April 14, 1949
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION WITH AMBASSADOR JAMES BRUCE
Ambassador Bruce called at his request. He said that he had two things which he wished to mention to me.
The first one related to representation allowances for diplomatic representatives in the field, other than the Ambassador. He felt that these were wholly inadequate. He spoke of allowances in the neighborhood of $100 a year which represented all the funds available for our representatives in such places as Santos and other large centers, to say nothing of the officers in the Embassies below the Ambassador. He thought that funds provided for this purpose would do much more than far greater sums spent on projects, etc. He said that he had talked with Mr. Peurifoy or Mr. Hall and that in Mr. Bruce's view between two and three million dollars added to the appropriation would take care of this matter throughout the Service. Mr. Bruce had talked to Congressman Rooney and Senator Chavez. He thought that if the Department would give him the green light he could get the funds added in the Senate.
I told Ambassador Bruce that what he said sounded very sensible and desirable to me. But I did not know the technical situation. I would talk with the Under Secretary and Mr. Peurifoy and get in touch with him.
The second matter related to his own position as Ambassador. He told me that he had written to the President in November tendering his resignation as Ambassador and saying that this was not a formal matter but that he really wished to return to this country to attend to his own affairs and do such jobs here for the President as the President might wish. He thought that he should not continue to hold the post of Ambassador any longer. When he saw the President tomorrow, he was going to ask him to accept his resignation. He felt that he would be subject to criticism if he continued to be Ambassador and did not perform the duties of Ambassador. He had thought of returning to say goodbye, but felt that this would be both a nuisance and in some ways embarrassing, because Peron would offer him a decoration which he did not wish to accept.
He said that he would like to make two recommendations from the Service in the event that a Foreign Service officer were going to replace him. His recommendations were Mr. Ravndal and Mr. Donnelley. He said that either one would be a most effective ambassador. Mr. Ravndal had the added advantage of being thoroughly familiar with Argentina and having many friends there both in Government and opposition circles, as well as in the American community. He thought that if a Service officer were sent it would be useful to add about $5,000 to the representation allowance which should be adequate for him.
The Ambassador mentioned that when Mr. Bragmulia was in Washington a conversation at the ECA had led him to believe that there was a commitment on the part of the ECA to buy $200,000,000 in wheat during the coming year from Argentina. Mr. Bruce did not think that this was a commitment, but the Argentines did. In a conversation which Mr. Bragmulia had with Mr. Lovett, Mr. Bragmulia said that Mr. Lovett said facetiously that he had better cut the amount in half. This Mr. Bragmulia had interpreted as being a firm commitment for $100,000,000. Mr. Bruce thought that after the ECA bill was enacted he might talk with Secretary Brannan; and, if it seemed possible, it would be highly desirable to buy some wheat, as near as possible to $100,000,000, from Argentina. He thought that it was not necessary for him to continue as Ambassador on account of this item.
Mr. Bruce and I are going to meet again so that he may give me a fuller account of his impressions of Argentina.
Copy to: Mr. Webb Mr. Peurifoy
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