733.35/12–1847
The Director of the Office of American Republic Affairs (Daniels) to the Ambassador in Uruguay (Briggs)
Dear Ellis: I have just received your secret letter of December 18 enclosing a copy of your secret Despatch No. 2083 of December 1813 on the subject of your recent conversation with President Batlle Berres. I have read the attached memorandum of conversation14 with great interest, and, in response to your inquiry as to what you should tell the President, suggest for your consideration the following informal comments:
1) Uruguayan-Argentine relations
It is quite natural that Uruguay does not wish to be subjected to undue Argentine pressure. It seems clear that the present Argentine Government is seeking energetically to extend its economic and political influence in southern South America, as many previous Argentine Governments have attempted to do. It does not necessarily follow that the United States should put itself in the position of seeking to [Page 1049] block Argentine efforts to strengthen political and economic ties with its neighboring and nearby countries. Naturally, Uruguay can “continue to count on the United States” in any normal and fair interpretation of this phrase, and in view of the mutual confidence, traditional friendship and absence of major controversies between Uruguay and the United States, it would seem reasonable to anticipate a continuation and strengthening of friendly cooperation between the two countries during the years to come. As you have pointed out, our concept of the Inter-American System is one of a friendly association of independent and sovereign republics, all enjoying political and juridical equality. The creation of blocs within the Inter-American System, and the domination of some countries by others would, of course, be inconsistent with this concept.
It is not quite clear to me what steps, if any, President Batlle Berres thinks the United States might take with a view to cooperating with Uruguay in the latter country’s desire “to have close and friendly relations with her southern neighbor, but on the basis of complete Uruguayan independence”. If the President should make some specific suggestions along this line, we would be most interested in having them (at his initiative).
I am seriously disturbed at the President’s statement that he has concluded that some form of compulsory military training must shortly be established in Uruguay. That puts Uruguay into the same category as the Dominican Republic, which is considering similar measures. Obviously Uruguay cannot hope to compete in military strength with either Argentina or Brazil, and speaking personally, I should think the wiser policy might be to hold down their military expenditures rather than increase them. It seems that you are quite correct in pointing out the relevance of the Rio treaty.15 It has been my hope; perhaps overoptimistic, that one result of that treaty might be to relieve individual American republics of the fear of aggression from their neighbors, and permit an orderly transition from competitive armaments and their heavy economic burden to the concept of hemispheric defense on an efficient and more economical basis. In fact, I should say there would probably be less chance of Argentina (or Brazil) attacking an unarmed Uruguay than one attempting to arm itself.
With reference to General Crittenberger’s visit to Argentina, in so far as I am informed, he made no commitments to Argentina on the occasion of his visit. At the same time, it must be realized that Argentina is included in the hemispheric defense scheme; is a relatively large and wealthy country; and will undoubtedly wish to standardize and modernize its military establishment. This will undoubtedly mean [Page 1050] forthcoming requests from Argentina for military equipment from the United States. As things now stand, these probable requests will be given consideration on the same basis as requests from other American Republics. I do not see why this should necessarily give Uruguay any just cause for concern.
. . . . . . .
Sincerely yours,