Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, White House memoranda
Memorandum by the President to the Secretary of State 1
In view of the conciliatory gestures that Peron seems to be making from time to time, I wonder if it would not be well for us to decide between ourselves (and to inform our Ambassador in Argentina) as to exactly what conditions would justify a real rapprochement between the two governments.
Even if you and I should become convinced that the man has really reformed and is conscientious in building up a real friendship with our country, we could not possibly, under present conditions, make a great deal of progress in that direction. Our people would necessarily have to be convinced of his honesty of intention.
It seems to me that there are several things that would have to be accomplished before we could really treat him officially as we would any other head of a friendly government. I think the newspapers that he took over in the Argentine would have to be restored to their rightful owners and allowed free operation. I think that unnecessary restrictions on the travel of our citizens in Argentina would have to be lifted. Another thing is that he would have to convince other countries [Page 450] in South America that he is operating on a friendly and honest basis. There may be other things of this same character that would have to be done.
In any event, I think this is a subject that you and I should have a talk about one of these days.
- A handwritten marginal notation on the source text, initialed by Mr. O’Connor, indicates that the Secretary saw this memorandum.↩