835.24/9–2744: Telegram
The Chargé in Argentina (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 27—1:30 p.m.]
2485. All newspapers last night and today prominently published press association despatches based on Department’s statement21 that American ships will not call at Argentina ports. Several newspapers also published AP despatch stating that Department has given instructions to FEA to limit export licenses for Argentina to minimum needs of public health and essential material for war effort. La Prensa published UP despatch quoting official announcement of WSA that prohibition against American ships calling here will not prevent strategic materials from being carried in Argentine vessels.
La Fronda editorial states that new measure regarding American ships was produced in “that incubator of conflicts which have come from White House since advent of Roosevelt.” It adds “We are not disposed to consider this as commencement of announced sanctions with which Hull threatened us some time ago since in order to be sanctions American vessels would have to be only means of shipping Argentina’s exportable surpluses but as is well known these are shipped on all kinds of flag vessels and especially in those of our own merchant marine.”
Cabildo states that the panic in Argentine stock exchange was the first step of a vast plan by powerful foreign forces directed by “a foreign minister” and designed to damage Argentine interests which do not harm government directly but rather entire country. New shipping measure directly affects economy of Argentine people and not its government. Price that Hull would demand for desisting from his purpose would be change of that government for another complacent to his insistent demands. American presidential elections approach and enraged Secretary knows that whatever be result of election his fate is sealed. Even if Roosevelt is elected he will not remain in Cabinet.
El Diario states that ship announcement which is more offending than practical adds to other recent measures and declarations which prove that the Yankee leaders propose to apply sanctions against this country. The cause for this attitude remains unknown to Argentine public opinion. Editorial then quotes from Peluffo’s address of July 26 regarding Argentine aid to the war effort citing it as proof that there does not exist in Argentine Government aggressive or unfriendly purposes against the United States or against any continental country.
[Page 425]El Pueblo published Reuter[s] despatch summarizing an editorial from El Diario of Montevideo stating action of our Government is equivalent to rupture of all commercial relations between the United States and Argentina and assuming that Great Britain will follow suit.
- Statement to the press, September 26, 1944.↩