710.Consultation (4)/10–445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Brazil (Berle) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:52 p.m.]
3047. My telegram from Santos yesterday morning22 was sent before reading Deptel 2354, October 1.23 Braden’s judgment on whether Argentina’s presence at Rio would assist Peron24 is of course final and that would be solid argument for postponement. Nevertheless, I hope means may be found of bringing Conference into existence before too long. Especially it would be unfortunate if impression were to get abroad that we were abandoning Chapultepec Agreement which of course expires as agreement with close of war though there is continuing commitment to negotiate permanent treaty including its general terms.
I also think that public opinion in U.S. must be taught that it does not do much good to hold up work of hemisphere every time there is difficulty with some individual fraction of it. Hemisphere goes right along and it has lot to do together. Obviously I do not agree with one current of opinion which by and large would like to end the regional agreement which has served us well—especially in view of fact that there is no demonstration as yet that any other machinery can function in near future. Judging from my own Latin American contacts this point is being watched very carefully throughout hemisphere.