852.00/2672: Telegram
The Chargé in Argentina (Cox) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:25 p.m.]
164. Department’s circular August 17, 5 p.m. In an interview this afternoon the Minister for Foreign Affairs referred to the Spanish situation as civil war towards which Argentina is now placed in an attitude of absolute aloofness under the law. He queried whether in the mediation suggested by the Uruguayan Minister for Foreign Affairs, the act of communicating with the rebels might not be tantamount to recognizing them as belligerents. He expressed doubt as to the timeliness of the Uruguayan proposal. He also referred to the possibility in such a démarche of seeming to [give in?] to either Communism or Fascism both of which in his opinion were undesirable. Saavedra Lamas continued that in a civil war a division between the contending parties must be sufficiently equal to warrant the recognition of a state of belligerency and that, under the law, only in such a case was mediation fitting. He told me that he intended to reply to the Uruguayan Foreign Minister expressing appreciation for the latter’s suggestion and stating that Argentina would join with the other American nations in an appeal in the name of humanity for the cessation of hostilities. The Foreign Minister terminated by asserting that the Argentine Government would be glad to join in such an appeal but that it would not mediate.