The German minister asked the owner of Montevideo's principal dockyard to devote the facility to Graf Spee, offering whatever payment he required. The dockyard belonged to a family understood to be of French descent. Its owner refused the request and, when asked whether his French background explained that decision, answered that he was acting as a Uruguayan. The refusal left the German cruiser without the principal local facility it wanted for repairs.
Chapter · 6:01-6:42
Montevideo's principal dockyard refuses to support Graf Spee
The owner of Montevideo's main dockyard rejected a German request to devote the facility to Graf Spee despite an offer of generous payment.