800.5018/10–947
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (Armour)
| Participants: | Dr. Oscar Ivanissevich—Argentine Ambassador |
| Mr. Armour—A–A | |
| Mr. Tewksbury—RPA |
The Argentine Ambassador has just returned from Buenos Aires, following a visit to his country after the Rio Conference.35 Dr. Ivanissevich expressed the desire of his Government to cooperate with the United States in important world affairs.
During the conversation I mentioned our hope that Argentina would join the International Emergency Food Council and was pleased that President Perón had shown a favorable attitude when the matter was discussed by Ambassador Bruce. Dr. Ivanissevich expressed surprise that final action had not already been taken by Argentina and said that he thought the matter had been decided favorably before he left Buenos Aires about a week ago. He said that he would check into the matter and assured me that he would give support in attempting to obtain definite favorable action.
I extended my congratulations on the election of Argentina to a seat on the Security Council. The Ambassador appeared pleased and then pointed out that the election of a Chairman of the Governing Board [Page 311] of the Pan American Union would come up at the Nov. 5 meeting. He stated that, for various reasons, Argentina had not been able to play the part in international affairs which its economic and political importance really warranted and expressed the hope that this action in the United Nations was an indication that favorable consideration would be given to Argentina’s future role. He stated that Dr. Rocha of Colombia is at present Chairman of the. Governing Board of the Union, and he stated that, in his own personal opinion, Argentina merited consideration of our support in the forthcoming election. He felt that, by holding a position of this sort, Argentina would be in a position and disposed to cooperate wholeheartedly with our plans and interests in world affairs. He expressed the hope that I would discuss this with my colleagues and said that, if I wished to discuss the matter with him further, he would be only too glad to have me call him. Brief mention was made of the Bogotá meeting36 and other general matters relating to Latin American questions.
Prior to coming into my office Dr. Ivanissevich had a few minutes conversation with Tewksbury and he indicated that he felt that all of the problems between the United States and Argentina were being effectively handled and difficulties being ironed out. He specifically mentioned that a solution had practically been reached in the difficult problem of the frigoríficos and in relation to the foreign oil companies. He also mentioned a minor problem which General Motors has had with the Municipality of Buenos Aires which has also been satisfactorily settled. There was not sufficient time to discuss any one of these problems in detail.