835.10/8–950: Telegram

The Ambassador in Argentina (Griffis) to the Secretary of State

restricted   priority

111. For Miller and Tewksbury from Ambassador. Delay implementing Export Import credit is becoming painfully and cumulatively embarrassing here. Can Department take whatever action is necessary [Page 731] to immediately end suspense and advise us if there is anything doable here.

British and Argentine deadlock on meat prices resulting in discontinuance of shipments and complete jam refrigerator space with probable necessity packers discontinuance purchasing livestock threatens demoralization and probable terrific financial losses American packers here. Could the Department consider unofficial intervention British obvious that violent break England and Argentina this time extremely dangerous international solidarity.1

Griffis
  1. In telegram 103, August 15, 1950, the Department replied that on August 11 the British Embassy had been consulted. “Dept merely acquainted Brit your and Dept’s view seriousness matter, since undesirable intervene even unofficially at this time. However evident from conversation that Brit still maintain adamant position. Recognizing fluidity relationship meat problem to world events, problem will be kept active for reappraisal when and as desirable.” (835.10/8–950)