197. Telegram From the Embassy in Argentina to the Department of State1
205. President told me last night Peron continues to send letters, recordings and other messages to Argentina and that Peronist unions under his instructions will join with Communists in fomenting coordinated strikes during coming months which will undoubtedly create serious political and social problem in country. He says his government has made informal representations in Buenos Aires and Ciudad Trujillo without results. He does not plan to bring matter up before Foreign Ministers meeting (I agreed this probably good decision), but Argentine Foreign Minister will discuss problem with Dominican Foreign Minister at that meeting. Argentine Government will continue its representations and will go as far as breaking relations if no relief obtainable.
Frondizi believes Trujillo convinced Peron may return to Argentina and for that reason is permitting Peron carry on this systematic political activity aimed at subverting Argentine Government.
Frondizi added that government is considering means of barring Communist Party from participating in elections (having in mind particularly danger Peronist vote may be thrown to Communists as it doubtless was in part during municipal elections in Santa Fe Province). He said executive could not do this and he did not believe legislature would do it, but he believes it could be accomplished through judiciary action within period of some three months.
I told President I would inform Department concerning Peron matter and transmit to him any observations that Department might make. I reminded him that our relations with Trujillo were not good.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 735.00/8–559. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Ciudad Trujillo.↩