Evening star., 1942-07-21
Argentina Reported
To Have Refused 10
Convoy Own Ships
Ruiz Guinozu Quoted
As Telling Chamber He
Will Not Follow Herd

D, the Associated Press.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, July
21.-Argentina's foreign minister,
Enrique Ruiz Guinazu, according
to advices received here from in
formed Argentine sources, told
last weeks secret session of the
Chamber of Deputies that his
government had refused to con-
voy It's own merchant ships when
that suggestion was made by
Washington.
Argentine government spokesmen
have previously indicated they con-
sidered conveying would be a step
toward war.
Ruiz Gun azu was quoted as tell
Ing the chamber Argentina would
not join "the herd" of American
republics, which he said was being
led by the United States to make
war on the Axis This disparaging
reference to other American nations
was derlored by one opposition
leader
Ruiz G,linazu's statements were
made in the course of long speech
answering foreign policy interpret
lation by Socialist Deputy Nicolas
Repetto
U. 8. Domination Charged.
The Interpolation demanded
whether, in view of German sub
marines sinking the Argentine
freightar Rio Tercero, the time has
not arrived for Argentina to sever
relations with the Axis in accord
ance with recommendations OF the
foreign ministers conference at Rio
de Janeilo last January.
In his expositions, made available
here in pert in private information
from Buenos Aires, Ruiz Guinazu
charged that the Washington ad-
ministraticn was trying to dominate
the Western Hemisphere. He also
was said to have repeated previous
criticism Of other American repub-
lies for having declared war against
the Axis without awaiting the out
come Of the Rio consultations.
Some of Ruiz Guinazu's oppo-
nents were quoted as having ex-
pressed belief that the Foreign Min
lister went before the chamber as
a man inspired by resentment and
suspicion against the United States,
detachment toward the plight of
Britain, which for years was Ar
gentina's chief customer, and COM
placency toward the Axis.
At the minister's insistence the
session was held In secret without
stenographers. He explained that
he planned to introduce confiden-
tial foreign office documents in sup
port of the governments policy.
Axis Relations Called Cordial.
The minister was said to have
described diplomatic relations with
Germany, Italy. and Japan as cor
dial; to have disclosed that Britain
exerted pressure to force Argentina
to break with those nations. and
to have ascribed to the United
States a plan to promote federation
of several unspecified countries
after the war.
At one point he read document
said to have originated in Wash
ington to show that the United
States Government, before it would
agree to lease-lend materials to the
Argentine Army and Navy, de-
manded that Argentina agree to
convoy merchant ships between
ports of the two countries.
He declared the Argentine Pur-
chasing Commission found the
United States Army and Navy CO.
operative and friendly, but blamed
the State Department for intro
ducing last-minute condition OF
mo convoy, no arms" which brought
about breakdown Of negotiations.
The proposed contracts ran to
millions of dollars. Ruiz Guinazu
was said to have left no doubt
among his listeners that the break
down aroused strong resentment in
the Buenos Aires government.
Opposed Break With U. S.
Commenting on this aspect of
Ruiz Guinazu's government. the in
formants said the administration of
President Ramon Castillo took "a
very serious view" Of the conveying
propositions and considered it an
attempt to force Argentina into
war on the side of the United
States.
These sources said that in view
OF the tense situation created by
Argentina's failure to obtain arms
from the United States, former
Finance Minister Federico Pinedo
called on Castillo. then still Acting
President, in order to dissuade him
from taking steps then believed to
be under consideration which might
have been interpreted as an open
break with the United States.
Pinedo and other prominent lead
ers were said to be continuing their
efforts to persuade Castillo that full
cooperation with the United States
against the Axis powers would be
more beneficial to Argentina than
her present policy.
This policy, it was said, has been
defined by Castillo himself in a let
ter to Pinedo following the latter
visit as one OF "impartiality towarc
the Axis and solidarity with oul