835.6131/11–2647
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for American Republic Affairs (Armour)
| Participants: | Señor Martin Luis Drago—Chargé d’Affaires, Argentine Embassy |
| Señor Rolando Lagomarsino—Formerly Secretary of Industry and Commerce in the Argentine Government | |
| Mr. Armour—A–A |
Mr. Drago brought Mr. Lagomarsino in to pay a courtesy call and the discussion was of a rather general character.
During the conversation Mr. Lagomarsino pointed out that Argentina was anxious to buy large amounts of equipment of various types and was particularly anxious to get equipment which would be of value even indirectly for the movement of grains. He emphasized that it was essential that purchases be made at reasonable prices and that it was only in this way that prices for cereals in Argentina could be brought down.
I pointed out that it was in the interest of us all to have conditions in Europe stabilized and specifically it would benefit Argentina if economic reconstruction could be achieved in the normal markets for Argentine products.
Mr. Lagomarsino mentioned various incidents in which Argentina has encountered difficulties in obtaining supplies, but the facts stated were only part of the problem and without long and detailed discussion it was impractical to attempt to refute his statements. In reply to his complaint that Argentina had been unable to get such equipment as oil well machinery, railroad equipment, etc., it was pointed out that our problem would be simplified if Argentina could supply moderately [Page 313] exact estimates of its specific requirements for various types of equipment, covering a period of six months or a year. Mr. Lagomarsino stated that any equipment which could be furnished could be utilized in Argentina and, in effect, for every ton of equipment, it would probably be possible to move an additional one hundred tons of grains to the ports. He made the statement that as much as five hundred thousand tons of cereals were lost during the current year as a result of the Government’s inability to transport the cereals to ports.