Messersmith, G.S.
Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Made trip with wife to Argentina in January 1951; purpose of trip three-fold; badly needed rest which long sea voyage would afford; Cade, the largest electrical company in Argentina, was having financial difficulties; as Cade, along with Mexlight, was subsidiary of Sodec, Messersmith was asked to investigate; Edward Miller, then Assistant Secretary of State for Latin-American Affairs also suggested desirability of Messersmith's going to Argentina to talk with Perón before meeting of American States scheduled for February, as the Department was afraid there would be difficulties with Argentina; Messersmith agreed to undertake mission but said there should be no publicity; ostensibly he was going on a pleasure trip; talks with Perón constructive; he agreed to every point in program for meeting; not so successful in work for Cade; rates for power fixed by Government; fuel for power plants must be imported and freight rates increasing; wages also increased; Cade supplied most of power for greater Buenos Aires area, but lacked capital to expand its plants, and with constantly increasing demands, a power shortage was eminent; Perón agreed something should be done to relieve pressure on Cade; he realized mistakes he had made were endangering whole economy of the country, but as they involved issues on which he had based his campaign, he found it difficult to change policies; he was also, with few exceptions, misinformed and badly advised by his Cabinet; he was not the dictator he was commonly supposed to be; he was frequently influenced to follow a course which he knew to be unwise; a very intelligent man, with a warm, friendly personality, he had had little experience in economic matters; Mrs. Perón a charming and attractive woman, but a little too inclined, with the best of motives, to interfere in matters about which she knew nothing, and a little too inclined to monopolize the conversation.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.