Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

186. Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Argentina ¹

Washington , June 20, 1955—4:59 p.m.

877. For Nufer from Holland. Embassy merits congratulations report Embtels 769² and 777.³

Department knows Embassy presently directing its main attention to reporting and analyzing all aspects uprising of interest US. Department particularly hopes light can now be shed on heretofore mysterious influences which sparked Government’s feud with Church last November and which may still be working toward yet unexplained objectives possibly of considerable importance to US-Argentine relations.

Communists and other enemies of US will surely attempt exploit situation to prejudice recent constructive achievements Argentine-US relations, and appears desirable for Embassy prepare Government for period of possible bitter US press criticism. Also you may wish seek informal opportunities make Argentine officials aware that demonstrations religious tolerance, punishment looters and church incendiaries, announcement Government reconstruct churches, and further constructive progress in principal economic problems now under discussion US will all be helpful in countering severe reaction already felt among US press and public.⁴

Hoover

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 735.00/6–1955. Drafted by Dearborn and approved by Holland.
2. In telegram 769, June 18, the Embassy reported that an “uprising” against the rule of President Peron began suddenly on the afternoon of June 16. “In summary,” the telegram read in part, “consensus Embassy opinion is that issue last few months culminating in uprising was fundamentally religious. More accurately it was the same contest which has always existed during Peron regime involving essentially same people both sides. The difference is that contest was now focused on and sparked by a Catholic Church struggle [to] preserve its traditional position here and preserve its right [to] counsel its people on political and temporal matters which it believes affect their moral and spiritual lives.” It states further that “social and political ferment aroused by church state conflict and intensified by abortive rebellion and aftermath can be expected [to] continue with unpredictable consequences.” (Ibid., 735.00/6–1855)
3. In telegram 777, June 19, the Embassy reported further on the aftermath of the June 16 rebellion, pointing out that the situation in Buenos Aires was “normalizing.” (Ibid., 735.00/6–1955)
4. The Embassy in Buenos Aires continued its analysis of the revolt of June 16 in the following despatches to the Department: despatch 1167, June 22 (ibid., 735.00/6–2255); despatch 24, July 7 (ibid., 735.00/7–755); despatch 110, August 11 (ibid. 735.00/8–1155); and despatch 123, August 16 (ibid., 735.00/8–1655).