207. Memorandum of a Conversation, Rio de Janeiro, February 2, 19561
SUBJECT
- Argentine Economic Mission; United Nations Mission to Argentina
PARTICIPANTS
- Dr. Luis A. Podestá Costa, Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Sr. Ernesto A. Nogués, Argentine Chief of Protocol
- Sr. Guillermo Mackintosh Derqui, Argentine Counselor of Protocol
- Mr. Henry F. Holland, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs
- Mr. Maurice M. Bernbaum, Director of South American Affairs
Mr. Holland stated that he and others in the Department had been awaiting word regarding the plans of the Argentine Government to send an economic mission. He described the various communications between the Department and the Embassy regarding whether the Argentine Government should send an advance group of technicians to Washington to consult informally on the proposals to be made later by the economic mission, or whether the United States Government should, as requested by Mr. Prebisch, send a group of technicians to Buenos Aires to assist in the preparatory studies being made by the Argentine Government. He stated that the final decision was for the Argentine Government to submit its figures to the Embassy for transmittal to and comment in Washington. Not having heard any more of the matter, he was inquiring as to the intentions of the Argentine Government and also wanted it understood that our interest in the mission had not diminished.
The Foreign Minister stated that he was not up to date on the matter and that he would consult with Mr. Prebisch upon his return to Buenos Aires. He expressed his appreciation for Mr. Holland’s expression of continued interest in the Argentine economic mission and stated that the Argentine Government was most definitely interested in the matter.
Mr. Holland then referred to unofficial reports to the effect that the Argentine Government was soon to receive a United Nations economic mission to advise on Argentine economic problems. He stated that he was referring to this mission owing to the close relationship which it would necessarily have with the economic program eventually adopted by the Argentine Government and with the economic mission to be sent by Argentina to Washington. He [Page 405] stated that there were a great many European economists of note available to the United Nations who did not share United States views on the importance of private enterprise and who were inclined to emphasize Government participation in business. Mr. Holland added that although the economic advice to be received by the Argentine Government and the economic philosophy which it would adopt were naturally matters to be decided by Argentina itself, he did think it important that the Argentine Government should be aware of the obstacles which might be placed in the way of successful negotiations with the United States if the Argentine presentation were based on such philosophy. He therefore ventured to suggest the desirability of including in the United Nations delegation a number of United States economists who could be counted on to represent United States economic thinking.
The Foreign Minister expressed agreement with Mr. Holland’s viewpoint and stated that he would bring it to Mr. Prebisch’s attention in Buenos Aires.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 835.00/2–256. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Bernbaum on February 9. These U.S. and Argentine officials were in Brazil for the inauguration of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek on February 2.↩