Norwegian vessel scheduled to take a miscellaneous cargo in late
September or early October. WSA is also being requested to
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obtain strict adherence by the
Flota15 to its
agreement pertaining to the lifting of priority cargo.
