810.20 Defense/6–1440
The Ambassador in Argentina (Armour) to the Secretary of
State40
No. 784
Buenos Aires, June 14,
1940.
Sir: I have the honor, with reference
to the Department’s telegram no. 82 of May 30, 3 p.m. and the
Embassy’s despatch no. 774 of June 11, 1940, to enclose for the
Department’s information a memorandum prepared by Captain
William O. Spears, U. S. N., regarding his call on Admiral Leon
Scasso, Minister of Marine, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday June 12,
accompanied by the Naval Attaché, Captain William Brereton, U.
S. N.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by Captain W. O. Spears,
U.S.N., for the Ambassador in Argentina (Armour)
Buenos Aires, June 13,
1940.
- 1.
- The following is the substance of the interview which
I had with the Minister of Marine at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, in company with the Naval Attaché,
Captain Brereton.
- 2.
- The atmosphere of the reception was neither cordial
nor chilly. After the usual preliminaries of my thanking
him for his having sent his aide to meet me at the
airport and the discussion of the weather, I asked the
Minister if he was aware of what my mission here was. He
replied he knew in a general way but would like to hear
from me personally what it was.
- 3.
- I explained that I was a member of the War Plans
Division of the Navy Department and that we had gone as
far as we could in making defense plans for this
hemisphere without further consultation with South
American countries; that we were particularly interested
[Page 29] in Argentina
on account of the Argentine Navy’s being the most
powerful one in this hemisphere outside the United
States; and in order to complete our plans it was
necessary to know what we could expect as regards what
the Argentine Navy could do for the protection of
Argentina, as well as what cooperation it could be
expected to render in the defense of other South
American countries.
- 4.
- The Minister of Marine then interrupted me to ask
whether I represented the Government of the United
States or merely the Navy Department. I naturally
replied that I represented the Navy Department.
- 5.
- From then on he proceeded to give his ideas of the
situation. He stated that neither he nor any of the
officers of the Navy could make any commitments as to
future cooperation of the Navy, as this was a matter of
foreign policy. He added that Argentina had nothing to
fear from any other country now nor could he imagine any
danger of an invasion any time in the future, and
therefore he thought the question of making joint plans
was too remote to be considered.
- 6.
- I asked the Minister directly if the Argentine Navy
would cooperate, if requested, in the case of Uruguay or
Brazil’s being attacked by foreign powers. He replied
that in his opinion each country should take care of its
own defense.
- 7.
- I then asked the Minister if he thought that the
Declaration of Lima41 or the discussions of the Argentine
delegates to this convention had any bearing on the
commitments to talk over hemispherical defense. He
replied that his interpretation was that this
Declaration offered a vehicle which could be invoked in
time of danger for ministers of state to initiate talks
for the purpose of making a common defense.
- 8.
- I then inquired if he did not think it would be
advantageous to make all plans in advance and try to
anticipate all possible dangers. He reverted to his
former arguments that this country was not in any danger
and that he could not imagine any danger from outside
aggression in the immediate or distant future.
- 9.
- I told him that while we considered the United States
Fleet powerful enough to protect the Western Hemisphere
against foreign aggression, it would be a great
assistance in case we could be assured of help in this
part of the world, in the use of bases and air ports. He
then again fell back on the idea that he could not make
any commitments in this respect as that was a function
of the Foreign Office.
- 10.
- Also, I told the Minister that having conversations
with a view of making plans was not a violation of
foreign policy and that in my [Page 30] opinion there was a misunderstanding
about the matter. I told him further that the Navy
Department in Washington considered that all matters of
policy had been arranged for having these talks before I
arrived here. I finished by stating I would take the
matter up with the American Ambassador.
