835.01/552a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
4956. Please arrange to see Foreign Minister at earliest opportunity and acquaint him fully with our position on Argentina and the reasons therefor, as stated in our no. 4929, June 22, 11 p.m. quoting circular telegram to other American Republics.36 We earnestly hope that the British Government will likewise instruct its Ambassador in Buenos Aires to return to London for consultation at once, in order that there may be no appearance of division between our two countries which would be fully exploited by Argentine regime and Axis [Page 322] propaganda. We are convinced that there is no point in further delaying this step, and that on the contrary it is imperative that it be taken at once to forestall obvious efforts to persuade or coerce other countries one by one to extend recognition, regardless of fact that no effective action has been taken by Farrell regime during past 4 months to implement break with Axis.
I have today informed Lord Halifax of our action and the reasons therefor and he has undertaken to cable London immediately.
Announcement that Ambassador Armour has been recalled for consultation will be made within 2 days, after allowing time for other American Governments to be fully informed of our position as set forth in circular mentioned. It would be most helpful and greatly appreciated by me personally if a similar announcement were made by the Foreign Office at the same time.