225. Editorial Note
On October 13, at the 463d meeting of the National Security Council, Allen Dulles in his review of significant world developments affecting U.S. security, raised the question of Argentina. The memorandum of discussion reads as follows:
“Mr. Dulles then turned to Argentina which, he said, was experiencing another of its crises. The army was worried by President Frondizi’s attempt to woo the Peronistas. It had issued an ultimatum to Frondizi. It looked, however, as though Frondizi had managed to out-maneuver the army. There was evidence that some kind of compromise had been worked out between Frondizi and the army. On the whole we think that Frondizi is doing a good job and also that he is probably right in attempting to woo the Peronistas away from Peron. He was pursuing liberal economic policies although not in the ‘giveaway’ sense. He was more liberal on oil investment policy than the army would like. We will not know the outcome of the crisis for some hours yet.
“Mr. Dillon observed that Frondizi was very courageous. He noted that Frondizi had made a broadcast in which he had stated that if there was a coup, the military would be at fault. This broadcast had been made at the same time that Frondizi was seeing the leader of the military opposition and it apparently had a good deal to do with the weakening of the military opposition. The President agreed that Frondizi had shown a lot of courage.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)