File No. 763.72111/1271
The Chargé d’Affaires in Argentina (Lorillard) to the Secretary of state
Buenos Aires, November 24, 1914.
[Received December 28.]
No. 377]
Sir: Referring to previous correspondence respecting Argentine neutrality in the European war, I hazve the honor to inform the Department that a report has been received by the Foreign Office from the Argentine Minister to Belgium concerning the execution of the honorary Vice Consul of the Argentine Republic at Dinant, which fact was mentioned in my No. 356 of September 30.1 According to this report the testimony of the Belgian witnesses and the relatives of the deceased is highly conflicting and it is impossible to present a diplomatic claim to the German Government until its testimony is furnished to the Minister at Berlin. The latter has been instructed to hasten his report. From the Belgian testimony it appears that, although the consular shield was untouched, the Argentine flag was torn down by the German troops. La Nación, the Government organ, has published a long letter on this subject from its correspondent in Belgium, according to which the execution was entirely unwarranted and that no consideration whatever was extended to the consular capacity of the man. This subject continues to be used in the press to increase the anti-German feeling existing in Argentina, but no official action will be taken by the Government until the promised report from Berlin is received.
In the last paragraph of my No. 362 of October 24,2 I stated that the Federal Court of Buenos Aires had declined to grant naturalization to former subjects or citizens of the belligerent nations during the war. This decision has now been reversed by the Supreme Court which holds that such refusal would be contrary to the Constitution which grants naturalization after two years continued residence in the country irrespective of whether the person applying for naturalization is a native of a belligerent country.
[Page 704]With respect to neutrality provisions governing navigation, there is no change in the situation. Recently steamers in the coastwise trade, owned by a German company but flying the Argentine flag, have disappeared and they are believed to be conveying coal and provisions to the German warships and commerce destroyers now cruising in the South Atlantic. Ten private wireless telegraph plants have been located in different parts of the coast and shut down.
Sir Reginald Tower, the British Minister, has, so I am informed, been rather insistent in his representations to the Foreign Office respecting Argentine neutrality with the result that the relations between him and Dr. Murature are somewhat strained. It is clear that the Argentine Government is desirous of maintaining strict neutrality, but the control over minor and distantly located officials is so lax and corruption has been so cleverly employed by German agents, as well as by the members of the powerful German colony, that the instructions of the different ministries have not always been obeyed. The German naval attaché, who is of semi-Argentine descent and is thoroughly conversant with customs and methods here, has undoubtedly given great assistance, both officially and privately, toward supplying the German war vessels on the high seas and keeping them informed of the movements of the enemies’ war and merchant vessels.
I have [etc.]