711.35/6–3045: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Argentina (Braden)
802. Matter referred to in your 1387, 1388, 1389, June 30,15 has been fully discussed here. You are instructed to call on Colonel Perón and to state that this Government takes a very grave view of the implications in Colonel Perón’s statement that the lives of American citizens and representatives of reputable American newspapers are in danger and that they cannot be protected by the Argentine Government; that this Government expects the Argentine Government to give categorical assurances that they will take all requisite measures to guard the safety of the American correspondents in the same way in which the lives of Argentine citizens are protected in this country and that the nature of Colonel Perón’s statements and the grave view taken with respect to them are being brought to the attention of the Argentine Ambassador in Washington. You are also authorized to grant refuge to any American correspondent in anticipation of possible attack upon him. Messages of American correspondents should not be transmitted by the Embassy without prior discussion with the Department. Please keep the Department informed of the situation as regards interference by censorship or otherwise with the transmission of news dispatches by American correspondents in Argentina. You should consult closely with the British Ambassador.
[Page 514]We assume you advised the correspondents of the pertinent features of your interview with Colonel Perón in confidence and would appreciate your confirmation of this. We also advised New York offices of New York Times and Herald Tribune in confidence. You may inform their representatives.
For your information, in addition to presenting this matter to the Argentine Ambassador here, we expect to discuss it informally with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil and Mexico16 who are presently in Washington.