Box 16

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Knew Schmidt well during three years spent serving as Minister to Austria; liked and respected him, and regarded him as patriotic Austrian opposed to National Socialism; early in 1937 began to get information from reliable sources that Schmidt had come under influence of German Minister, Franz von Papen, whose known purpose in Austria was to undermine Austrian Government; Schmidt's own activities and changed attitude reinforce this information.

Scope and Contents Suggests cancellation of Lend-Lease obligations; American Republics received only small part of total Lend-Lease appropriations, yet they are being dunned for payments while other countries are not expected to pay; most of the Latin American countries got impression from President Roosevelt and former Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles that no repayments would be expected in spite of written agreement; if U.S. is to keep good will of other American countries, they must be treated...

Scope and Contents Reports conversation with [Juan Domingo] Perón shortly after arrival in Buenos Aires; did not touch on specific problems, but exchanged wishes for better relations between U.S. and Argentina; atmosphere cordial; Perón mentioned social program for Argentina - health, housing, and social insurance; advised him to study such programs carefully before undertaking; Perón said Argentina had considerable surplus of grain in interior but needed trucks to move it to railheads; grain appears to be...

Scope and Contents Arrived May 22 and presented credentials to President [Edelmiro] Farrell on May 23; U.S. objective in Argentina twofold; must persuade her to turn eyes away from Europe and direct them to Western hemisphere; should seek wholehearted collaboration of Argentine people and Government in political, economic, social, and defense fields; three fields in which Argentina has not met her inter-American commitments; a measure of compliance made in field of enemy property; Government hampered by court...

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Copy enclosed with Nos. 1784 & 1789. Reports closing of schools operated by Germans or Japanese by Government decree; encloses list of 53 schools.

Scope and Contents Enclosed with No. 1784. Has spent weeks since arrival studying Argentine problems; now sufficiently familiar with them, and had long conversation with Bramuglia to discuss specifics; was assured by Bramuglia of Argentina's desire to reenter the family of American nations and to comply fully with her inter-American commitments; he mentioned difficulties - Argentina's late entrance into war, and fact that courts were holding up action on enemy aliens and alien property; under Argentine...

Scope and Contents Enclosures: See Nos. 1782 & 1783. Transmitting memorandum of conversation with Foreign Minister [Juan Atilia] Bramuglia on aspects of Argentine compliance with inter-American commitments; nature of subject difficult, but discussion conducted amicably; a mistake to assume Argentina desirous of composing situation only to get military material from U.S.; has made it clear to both President and Foreign Minister that U.S. wants no defense pact unless based on good faith of all parties...

Scope and Contents Enclosed with No. 1786. Asked for appointment with Perón and was invited to dinner; had 1 1/2 hour conversation before dinner; brought up matter of Argentine compliance with inter-American commitments, and ratification by Argentine Congress of Acts of Mexico City and San Francisco; Perón said he would submit them to Congress when it convenes on June 26, and was sure of ratification; he said Argentina was proceeding as fast as possible in matter of enemy property, energy aliens, and enemy...

Scope and Contents Enclosure: See No. 1785. No. 230 to Secretary of State [James F. Byrnes], Washington. Transmitting memorandum of conversation with President [Juan Perón]; Perón gave assurance he was determined to find way to settle questions of enemy property, enemy aliens, and enemy institutions in spite of statutory and court difficulties; called on Foreign Minister, [Juan Atilia Bramuglia] this morning to present note informing him of release of Argentine gold held in U.S.; Minister expressed...

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Price of liberty is eternal vigilance and willingness to make sacrifices for the common good; conservation of way of life and happiness lies in full collaboration of all peace loving nations; is privileged to represent U.S. in the Argentine and is confident ties of friendship between the two countries will be strengthened.

Scope and Contents Agrees with Messersmith that long-term objective is to get Argentina to turn eyes away from Europe toward the Americas and to obtain Argentina's good faith cooperation in inter-American system; Argentina must overcome narrow nationalistic approach to world and hemisphere problems; election of Perón does not solve problem; his attitude as defined by public statements gives little comfort; doubts urgency or wisdom of defense pact; Argentina has had year and a half since Mexico City to start...

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Enclosure: See No. 1782. Comments on performance of Argentine Government in matter of German and Japanese schools and institutions; believes Argentine compliance in closing schools adequate; encloses translation of note from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and list of schools closed.

