New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Relations Reysurted Strained
Over Br,~los Ayres Gov
ernment's Purchase of
Interned German Vessel
Each Calls Envoy Home
Aid Of u. S. Declared to
Have Been Sought to
Bring About Compromise

BUENOS AYRES, Aug 5.-Diplo
matte relations between Great Britain
and Argentina, as a result of the pur-
chase by Argentina of the German
steamship bania Blanca, are delicate,
according to an article in "La Nacion"
( this morning. In support Of this state
ment "La Nacion" refers, among other
things, to the fact that Sir Reginald
Tower, British Minister to Argentina
is about to return to London and that
the Argentine Minister at London is
coming home.
Sir Reginald, on the other hand, says
he is going to London for a rest
Trouble Over Ship Purchase
The article in "La Nacion" follows:
"Regarding rumors which from the
beginning have been founded on more
than supposition we have received
versions, the gravity of which are self
evident, and according to which the
return to London of Sir Reginald
Tower, British Minister to Argentina,
and the departure Of Fvuncisco AL
varez de Toledo, Argentine Minister
to England, from London are not dis
connected. On the contrary. it appears
the retirement of both ministers is
of the steamer Bahia Blanca from the
Germans, which purchase the British
government refused to recognize.
"Following this refusal, Argentina
attempted to solve the difficulty by
appointing as Minister to London Sefior
Toledo, who, as Minister of Marine,
handled the negotiations for the pur-
chase of the ship. He presented his
credentials to the British Foreign
Office some time ago, but a consid-
erable period has elapsed without King
there is no probability of his recep-
tion in the near future.
Waited Long for Reply
''It appears this might have been
expected as the British government
persona grata. 1t will be remembered
the Argentine government has waited
long time for a response to its in
quiry as to the purchase of the Bahia
Blanca, and there now appears reasons
for believing that Sir Reginalds ia
vorable intimations relative to the
deal were solely his personal impress
sions."
Another newspaper, "Las Noticias,"
in commenting on the situation, says:
"Sir Reginald Tower is being recalled
and Senior Toledo is returning because
King George has not received him."
THE occasion for the present stu
ation," it adds, "is the refusal of the
British government to recognize the
! purchase of the Bahia Blanca, but the
real cause underlying the crisis is the
Argentine governments hostile atti-
tude toward British capital invested in
Argentina"
Said to Seek U. S. Aid
Before Senor Toledo sailed for Lon
don it was announced he would 20 on
the Bahia Blanca. A day or two later,
however, a British cruiser took up q
position off the River Plate. Senior
Toledo subsequently went to London
on regular liner.
According to current version of
the matter, an effort is being made to
enlist the aid of the United States in
settling the question Of the purchase of
the Bahia Blanca, for which Argentina
paid 100000 pesos, the deal being
made through the Swedish government.
1T is said this was one reason that
Tomas A. LIE Breton, Argentine Minis
ter to the United States, went to Eu-
rope early this year. According to re-
ports, he and Marcello de Alvear, Ar
gentine Minister to France, failed in
their efforts to help Sefor Toledo to
solve the difficulty.
1nterned by Argentina
When the great war broke out, the
Bahia Blanca, ship owned by the
Hamburg American Steamship Com
pany, was interned in the harbor of
Buenos Ayres to prevent her capture
by Allied warships. Some time later
it was found the machinery of the ship
had been partially dsmantlcd by the
crew to prevent the use Of the vessel
in case she should be reouisitioned by
the Argentine government. In June,
1918, 1t was announced at Buenos
Ayres that the ship had been leased
by Argentina and that the crew had
been given permission by the German
Ministry of Marine to reveal the places
where missing parts of the ships ma
chinery were hidden. Later it was
learned that the ship had been bought
by the Argentine government. The ship,
| however, never went to sea because the
Allies and the United States refused
to recognize the transfer of her flag. 1t
was stated in Btenos Ayres dispatch
last April that the purchase price Of
the ship would be applied to moneys to
be claimed from Germany by Argen-
tina.
The Bahia Blanca was built at Ham
burg in 1912 and is 491 feet long, hav-
ing a beam of SO feet. She is twin
screw vessel, being registered at 9349