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_ , . os 3 Lo oo | co ena (November 23, 19d Re: BASQUE ORGANIZATION IN ARGENTINA Administrative (This office has been working with subject organization since June 8, 1944, in the present capacity and under the arrange- ment of $2,000 monthly. It is felt, judging by the information submitted by them in the past, that they may be worth £1,500 per month only because of the possibility of a break in Argentine-~ U.S. diplomatic relations and beceuse of the possible future value of their maritime coverage on Spanish ships in detecting the movement of fugitive Axis officials to South America. Since & few days after the start of this relationship in June, De Lasarte has been asked for a list of contacts and sources of information, potential and otherwise, and was later asked for &i explanation as to how the money paid him was being used. Neither request was fulfilled and it was understood he was re- luctant to expose details of his organization and its function- ing because of fear the information might get into wrong hands, stating that such had happened once to their organization in France with disastrous results. However, when the reduction of payment became apparent on November 8th, De Lasarte stated he must take the matter up with President Aguirre in New York. Accordingly he has written a letter of protest to the latter and hes also submitted to us, with a copy to Aguirre, a summary of his organization in Argentina. A translation of the summary has been mede and is attached hereto; there has also been made a translation of the letter to, Aguirre and it is attached hereto. It should be noted thet the letter to Aguirre was not submitted to this office for inspection but was handed us in an envelope for transmission to the United States along with other items of an administrative nature intended for Aguirre. That envelope is o transmitted herewith and should be for- warded to Aguirre. The attached translation of the Summary of Organization will be discussed first. It should be noted that De Lasarte has, it is understood, increased his organization to the follow~- — ing extent since our relationship has been in effect: A sur- velllance and investigative squad of three men has been added; _managing this squad and obtaining information from various ~ -pources/ about nationalist organizations, religious circles, olitjiéal, communist and sundry other matters, is one man, ne other man has been designated to devote on to Communism and to means of getting information bn Argentina has been ches hereW) e aii @ ‘about it; to organize an service in Galician circles her =fe a | cor Uy of