Office of the Historian

835.6363/10–2345: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Argentina (Cabot)

Washington, October 23, 1945—5 p.m.

1485. The termination of hostilities and reduction in military requirements has so relieved the petroleum situation as to make it impracticable to retain the controls necessary to implement a restrictive policy on petroleum shipments to Argentina. The Dept has accordingly agreed with the other interested agencies and the Brit that limitations now in effect as to programming and coordination of supplies and transportation will no longer be required after Oct 31, 1945. This decision has been dictated solely by general world conditions and not by any political considerations in connection with the present Argentine situation.

After Oct 31, 1945 importers should make their own arrangements to secure supplies and tanker transportation. For the time being however petroleum products shipped from US will continue to require export licenses. Your Brit colleague will be receiving parallel instructions and detailed info will be cabled in a few days. You should immediately advise American oil companies (urtel 2557, Oct 16)99 but [it] is desired no announcement of decision be given the Argentine Government.

Byrnes
  1. Not printed.↩