Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, American Republics, Volume V

206. Memorandum of a Conversation, Argentine Foreign Office, Buenos Aires, February 27, 1960, 11 a.m.¹

US/MC/29

Buenos Aires, February 27, 1960, 11 a.m.

SUBJECT

• Consultation; Sixes and Sevens²

PARTICIPANTS

• U.S.
  • Secretary Herter
  • Mr. Rubottom
  • Mr. Bernbaum, Minister Counselor of Embassy
  • Mr. Nugent, Counselor of Embassy
• Argentina
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs Taboada
  • Dr. D’Hers, Under Sec. for Foreign Affairs
  • Mr. Ruda, Minister Counselor of Foreign Office

Consultation

Minister Taboada: We realize that the United States has many problems in its task of defending the free world. Nevertheless, it is desirable to emphasize the value of consultation from time to time, particularly in matters that can directly or indirectly affect Latin American interests. Before he undertook his visit to Europe and the Middle East, President Eisenhower sent to Argentina a list of the major issues that would come under consideration. This was highly appreciated. The Argentine Government would like to have further opportunities to express opinions on matters of interest to it. Whenever there is important information at hand, Ambassador Beaulac or Mr. Bernbaum are able to see top officials in the Foreign Office on very short notice. All this has promoted better understanding.

Secretary Herter: The United States fully realizes the value of consultation, and President Eisenhower has emphasized the need for fullest collaboration in this regard. Sometimes events move so swiftly that we fall behind in our ability to keep our friends fully informed and to benefit from their opinions. We do our best, however, to maintain as complete a consultative procedure as possible with friendly countries like Argentina.

Secretary Herter: This question of consultation leads right into the matter of U.S. policy toward the Six and Seven Groups in Europe. When President Eisenhower was in Paris this year, the differences between the two groups were acute. A break-up of NATO was actually feared. Consequently, Under Secretary Dillon undertook discussions with the interested parties. A communiqué was later issued announcing informal future talks on trade and economic matters. (This communiqué was difficult to draft and few experts were entirely happy with it, because so many countries were excluded from its purview.)³ The United States took some initiative in this matter because it foresaw the possibility of trade combinations in Europe that could result in discriminations prejudicial to other countries. Steps taken since the issuance of the communiqué have been helpful in discouraging such tendencies and in insuring that policies being developed are in conformity with GATT.

Minister Taboada: Argentina has been concerned lest its absence from these developments lead to its being ignored and to its being unable to present opinions in defense of its best interests. Its commerce with Europe and the United States is large enough to justify this concern, especially if there is any possibility that Canada and the United States may enter the groupings. A memorandum on this point will be presented in Bariloche.

Secretary Herter: The United States does not intend to associate itself with any grouping or organization of this nature which binds the governments comprising it to do certain things. We want only to encourage the ability to discuss and consult and thereby prevent undesirable trends from becoming established.

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 559, CF 1596. Confidential. Drafted by Nugent. Memoranda of other subjects discussed during the conversation were prepared separately and are printed as Documents 207 and 208.
2. Reference is to the European Common Market and the European Free Trade Association.
3. Dillon arrived in Paris on January 10 to represent the United States at a meeting of the Special Economic Committee, a meeting of the 20 governments which were members or associates of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation. The communiqué is presumably the “Resolution on Study of O.E.E.C. Reorganization.” For text of the resolution, see Department of State Bulletin, February 1, 1960, pp. 146–147.