Office of the Historian

862.30/8–1745: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Braden) to the Secretary of State

Buenos Aires, August 17, 1945—5 p.m.
[Received 8:10 p.m.]

1875. Embtel 1870, noon.10 The Ministry of Marine has issued two press releases confirming surrender of U–997 at sea near Mar del Plata and stating that the sub has been towed into Mar del Plata and the crew removed to Argentine warship Belgrano.

Naval Attaché reports that crew has now been placed in barracks at Mar del Plata. Crew contains 32 members only; 24 will be moved to Martín García Sunday and 8 will be detained at Mar del Plata for questioning. Sub is reported to have 10 torpedoes, guns and ammunition and to be in better condition than U–530. It is reported to have left Kiel April 19 and Christiansand May 22.

Acting Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs11 in informally communicating news to Embassy said “the question of the disposal of this submarine will be easy in view of what has already been done with the others.”12

Braden
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. Carlos Pardo.↩
  3. In telegram 1948, August 23, 7 p.m., the Ambassador reported that the Argentine Government had issued a decree turning over the U–977 to the United States on the same terms as those extended to the U–530 (862.30/8–2345).↩