711.35/4–247: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Argentina
252. For the secret information of the Ambassador. The President requested Amb Ivanissevich39 to call at White House at 5:30 P.M. on Mar 31, at which time he was received by the President, Senators Vandenberg and Connally40 and the ActSecy of State.
Indicating that he had always been desirous of most friendly relations with Arg people and Govt and that he regarded it important that relations be on firm foundations, the President regretted that there had been difficulties between two countries which had taken some time to work out. Progress had been made in solving most of problems and there remained now only matter of deporting some 20 to 30 dangerous Nazi agents who remained in Arg. The President heard Amb Ivanissevich was returning to Arg for a month and wanted him to stress to President Perón the earnest desire that this action be taken promptly.
The Arg Amb then asserted that there were no Nazis in Arg and that it was calumny to say there were; the President must be referring to some Arg citizens whose cases were in the courts. President Truman immediately replied that this was not his information and that he was referring to German agents. Mr. Acheson then said that the Amb was perhaps uninformed of fact that there were German agents [Page 187] still undeported and that the President had reference to perhaps 20 or 30 of most important of these.
The President said that he had endeavored to make his position fully clear and he hoped that the Amb would in turn make it clear to President Perón. He was speaking for entire Amer Govt. Senators Connally and Vandenberg and ActSecy of State were present so that there would be no doubt on this score. Both Connally and Vandenberg stated they supported the President’s position.41
The President terminated interview and the two Senators and ActSecy of State accompanied the Amb to White House door. At this time the ActSecy again stressed fact that there were some 20 to 30 dangerous Nazi agents in Arg, that their presence was well known to Arg Govt, and that it was these people about whom the President had spoken so seriously.
It was made clear and understood by all present that interview was entirely off the record and was not to be mentioned except to President Perón.
The Dept wanted you to have this important information coincidentally with arrival in Buenos Aires of Amb Ivanissevich. If you are approached by the responsible Arg authorities in this matter, you should confirm this Govt’s position as outlined above.