710 Consultation 3(A)/12–3044: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:36 p.m.]
1984. Your confidential circular December 23, 9 p.m.74 Manifestly impossible here where newspapermen are very intelligent to get material in press without everyone knowing the source, and with a few exceptions very difficult for us to approach papers with material since the press very chary about Argentina. Why could not this material have been given the two American press associations at [Page 26] Montevideo for distribution in South America? Anything cabled by established agencies is used by press here. In my opinion we are losing public opinion in South America on Argentine issue because:
Argentine Government Perón, Farrell, Peluffo constantly call in press associations and give out their propaganda statements that thus find their way into all South American papers. This is almost a daily performance. These press associations carry scarcely any counter propaganda from Washington. Thus in the press our position and the very facts are submerged by the persistent propaganda of Argentina and the effect is apparent.
That which is making an impression is the Argentine propaganda that the exclusion of Argentina destroys “continental solidarity” and this is pressed so continuously that average man is impressed. A vigorous editorial in a leading American paper pointing out with proper sarcasm that the lack of continental solidarity must be charged to the one nation off the reservation and not to the 20 that are together, ending with the story of “everyone out of step but Mike” and given to the press associations for South America would have some effect.
Have discussed distribution of material with Coordination Committee75 which agrees that it is impossible for it to distribute without source being positively known. If with this knowledge the instructions stand without modification let us know and we will make the attempt.
- Not printed. The circular indicated the release of the Annual Report of the Emergency Advisory Committee for Political Defense in Montevideo, and commented on the value of Chapter I (The Aims and Strategy of the Axis) in supporting the Department’s position regarding the Argentine regime. The diplomatic missions were instructed to arrange for the publication of the material in Chapter I without identifying the U.S. Government with the source of publicity. (710 Consultations 3A/12–2244)↩
- Local committee representing the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs.↩