Messersmith, G.S., Buenos Aires. To Col. Charles H. Deerwester, Washington.
Date
1947-04-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Acknowledges Deerwester's letter of Mar. 17 with enclosure from Congressional Record; understands [William D.] Pawley, Ambassador to Brazil, now in Washington; he has good understanding of hemisphere problems and will express his views frankly; question of hemisphere defense becomes imperative, but any arrangement without Argentina would be incomplete and inadequate; incredible that there should be opposition to defense pact; can find no valid reason against it; Argentina has already complied with her inter-American commitments in matter of alien institutions and alien property and is well on way to compliance in matter of enemy aliens; U.S. must soon reach decision for Argentines are becoming frustrated as well as other American republics; nothing will be done until Secretary Marshall returns [from Russia], but is confident he will understand situation when he has examined facts; those opposed to composition of situation with Argentina will no doubt raise other questions; has been concerned recently over steps taken to annoy La Prensa, leading Buenos Aires newspaper; posters attacking paper put up by information service of Government and by Peronista Party, both ill advised; President, in impromptu speech before Labor group, said way to deal with opposition newspapers was not by violence, but by not buying them or advertising in them; no one understands better than he the importance of a free press, but his unfortunate statement and these posters give impression abroad that there is no free press in Argentina; AP dispatch on Mar. 16 with regard to action taken by News Vendors' Union against La Prensa cause U.S. papers to carry headlines that President Perón and Government were trying to destroy La Prensa; dispatch was entirely incorrect; read with interest what Deerwester said about [Alfred ?] Schindler; glad to know he was instructed to call at Embassy before he does anything; no reason Argentine should not have press service of its own, so much distortion of news from Argentina in U.S. press, but thinks the time inopportune for setting up press service because it would be misunderstood; was astounded recently to read of new group [Americans for Democratic Action] Mrs. [Franklin D.] Roosevelt, Leon Henderson, and [Wilson W.] Wyatt are organizing and their pronouncement of combating "Peronism and Communism"; calls to Deerwester's attention excellent article by Richard Pattee in Review of Politics, entitled "The Argentine Question, the War Stage"; article should have wider circulation.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.