JACOB TIMMERMAN SAYS ARGENTINA WILL SOON BREAK RELATIONS WITH CUBA - 1961/05/15

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626797
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 15, 1961

Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626797
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Air Pouch CONFIDENTIAL
Amembassy BUMS
1437
May 15, 1961
Embassy Despatch 919 of January 27, 1961
Jacobo TIMMERMAN Says Argentina Will Soon Break Relations with Cuba
Enclosed is a memorandum of conversation with Jacob� Timmerman, a keen
observer of Argentine political affairs and a close collaborator on occasion to
the Minera Almine group, a powerful business co ,bine operating in the field of
banking, construction, mining, housing, and transportation. Timmerman, who is
also a confidant of Rogelio FRIGERIO, former Secretary to the President on Economic
and Social Affairs, is a well-known newspaper man and radio commentator and has
recently been appointed as a consultant to the NBC-affiliated Television Cnannel 9
here. Timmerman, who was formerly a political commentator for the afternoon
daily, La Raz6n, was also instrumental in getting the Minera Alumine group inter-
ested in purchasing the Editorial Haynes publishing house, publishers of many
popular magazines ana the newspaper El MUndo.
Timmerman told the reporting officer that he was shortly to leave for the
United States where he was interested in filming a series of interviews with
leading members of the Kennedy Administration. He said that after the programs
are presented over Channel 9, they will be presented to USIS for distribution to
other television stations.
For the Ambassador:
. �
Irving W.. Salert
First Secretary of tklbassy
Copy sent to:
ARA/EST/A
MAY 19 1%1
POL: DiSalert: ap CONFIDEliTIAL
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CONFIDDTIAL
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11137
Buenos Aires
said for the Peronists and for Per6n, Frit:erio was the best of the lot and,
despite the fact that Frigerio was a highly controversial individual, there was
a history of onntrovereial people coming to power in Argentina. Per6n has a
good exac,le of that.
Timmerman concluded is renarxs seyin thct Frigerio was not enthusiastic,
to sey the least, about the Kennemy Aaranistration. Re preferrea the Repuolicans
in po.;er. "They are realists who unclerstana the role that bia business must
perform," To his way of tninxin:, in oraer or Arzentina to participAte in the
power play, she must first organize effe:tively own poher z-zoupin:!s ithin :he
Argentine ecoromi. The Democratic AnniniQi,--tions are too aeaicftea to "ew-
heaa tneories, socill pro;r.:;ss cad Pssistance for immeaite social action programa."
We need," he said, speaking for the aim. of Frizerio, "bi7 business de7elopment
in the fiel:Is of electric po-oer, basic industr-, and transport. The Kennedy
Amministration is interested ir nousing, food for peace, etc.n
The reportin,z officer pointed out that he lid not believe that tne present
Aaministration in Washington woula change its social philosophy or orientation
simply to please the Fri,yerio school and that U.S. interests were also of major
importance, not only to the 150vernmert in Wasninflton but also to the entire
U.S. population.
Timmerman then said that he unaerstooa this cut that Frigerio and his top
team were really naive ,4-hen it came to understanding the U.S. and its basic
objectives, i.e., the struggle against Communist growth and penetration.
He tnen reiteratea that the Frondizi Administration was dedicated to main-
taining a close bond of friendship with the U.S. aria the West in general, and that
he uas certain that the Argentine Government .:ould shortly break off tiplamatic
relations witn Cuba.
CONFIDr.11 TIAL
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626797