824.6354/2–2447: Telegram
The Ambassador in Bolivia (Flack) to the Secretary of State
161. Recent press editorials and expressions of private opinions are continuing to stress Bolivia’s great interest in question of tin price in current negotiations in Washington and to urge necessity of securing 76 cent prices.
Saturday evening Alberto Ostria Gutierrez, Bolivian Ambassador in Chile and former Bolivian Foreign Minister, now here on leave, came to my house at his request to express, he said, his personal views as a friend and democrat. He characterized Bolivia’s situation as very grave, mentioned a previous talk he had with Ambassador Bowers in Santiago on the same matter, and speaking personally said he wished to impress upon me the seriousness of the political and economic situation of Bolivia which without our aid would place Bolivia under Perón’s influence. He asserted that Argentina through recent agreement with Chile had begun to emerge as a Pacific power on the road to domination of the southern part of the hemisphere, and that Bolivia’s present democratic status is an obstacle to expansion of Argentine influence since that country is seeking every opportunity to enhance its influence in this part of the world.
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Remytel 686, July 22,7 in the early days of the regime pointing out that young Bolivian democracy would need much material help, I reiterate those statements on the basis of my subsequent experience and recommend Dept’s favorable consideration of the personal viewpoint expressed by Ambassador Ostria which in main reiterates others previously transmitted.