Office of the Historian

824.01/655a: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics 64

Washington, February 17, 1944—9 p.m.

For your confidential information the Department is not greatly impressed with the recent changes which have been announced in the Junta at La Paz, namely the inclusion in the Cabinet of Messrs. Pacheco,65 Otazo66 and Guevara,67 and it is not felt that these shifts have materially altered the character of the Junta which we announced on January 24 we did not intend to recognize for the present. The Department would be pleased to receive any pertinent information which you may have in regard to the opinions of the Government to which you are accredited on this matter.

However, it is not deemed advisable for you to gratuitously offer to the Foreign Minister the information contained in the first paragraph of this telegram but it is for your guidance in case he should approach you on the subject.

Stettinius
  1. Sent to Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela.↩
  2. Lt. Col. Alfredo Pacheco, newly designated Minister of Government.↩
  3. Rafael Otazo, appointed Minister of Agriculture, February 11, 1944.↩
  4. Walter Guevara Arze, Secretary General of the Junta.↩