740.35112A/9–1244
The Chargé in Argentina (Reed) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to attach three tables48 listing construction contracts which the Argentine Government has awarded during recent months, and also in past years.
The attached figures were obtained from a reliable construction firm which was asked to review the construction situation with particular reference to the contracts awarded to German firms during recent months.
One of the reasons which led the Embassy to make the attached report was the impression obtained from our British colleagues here that previous information forwarded to the Department only went as far as May 1944, and that no recent information was available.
The figures supplied in the attached tables show that the Argentine Government has continued to aid German firms as late as July 1944. An analysis of Table No. I, which gives the figures of military construction contracts awarded since June 1944, shows that out of a total of 106,800,000 pesos awarded for barracks and air bases, German firms received 28,500,000 pesos of the contracts. Table No. II reviews the military construction contracts awarded during 1943, some of which are still unfinished, and shows that out of a total of 95,000,000 pesos worth of contracts, German firms received 39,000,000 pesos. Table No. III contains a list of contracts awarded to individual German [Page 287] construction firms and shows that a number of contracts were awarded to these firms as late as July 1944. Some of the earlier contracts listed in Table No. III have been included in previous reports forwarded to the Department.
The Embassy wishes to point out that while the information contained in the attached tables is believed reliable, it was obtained from a single non-official source and, therefore, although the Department may use the material as it sees fit in a confidential manner, it should not be considered as conclusive evidence.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor for Economic Affairs
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