835.24/9–1046
The Ambassador in Argentina (Messersmith) to the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (Braden)
Dear Spruille: I have to acknowledge receipt of your secret letter of August 2318 in which you state that you fully share the concern expressed in my letter of August 2 and the accompanying despatch19 regarding the recent action of the Swedish Government in informing us of its intention to lift the embargo against arms exports to the Argentine. I appreciate your sending me the copies of the letters which Secretary of War Patterson under date of July 31 wrote to the Secretary of State as well as the copy of the letter of Secretary of Navy Forrestal to Mr. Acheson under date of August 6 on this [Page 311] matter. I have also read with much interest the aide-mémoire dated July 16, 1946 which the British Embassy left with the Department on this matter.
I note that this whole matter is being considered by General Hilldring’s Munitions Control Committee and that you will inform me promptly as soon as a decision is reached. I note that we have decided to ask the Swedish Government to continue the embargo.
In my opinion the Swedish Government will be willing to exercise a little delay but not much, and that to all intents and purposes the gentlemen’s agreement with Sweden may be considered as ineffective.
So far as these arms which the Argentine purchased in Sweden are concerned, I even doubt whether we are serving any useful purpose in reality in endeavoring to delay shipment of these particular arms. I think if we can get the Swedish Government to agree not to accept further orders for the present it will be a very happy thing, but I do not believe that the arms which are being manufactured presently under orders placed several years ago by the Argentine in Sweden are of sufficient importance in volume or character for us to make much of the matter, and from the political point of view, I don’t believe we are helping ourselves very much.
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With all good wishes,
Cordially and faithfully yours,