733.35/48
The Ambassador in Argentina (Bliss) to the Secretary of State
No. 1733
Buenos Aires, July 28,
1932.
[Received August 8.]
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 173010 transmitting newspaper
statement attributed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and a copy of
the note I sent to Dr. Saavedra
Lamas in reference to it, I have the honor to enclose a
copy with translation) of his reply,10 to which reference was made in my telegram No. 65 of
July 23, 12 noon.10
There is also enclosed a copy of a letter I addressed to the Minister to
acknowledge his said answer and in which I expressed the instructions
contained in the Department’s confidential cablegram No. 46 of July 22,
4 p.m. With this exchange of communications I consider as closed the
matter of the offer of the good offices of the United States, at least
for the time being.
I am not informed as to what progress has been made in the direct
negotiations between the two countries, looking to a renewal of
diplomatic relations. I think that Argentina is seizing this occasion to
endeavor to find a means to induce Uruguay to take measures, which it
apparently has failed to do in the past, to keep strict control over
Argentine political refugees and to curtail the activity of the
Communist distributing center in Uruguay. An intimation to this effect
might be deduced from a newspaper report given out by an Argentine
official that from Montevideo an active distribution of Communist
propaganda to Argentina and other South American countries was carried
on. In yesterday’s El Diario of Montevideo it was
stated that this report was being given attention by the Uruguayan
authorities and that President Terra was interested in the accusation and would
undoubtedly order an immediate investigation.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The American Ambassador (Bliss) to the
Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs (Saavedra Lamas)
Buenos Aires, July 25,
1932.
Dear Mr. Minister: In acknowledging the
receipt of your courteous letter of July 22,10 may I take the occasion to
recall that the offer of good offices in the controversy between
Argentina and Uruguay,
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which I had the honor to make to Your Excellency on behalf of my
Government, was, of course, predicated upon this action being
welcome to both the parties concerned. The action I have taken in
the matter was likewise based on the belief that such assistance as
I could give on behalf of my Government would be welcomed and
desired by the Argentine Government. My Government desires me,
therefore, to advise Your Excellency’s Government that it would have
been happy to be of assistance in settling the misunderstanding
between the two Governments, but as it now appears that its good
offices are not, at the present time at least, welcome to Your
Excellency’s Government, it desires that I should take no further
action in the matter unless subsequently requested to do so by Your
Excellency.
The American Legation in Montevideo has been informed in order that
the Government of Uruguay may know that the assistance of the United
States not being desired by one of the parties, the Government of
the United States has desisted for the time being from taking any
further steps in the matter.
Your Excellency, who is so thoroughly familiar with the diplomatic
history of my country, will realize that my Government is always
desirous of being of help at any time to the nations of this
hemisphere, but naturally it will only act at any given time if such
action is agreeable to all the parties at interest.
I do not wish to close this letter without referring to the mention
kindly made by Your Excellency to the flattering personal allusion
in La Razon interview, which I interpret as a
confirmation of the frank and cordial official dealings that have
spontaneously arisen from our friendly personal relations.
With renewed assurances [etc.]
