Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: The United Nations, Volume I

500.CC/4–545: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State ⁶ to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, April 5, 1945—5 p.m.

2646. In reference to your cable 3192⁷ the State Department has not at any time urged that Argentina be represented at San Francisco. Following program of action was agreed upon at meeting of Ambassadors of 12 leading Latin American countries, called by Minister of Foreign Affairs Velloso of Brazil⁸ at Blair House, March 14th:⁹

“Articles 1, 3, 5 and 6 (of Mexico City Resolution No. 59¹⁰) by their nature and purpose constitute a single declaration.

“It shall be acknowledged that the Argentine Nation has accepted the invitation implied in the above articles when her government shall have:

• “(a) Declared by decree the existence of a state of war with Germany and Japan;
• (b) Expressed conformity with the principles and declarations of the Final Act and complied with such principles and declarations;
• (c) Signed the Final Act of Mexico City at the Pan American Union.

“The Argentine Government will then:

(a) Be recognized by the Governments of the American Nations and

(b) The United States as the depository state will request that Argentina be invited to sign the Joint Declaration of the United Nations.”

At my staff meeting on March 31 it was agreed that recognition of Argentina would not commit us in any way to sponsorship of Argentina’s adherence to the United Nations declaration until there was agreement that from the world as well as a hemispheric point of view it was warranted.

The following measures have been taken by the Argentine Government in compliance with the principles and declarations of the final act of Mexico City:

1. Declaration of state of war with Japan and Germany.¹¹

2. Adherence to Final Act of Mexico City (signature to take place April 4, 12 noon¹²).

3. The interned crew members of the Graf Spee¹³ have been made prisoners of war.

4. Suspension of fifteen newspapers, including Aliamza, Vispera, three Japanese, three Hungarian, and seven German newspapers. (Note: Cabildo and El Pampero had been suspended shortly before the Mexico City Conference).

5. Internment of Japanese diplomatic and consular officers. Although this measure has not been effectively implemented, it is reported that they are to be interned at Cordoba.

6. Blocking of Axis funds.

7. Decree for special registration within ten or twenty days of all nationals of enemy countries over 14 years of age and also the registration within thirty days of all those of enemy origin who have been naturalized as Argentines. The decree also calls for the surrender of firearms and radios and restricts freedom of movement and communication of such persons.

8. Decree taking over assets of Axis firms. This decree provides for the control by the Council of Administration of the assets of Axis individuals or firms and the appointment of interventors. Control may be extended to firms with Axis links and to assets of subversive individuals or firms, whatever their nationality. Assets are to be held to pay possible war damages.

9. Imprisonment of Fritz Mandl.¹⁴

The United States therefore proposes immediately upon the signature of the final act by the Argentine Chargé d’Affaires to initiate consultations with respect to recognition of the Argentine government.¹⁵ The Department intends to suggest recognition on April 9. You will be informed of major developments in these consultations.

The British Embassy has been kept currently informed of developments. In addition, you are authorized informally to transmit to the Foreign Office any of the above information.

Acheson

6. The Secretary of State was on a speech-making trip to Chicago and New York, April 3–7.
7. Dated March 28, 5 p.m., not printed; it related the personal opinions of an unnamed British official of the Foreign Office concerning Argentine affairs (835.01/3–2845).
8. Pedro Leão Velloso, Acting Foreign Minister of Brazil, was visiting the United States.
9. See The Memoirs of Cordell Hull, vol. ii, pp. 1407–08, for Mr. Hull’s account of the Blair House meeting and President Roosevelt’s attitude toward the question of admission of the Argentine Government to the United Nations.
10. For text of Resolution LIX concerning Argentina, approved March 7, 1945, in plenary session, see Department of State Conference Series No. 85: Report of the Delegation of the United States of America to the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, Mexico City, February 21–March 8, 1945 (Washington, 1946), p. 133.
11. For statement by the Department concerning the Argentine declaration of war on March 27, see Department of State Bulletin, April 1, 1945, p. 538.
12. See the communication of March 28 from the Argentine Charge (Garcia) to the Director General of the Pan American Union (Rowe), ibid., April 8, 1945, p. 611.
13. For documentation on the Graf Spee incident and internment of crew, see Foreign Relations, 1939, vol. v, pp. 105 ff.
14. An industrialist (who left Austria in 1938), arrested by Argentine police on April 2 as a dangerous individual suspected of extending aid to the Nazi Government.
15. The Argentine Chargé signed the Final Act at Mexico City on April 4. For press release of April 9 concerning decision by American Republics to resume diplomatic relations with Argentina, see Department of State Bulletin, April 15, 1945, p. 670.