Scope and Contents Has been confined to residence with stomach ailment, but now much improved; Foreign Minister [Juan Atilia Bramuglia] called at residence bringing papers covering studies Ministry has made in matter of enemy property, enemy subjects, and enemy institutions and a list of firms against which Government will take immediate action by Nationalization, sale to Argentine interests, or liquidation; list includes most of firms in which U.S. and British governments have evinced interest; notable...

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2 copies. G.S. Messersmith is described as friend of Perón and friend of Argentina as opposed to Spruille Braden; "Good Neighbor Policy" in effect again due to Messersmith's diplomacy.

Scope and Contents Thanks Flack for copy of telegram to Department regarding Bolivian revolution; there will be repercussions in Argentina as in other Latin American countries; telegram indicates a revolution of the masses against arbitrary and dictatorial government, and as such may be healthy thing; hopes it will lead to democratic and popular government in Bolivia; fact that Army and police abstained from supporting arbitrary government significant; Flack stated in telegram that if Perón is sincere in his...

Scope and Contents Was ill with stomach ailment most of July, but much improved now; was able even while confined to keep in touch with major aspects of mission; is convinced President and Cabinet have made major decisions: (1) Acts of Mexico City and San Francisco must be ratified by Congress, (2) matter of enemy property and enemy aliens must be settled so as to achieve adequate compliance with inter-American commitments; Argentina has already complied adequately in matter of enemy institutions; if planned...

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Memorandum of conversation in Washington with Carl B. Spaeth about June 24. Spaeth asked Burrows to deliver message to Messersmith; suggested Messersmith change his line with press unless he wants to become known as an "appeaser"; Spaeth described happy relations [Spruille ] Braden has with press, but that Messersmith is in position to force resignation of Braden from State Department.

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Messersmith's top secret despatches being considered; views of Department will be forwarded air mail; President [Truman] has shown personal interest in Argentine problem and Department will not want to make commitments concerning measure of performance regarded as satisfactory without consultation with President.

Scope and Contents 2 copies. Is in full agreement that Department should not make any commitment as to measure of performance by Argentina U.S. Government would consider satisfactory without first consulting President [Truman] and Secretary [James F. Byrnes]; has kept Department fully informed as to recommendations made; ratification of Acts of Mexico City and San Francisco by Argentine Congress almost certain during next week and will open way for taking action against enemy aliens and enemy property; U.S....

Scope and Contents Gratified to have Messersmith's opinion that Argentine government will comply with its agreement to repatriate enemy aliens and take over enemy property; today's press announces Argentine Senate ratification of Mexico City agreements; cannot expect perfect performance, but while measure of performance in other American republics is pertinent, worst Nazis in Argentina had no counterparts in other American countries; agrees with Messersmith U.S. should not attempt to blueprint precise point of...

Scope and Contents Reports rumors of rifts in Argentine government; [Philomeno] Velasco, Chief of Police reportedly called on Perón and threatened to withdraw his support unless certain incompetent members of the government were removed, mentioning specifically [Rolando] Lagomarsino, Minister of Commerce, and [Angel Gabriel] Borlenghi, Minister of Interior; in conversation with Perón, Perón has admitted that some members of his Cabinet are incompetent and should be changed, but he hesitates to make changes so...

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Enclosed with No. 1803. Foreign Minister [Juan Atilia] Bramuglia interviewed by Frank Kluckhohn of New York Times on occasion of approval of United Nations Charter and Act of Chapultepec by Argentine Congress; Bramuglia assured Kluckhohn Argentina had fulfilled most of her inter-American agreements and was making progress with the rest; he emphasized Argentina's desire to collaborate fully in inter-American affairs and to live amicably with all nations.

Scope and Contents Reports on British-Argentine trade negotiations; Sir Wilfred Eady heads British mission to discuss sterling balances, meat prices, and sale of Argentine railways; British committed not to make new long-term trade agreements yet, but wishes to extend existing agreement; [Miguel] Miranda, President of Central Bank, conducted negotiations for Argentina; Miranda contended until matter of sterling balances was settled they could not discuss meat prices or railways; British mission felt the three...

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Enclosed with No. 1803. Foreign Minister declared that enemy property would be liquidated and that Argentine Government is anxious to have every vestige of Nazism disappear from the country; he emphasized continental solidarity.

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Entertained Foreign Minister [Juan Atilia] Bramuglia and British Ambassador [Sir Reginald Leeper] at dinner; Bramuglia informed Leeper of Messersmith's talk with Perón regarding trade negotiations with British and said it had been very helpful; negotiations have been resumed with more hopefulness as to outcome.