711.35/6–2446
The Ambassador in Argentina (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
No. 219
[Received July 5.]
Subject: Transmitting Memorandum of Conversation with the Foreign Minister on Concrete Aspects of Argentine Compliance with her Inter-American Commitments.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 88 of June 6, 194660 covering a call which I made on the Argentine Minister of Foreign Relations. I also have to refer to my secret letter of June 15 to Secretary Byrnes in which I gave a full statement of the conclusions and observations which I have reached with respect to the Argentine situation and its composition up to this time.
I now have to transmit herewith a copy of a memorandum60 covering a two and a half hour conversation which I had with the Minister of Foreign Relations on June 20 which is self-explanatory. It will be noted that I stated to the Minister that my observations were as yet preliminary, but that I felt that they would have the approval of my Government.
In spite of the difficult nature of the subject matter, the conversation was most cordial and conducted in a very amicable manner throughout. It is my opinion that the Foreign Minister is desirous of reaching a settlement of these matters as soon as possible and that he realizes the importance of rapid solution and at the same time, of adequate solution. [Page 264] There is in my mind no doubt that the Foreign Minister has been in almost daily contact with President Perón on these matters and that the President also is desirous of doing the appropriate things to bring about a composition of the situation.
I think it would be a mistake to assume, as is being assumed by some, both here and at home, that the Argentine Government is desirous of composing this situation only in order to get military material. The Argentine Government is now fully aware, and as a result of the visit of General von der Becke to the United States has no illusions, concerning the situation. It realizes that its relations with the United States must be conducted through regular and normal channels and that we will permit no deviation thereof. I think I have made it amply clear through my conversations here that we also are desirous of composing this situation and that we also wish the Rio meeting61 to take place so that there may be full collaboration in defense matters under the defense pact. It has also been made abundantly clear that we do not want such a defense pact unless it is based on complete good faith of all the parties concerned and that this involves, by the Argentine, the meeting of certain obligations under her Inter-American commitments in an adequate form. I have made this clear in conversations with the President and the Foreign Minister.
There are reasons other than military material as well as of Argentine pride which impel the Argentine to have this desire to compose this situation. The Argentine is in need of many materials aside from military materials. It knows that the United States is the best and the most desirable source of these materials. It realizes that even though export restrictions may no longer exist on non-military material from the United States that exports badly needed in the Argentine will be facilitated if there is a complete return to normal relations between the United States and the Argentine.
I am further of the opinion that there is the beginning of real understanding in the Argentine that its course during the first world war and the second world war was not in the interests of the Argentine and that there is at least a sound basis for belief that the Argentine desires to look less towards Europe and more towards the United States and the American countries.
While there is no doubt that the Argentine has failed to meet so far obligations which she took under her Inter-American commitments, and in an adequate manner, there is also reason to believe that a careful study of the facts will show, as it has convinced me, that her relative performance as compared with most of the other American Republics is better than she has been given credit for by us and by public [Page 265] opinion. We cannot ask the Argentine to do more than we are expecting from others of the American Republics, and this too is a factor which we must keep in mind in our final judgment as to Argentine compliance.
I am not yet in a position to determine what can or will be done here in the matter of compliance. I believe there is a sincere desire on the part of the President and of the Foreign Minister and of high officials of the Argentine Government to comply adequately and also to orient themselves more fully into the American picture. I realize, however, that there is very great disorganization in the Government and that it is made up very largely of persons inexperienced in Government and many of whom are very inept and inexperienced as well as those elements which are trying to use the new situation for their personal advantage. This means that with the best will in the world, even if it is there, the Argentine Government will have considerable difficulty in carrying through such good intentions which it may have, for anyone who is familiar with Government knows that it not only needs the will and decision at the top, but also adequate administration and instruments to carry through policy. This administrative machinery and adequate elements are still presently lacking in an unhappy degree in the present administration, and a great deal will depend upon the manner in which the Argentine Government can function under the new “constitutional” administration.
After my conversation with the Minister of Foreign Relations on June 24, I will report further.
Respectfully yours,