835.00/8–1646
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Messersmith)
Dear George: Two days ago I received your letter of August 1612 enclosing copies of your letters to the Secretary and to the President. In accordance with your request, these letters were immediately forwarded by pouch to the Secretary and the President.
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Second, as to our policy toward Argentina. It seems to me that there is no difference of opinion or doubt as to the objectives of the policy. The Secretary has stated it, the President in his recent note has reaffirmed it, and both you and Braden stated it the same way. For the present, therefore, we are all going forward with the objective of looking toward the ratification of the agreements and the performance of acts of implementation prior to either setting the date for or holding the Rio Conference. So far, there is no disagreement. It is when we come to determining whether or not there has been adequate compliance that you foresee a difference of view. From the many talks which I have had with Braden, I do not think that he holds the view, as you fear he does, that there must be completion of all acts of compliance before we are ready to go forward. I do think that there is probably a difference in approach and emphasis between you two as to what you would each think amounted to sufficient compliance. Certainly, in this preliminary stage, there is probably a difference in the generalities which you would each use to describe a satisfactory situation. Whether there would be any difference when a concrete program was laid out and put into effect, I do not know.
However, I think that it is borrowing trouble to believe that this is a real difficulty. In the first place, it is much easier to disagree in formulating a general statement than in appraising a concrete program; and secondly, the determination that acts taken as of any particular date indicate compliance with obligations in good faith is a [Page 310] decision which will not be made by Braden or me but by the Secretary and the President.
As we have cabled you, the President has taken a direct and continuing interest in the Argentine situation. As we have also assured you, the President receives your despatches, letters and telegrams. If, when the time comes, the decision is open to doubt, he will unquestionably wish to discuss the matter with you. From considerable experience, I know that the President listens to the views of his advisers and then makes up his own mind.
To sum these comments up, I do not believe that Braden or anyone in the Department is undermining you publicly or privately. I have thought that you have had our full support. I shall do my best to satisfy myself that this is and will remain the case. On the matter of policy, it seems to me that we are all clear as to the policy laid down by the President and are trying to carry it out. When it comes to deciding whether, under that policy, there has been bona fide compliance, that decision would be made by the President, who is getting all the information and who I am sure will wish to hear from all concerned in the decision.
I appreciate fully the difficulty and importance of your task. I have been doing everything I can to assist you in it. I feel sure that, with all of us working together, it can be successfully achieved.
With warmest regards,
Sincerely yours,
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