835.24/10–1044
The Foreign Economic Administrator (Crowley) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: This is in reference to Mr. Acheson’s letter of September 9, 1944,94 outlining further restrictions of exports to Argentina.
This Administration has carefully followed your statements with respect to Argentina. My associates and I fully support the position you have taken. Out of our experience in executing this policy, and out of my deep sympathy with your purpose and my earnest desire to uphold you to the limit of my authority and to cooperate with you in the attainment of your objective, I wish to make some observations for your consideration.
Already Mexico, Brazil and Chile are extensively replacing many commodities which we are denying Argentina; Canada is supplying calcium carbide and South Africa, coal. I can well imagine that the Government of Argentina sustains itself further with the hope that an early end of the European war will bring her an expanded flow of goods from Europe, particularly from Sweden, Switzerland and Spain.
I am sure you are giving serious consideration to the implications of this lack of cooperation by friends and neutrals alike. I can bring it to the attention of those officers of this Administration who are engaged in the study of the problem, but we naturally and properly look to you for leadership in invoking such additional controls as will complement our own export restrictions. I should like to discuss this further with you at your convenience.
Sincerely yours,