Office of the Historian

835.00/1556: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)

Washington, June 18, 1943—10 p.m.

889. Owing to the fact that the Argentine Government has stated its intention to implement with action a policy of close Inter-American collaboration, based upon the obligations it has assumed under Inter-American pacts in force, it is considered highly desirable to recapitulate some of the more important items on which the Argentine Government could take specific steps of a positive nature and which would offer convincing evidence of sincerity. Of course, the Embassy is already fully familiar with our views on the subjects in question, but it might be helpful for the Department to review the following list (which is not an exclusive one) and which might be of convenient use to the Embassy:

(1)
The breaking of relations with the Axis.
(2)
In addition to the step which has already been taken in denying the use of code for radio communications,2 fully to implement Resolution 40 of the Rio de Janeiro Meeting of Foreign Ministers3 by breaking all telecommunications connections with the Axis.
(3)
Vigorous and effective control of subversive activities.
(4)
Promulgate an efficient blockade control plan to stop leaks of strategic materials and funds to the Axis.
(5)
Effective control of clandestine radio stations within Argentina.
(6)
Effective control of press and radio propaganda within Argentina, including adequate treatment of newsprint4 to Axis organs.
(7)
The careful supervision of civil and commercial aviation, as provided for by Resolution 31 of the Rio Meeting.5
(8)
Effective foreign funds control (Dresdener Bank case, etc.).6
(9)
More effective Proclaimed List cooperation.
(10)
Severance of commercial and financial relations with the Axis, as called for by the Rio de Janeiro and Washington Resolutions.7
(11)
General shipping cooperation (including the three French ships).
(12)
Conclude on an equitable basis the oil negotiations now pending.8
(13)
Cooperation in such matters as exports of fat and oils and the use, northbound, of Dodero’s tankers.
(14)
Reducing sharply the 200,000 pesos per month now being made available to operate the Axis Embassies in Argentina (a separate airgram on this subject is being sent).

The Department submits this preliminary list to the Embassy for such use as the Ambassador may care to make of it, as indicating some of the more important matters in which our Government is particularly and vitally interested.

Hull
  1. For correspondence relating to United States efforts to control Argentine communications with the Axis, see pp. 512 ff.↩
  2. January 15–28, 1942; for text of Resolution XL, see Department of State Bulletin, February 7, 1942, p. 140.↩
  3. For correspondence on the newsprint problem, see pp. 403 ff.↩
  4. Department of State Bulletin, February 7, 1942, p. 137.↩
  5. For correspondence on measures to control financial transactions with the Axis, see pp. 466 ff.↩
  6. Recommendation V of the Third Meeting of the Foreign Ministers at Rio de Janeiro, Department of State Bulletin, February 7, 1942, p. 124; and Resolution I of the Inter-American Conference on Systems of Economic and Financial Control, held at Washington, June 30–July 10, 1942, summarized in Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. v, pp. 60–62.↩
  7. For negotiations on the petroleum questions, see pp. 379 ff.↩