710 Consultation (4)/11–2044: Circular telegram

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

For your personal and confidential information there follows a summary of views expressed to date by other American Republics with respect to meeting of Foreign Ministers on war and post-war problems and Argentine request for meeting to consider Argentine situation.

Bolivia. Will be guided by position adopted by Chile and Paraguay.

Brazil. Entirely approves United States position.

Chile. Foreign Minister has expressed agreement with our position and stressed point that any consideration of Argentine case should come at conclusion and not at beginning of meeting of Foreign Ministers.

Colombia. Colombian Government announced publicly on October 31 that it favored acceptance of Argentine request. No reply yet to Mexican proposals or to our memorandum.

Costa Rica. Firmly opposed to acceptance of Argentine request. No comment yet on Mexican proposals or our memorandum.

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Cuba. Strongly approves our position, characterized by Foreign Minister as “sound, rational and perfect.”

Dominican Republic. Our Embassy reports that Dominican Government will undoubtedly adopt our position.

Ecuador. Favors acceptance of Argentine proposal. No reply yet to Mexican proposals or to our memorandum.

Guatemala. Will support our position.

Haiti. Will support our position.

Honduras. Is in entire agreement that a meeting should be held of the Foreign Ministers of American Republics which have cooperated in war, in conformity with terms expressed in our memorandum.

Nicaragua. In complete accord with our views.

Panama. In memorandum handed to chiefs of American missions in Panama on November 16 the Foreign Minister proposed alternative procedure both to Mexican proposals and to procedure suggested in our memorandum. Panamanian proposal is that meeting of Foreign Ministers be scheduled for indefinite date; that 15 days prior thereto the American Republics consult to determine whether or not Argentina should be permitted to participate; that if no unanimous affirmative decision is reached, consideration of Argentine problem at meeting be confined to resolution expressing hope of eventual reincorporation of Argentina in American family of nations and stating conditions with which she must first comply. Foreign Minister agrees with Padilla that open discussion of Argentine situation in meeting of ministers would involve risk of dangerous dissension. Our Embassy reports that Foreign Minister is making statement today to rectify press report that Panama favors recognition of Farrell regime.46

Paraguay. Foreign Minister has expressed opposition to a discussion of Argentine situation at a meeting of ministers, and has suggested that an investigating committee representing the other American Republics be empowered to visit Argentina to investigate situation on the spot.

Peru. Foreign Office has indicated opposition to discussion of Argentine situation at meeting of Foreign Ministers and general support of United States position. No definitive reply as yet to Mexican proposal or to our memorandum.

Uruguay. Foreign Minister has informed our Embassy that Uruguay favors meeting requested by Argentina. Has promised reply to our memorandum within a few days.

Venezuela. Originally concurred with Colombia in favoring acceptance of Argentine request for meeting. After preliminary study of our memorandum Foreign Minister considers our views not incompatible [Page 58] with possible solution of Argentine problem. He feels strongly that conversations on Argentine question should be continued and no irrevocable decision be hastily taken even though conversations might be prolonged.

Mexican position is, of course, as stated in Department’s circulars of November 12, 6 p.m.,47 and November 16, 6 p.m.48

Up to now we have proceeded slowly and carefully in order to avoid any appearance of seeking to impose our views. The other American Republics have had every opportunity to express their opinions and to suggest procedures. In stating our own position we have emphasized an attitude of cooperation and avoided giving the impression of intransigence. We now feel, however, that the time has come to press our views directly and energetically in an effort to obtain general agreement with the other American Republics on our position. This was the purport of our circular telegraphic instruction of November 17, 3 p.m.48

Stettinius
  1. For an amplification of this explanation, see telegram 641 from Panama, infra.
  2. Not printed, but see footnote 26, p. 39.
  3. Not printed.
  4. Not printed.