219. Editorial Note
On August 18, during a discussion with Acting Secretary Dillon and General Goodpaster, the President raised the subject of the recent letter from President Frondizi. The memorandum of the conversation prepared on August 19 reads as follows:
“The President next commented on the letter he had received from Frondizi. He noted that the letter is rather emotional in tone. It makes clear that Frondizi sees his own problem clearly but does not appreciate the difficulties that we undergo regarding our aid programs and the trade restrictions we must maintain against other countries. In the discussion the President asked Mr. Dillon to provide the Argentines with the scientific evidence regarding the unsatisfactory sanitary status of the cooked meat they wished to export to the United States.
“Mr. Dillon commented that the Argentines have not in fact submitted the specific projects and proposals backing up the general statements of needs in Frondizi’s letter. The President thought that Frondizi should be advised that we are somewhat astonished that the situation appears as bad to him as he indicated adding that we will study his letter point by point.
“Mr. Dillon said that the economic situation in Argentina is rather tight just at the moment. The anti-inflation measures that Frondizi has put into effect are just taking hold. Inflation has practically been eliminated, but this means that the toughest problems of adjustment are now being experienced. The President asked if there is anything that we have promised to the Argentines that we could move to them fast. Mr. Dillon thought there is some possibility of speeding up the furnishing of matériel for a steel mill, which is being provided by the EXIM Bank.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries)