835.911/10–1047: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
1234. Embassy records indicate no message from US officials sent La Prensa since 75th anniversary. British Ambassador48 says no information regarding action contemplated his Government. Proposed messages Secretaries Defense, Agriculture so obviously solicited messages, we believe they should not be sent.
So far as Embassy can learn, only actual official sending message so far is Sforza of Italy. If Presidents, Foreign Ministers several other larger American Republics send messages, this Embassy sees no objection Secretary Marshall doing so, but suggests it be sent direct from Washington to publisher La Prensa. We understand this Embassy has discussed Prensa question with Perón informally on previous occasions expressing concern public opinion in US over freedom of press and fair treatment for La Prensa. We still believe Perón would interpret message from Secretary as indirect way of interfering in Argentine affairs and La Prensa might suffer from his resentment. Perón would realize messages have been solicited and interpret them as means bringing pressure on him.
This Embassy will take no action unless further instructions but if Department can ascertain that other Foreign Ministers or Presidents of American countries are sending messages, it sees no objection direct message from Secretary or Assistant Secretary Armour who has served here as Ambassador, knows publisher of Prensa and from whom message would seem natural.49
- Sir Reginald Leeper.↩
- In response to an inquiry from the Department Ambassador Beaulac in telegram 695, October 14, 6 p.m., from Bogotá, stated that the Colombian Foreign Office had no knowledge about a request for a statement concerning La Prensa anniversary (835.911/10–1447). A similar response was received from Ambassador Thurston in telegram 1114, October 15, noon, from Mexico (835.911/10–1547).↩