Evening star., 1944-03-05
Argentina Still Used
As Spy Base Of Axis,
|5tetiinius Reports
Hy, the Associated Press.

Hy the Associated Press.
Argentina still serves as base
for Axis espionage and support,
Acting Secretary Of State Stet-
Itinius charged yesterday, and
American recognition of the re-
gime Of Gen. Edelmiro Farrell is
being withheld until this situa-
ton Is cleaned up.
Ambassador Norman Armour in
Buenos Aires is under instructions
to refrain from entering of1icial
relations" with the Farrell regime
which ousted Argentinas President
Pedro Ramirez February Is.
Mr.. Stettinius made those dis
closures at a press conference. He
said he would not 60 so far IS to
say this Governments attitude con-
stituted nonrecognition of the Far
rell government because relations
never had been started. Thus, he
appeared to leave the way open for
American action in either direction,
and that action. he indicated, will
depend on what Argentina does
now.
In Montevideo, Argentine
censorship held up for several
hours disclosure of the stand
taken by the United States.
The British Ambassador to
Argentina is under instructions
to refrain from making any move
that would even imply recogni-
ton Of the Farrell regime, It was
learned reliably In London yes
terday.
Stettinius Offers Suggestion.
Mr.. Stettinius put the issue
squarely up to Gen. Farrell by say
ing there are many things Argen-
tina can do to improve her relations
with this country. For instance:
l. Intern Axis diplomats, mill
tary attaches and other agents who
have been at liberty in Argentina,
though relations with Germany
have been broken.
2. Clean up Axis espionage rings
in Argentina. Mr.. Stettinius re-
called that Ramirez had described
Buenos Aires as a hotbed of inter-
national espionage.
3. Stop smuggling of critical war
materials which Still 60 to the
enemy from Argentina.
Exercise Stricter Controls.
4. Control communications which
still exist between Axis agents in
Argentina and their homelands.
S. Control more effectively busi-
ness institutions in Argentina
which still have an Axis tinge.
These are just few of the things
Argentina could do, Mr.. Stettinius
repeated.
He said the Farrell regime possibly
could become acceptable to the
United States by cooperating in
hemisphere solidarity and taking
the steps to prove it.
Mr.. Stettinius raised a doubt over
the coup which replaced Ramirez
with Farrell. He said that after
Argentina had broken relations with
the Axis, Ramirez suddenly aban-
doned active conduct Of affairs "un-
der well-known circumstances" and
the American Government has rea-
son to believe that groups not In
sympathy with the declared Argen-
tine policy Of joining in defense of
the hemisphere were active in this
turn Of affairs"
Situation Still Fluid.
I'VE are in a bitter war with a
ruthless enemy whose plan has in
cluded conquest Of the Western
Hemisphere" Mr.. Stettinius said.
ITO deal with such gave issues
on a purely technical basis would
be to close our eyes to the realities
OF the situation"
The Acting Secretary said the
situation was still fluid, and that he
would rather not comment on the
exchanges of information which are
going on among American Republics
or on Chile's acceptance OF the Far
rell regime as a continuation OF the
Ramirez administration and there
fore raising no question of recogni-
ton.
Mr.. Stettinius said the United
States at all times has had close
ties with the Argentine people and
has consistently hoped and con-
tinues to hope that Argentina will
take the steps necessary to bring
her fully and comnletely into the