Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

195. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State (Hoover) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, September 23, 1955.

This morning I called the President at the request of Mr. Holland and with the concurrence of Mr. Phleger,² regarding recognition of Argentina.

I explained to the President that we were now satisfied that the new government had de facto control of the country and that, assuming they agreed to the assumption and discharge of their international obligations, we believed that all of the prerequisites for recognition had been complied with.

The President asked me if the new government had given indication of its attitude on such matters as freedom of the press, and I told him of the nationwide broadcast made by the provisional President last night, in which he had made a firm pledge along such lines.

I explained further to the President that Uruguay had already recognized the new government and that we wished to be in a position of acting quickly so that there could be no adverse propaganda against us from hostile minorities in Argentina. I explained that we were wiring all of our Ambassadors in Latin America instructions of how to approach the respective Foreign Offices, and the method of advising them of our intentions. When we decided to effect recognition we would then call all the Ambassadors by telephone and instruct them to proceed along the lines of the cable. We anticipated that recognition would be effected sometime during the afternoon of September 24.

I explained further to the President that this was a matter which constitutionally required his action, and that I was verbally requesting permission to effect recognition, to be confirmed by the proper documents in due course.

He advised me to proceed along the lines I had outlined.³

H.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 735.00/9–2355. Secret.
2. Herman Phleger, Legal Adviser of the Department of State.
3. On September 25 the United States extended recognition to the new Argentine Government in a note delivered to the Acting Argentine Foreign Minister, Commodore Julio C. Krause, in Buenos Aires by Ambassador Nufer. Barnes summarized the recognition process in a memorandum to Colonel Andrew J. Goodpaster, Staff Assistant to the President, dated October 17: “Extension of recognition was in answer to a request from the new Argentine Government to recognize, and was based upon our belief that all of the prerequisites for recognition had been complied with, that is, we were satisfied that the new Government had de facto control of the country and was willing and able to meet its international obligations and commitments.” (Eisenhower Library, White House Central Files)