710 Consultation 4/11–1444: Telegram
The Ambassador in Mexico ( Messersmith ) to the Secretary of State 41
[Received November 15—6:44 a.m.]
1424. “The Ministry of Foreign Relations has read very carefully the memorandum of the Embassy of the United States of the 13th of [Page 52] this month and is happy to learn that the Government of the United States shares the opinion of that of Mexico on the importance of the American Republics holding a meeting to discuss various problems related with the post war.
The Ministry also takes note with satisfaction that the Department of State continues disposed to carry on consultations with the other American Foreign Ministries over the Argentine case, as well as with respect to other matters of general interest. Experience is demonstrating the utility of this system of consultation, which system should be applied to the problems of continental interest, strengthening through them these interests to the benefit of all of our Republics.
For its part the Ministry of Foreign Relations is in agreement with the statement in the memorandum of the United States in that there should not be sought an appearance of continental unity, but that this unity has to be real and effective between governments as well as peoples of this hemisphere. There have not escaped the attention of the Embassy those paragraphs of the memorandum of the Ministry of November 6 in which the Ministry sets forth precisely this point of view.
The Ministry further agrees that it is not a question of negotiating a formula with the sole objective of reaching at a recognition of the Argentine authorities, nor of looking for the appearance of collaboration by that Republic, but of reaching a conviction that collaboration is effective and sincere.
Having made these observations, the Ministry expresses the opinion that the best form of replying to the memorandum of the United States is in setting forth, in supplementary terms, the fundamental idea which was contained in the memorandum of the Ministry of November 6.
- (1)
- The fact that the Ministry has indicated that in its opinion a meeting of Foreign Ministers to consider the Argentine initiative carries with it a danger for continental unity in [no?] manner indicates that the Ministry opposes itself to the holding of such a meeting. In fact all that the Ministry has wished to emphasize is the following: It is preferable in the interests of continental unity that that which would have to be studied in the meeting be considered—given the so delicate nature of the problem—in a discreet form between the Ministries and not in the necessarily solemn and spectacular circumstances of a meeting of Foreign Ministers.
- (2)
- What is actually under consideration by the Foreign Ministries of the American Republics is the unity of the continent, its present and its immediate future.
- (3)
- Relations with the Argentine is secondary, whether it takes place before or after the conference referred to, or whether it takes place before the Argentine people have had an opportunity to express their sovereign will.
- (4)
- The principal obstacle to continental unity in the present moment lies in: first, in the failure of fulfillment by the Argentine authorities of the understandings subscribed to at Rio de Janeiro, and second, that the men who actually are in power in the Argentine are the creator of this situation.
- (5)
- It is therefore in view of the foregoing desirable to find a solution to these two aspects of the problem, seeking the fulfillment of the obligations not carried through and suggesting the carrying through of acts through which the Argentine Government re-acquires the confidence of all the governments of this continent.
- (6)
- It is not a question of exercising pressure on the Argentine authorities nor of intervening in the internal affairs of Argentina. It is for these to determine whether they are disposed to give to the Argentine people—through the application of constitutional procedures—the opportunity of deciding in accord with a tradition which long has honored that country, if it desires to reintegrate itself in the American commuity.
- (7)
- We should make every effort to reach a precise solution, and to this end agree on one of the following alternatives: the reincorporation of the Argentine into American solidarity, or the conclusion, unanimously arrived at by the remainder of the American Republics, that steps in this direction are premature.
It is toward the foregoing that the proposal presented by the Ministry of Foreign Relations tends, a proposal which is no more than a project submitted with the best of intentions for the study of the other Foreign Ministries of the Americas. It is for all of these to determine: (a) if there is to be held or not the meeting of the Foreign Ministers which the Argentine Government has requested; (b) if such a meeting should be held to study postwar problems with the understanding that at the end an Argentine representative would be heard; (c) if it is preferable that there should take place an interchange of views and eventually negotiations to the end of examining the possibility of reaching a satisfactory continental agreement on the Argentine question; and (d) to hold a meeting of Foreign Ministers—which according to the opinion of this Ministry could take place at the latest on February 1, 1945—with the presence of the Argentine, if from the preceding negotiations there arises an understanding with that Republic.
Of the alternatives above set forth, which naturally do not include others which the American Ministries may wish to present, the Ministry of Foreign Relations reiterates its preference for the last two, which if accepted might give bases on which the American Republics would be in the position of resolving a question which is of equal interest to all.”
- For an explanation regarding the text transmitted in this telegram, see third paragraph of telegram 1423, November 14, 5 p.m., supra.↩