Office of the Historian

496. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, November 18, 19551

Washington, November 18, 1955

SUBJECT

  • (1) Paraguayan Purchase of 20 AT.6/G planes
  • (2) UN Membership
  • (3) Paraguayan Desire for Grant Aid

PARTICIPANTS

  • Ambassador Enciso-Velloso of Paraguay
  • Mr. Cecil B. Lyon, Deputy Assistant Secretary
  • Mr. Persio da Silva, First Secretary, Embassy of Paraguay
  • Commander Lopez Escobar, Naval Attaché, Embassy of Paraguay
  • Mr. Robert M. Sayre, AR
  • Mr. John K. Havemeyer, OSA

The Ambassador said that he had sent the Department a note on November 15, No. DE/35/55,2 and presented Mr. Lyon with a copy. The Ambassador stated that his government wished to purchase 20 AT.6/G planes from surplus, including 10 replacement motors and other parts for maintenance for three years. The Ambassador said that this was to be a direct purchase and not on a three-year credit.

Mr. Lyon replied that the Department would look sympathetically upon the request and would take as quick action as possible.3

Ambassador Enciso then asked for clarification of the US position with respect to new memberships in the United Nations. Mr. Lyon gave the Ambassador the information provided in the Department’s Circular Telegrams No. 322 of November 134 and Unnumbered Circular Telegram of November 15—(sent 7:57 p.m.).5 The Ambassador replied that the Paraguayan Delegation in the UN in New York looked to the US Delegation for guidance in maintaining the Paraguayan position identical to that of the US.

Ambassador Enciso then pointed out Paraguay’s desire for grant aid similar to that now being received by Bolivia. Mr. Lyon explained [Page 1006] that the circumstances in Paraguay fortunately were not the same as they are in Bolivia, and that the political situation in Bolivia had improved because of the US grant aid. The Ambassador then said he thought Bolivia would be building up its military as a result of US assistance in Bolivia. Mr. Lyon replied that with Brazil and Argentina on the other two borders with Paraguay he did not see any danger to Paraguay. Furthermore, the aid to Bolivia was not of a military character and should not create any fear in Paraguay from Bolivian aggression.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 734.56/11–1855. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Havemeyer.↩
  2. The Paraguayan Embassy’s note requested information regarding the possibility of obtaining airplanes and spare parts. (Ibid., 734.56/11–1555)↩
  3. The Department of Defense responded affirmatively to the Paraguayan request for purchase of the planes, but the Government of Paraguay decided not to purchase them at that time. Information relating to the purchase request is ibid., 734.5–MSP.↩
  4. Circular telegram 322 contained the verbatim text of the speech on U.N. membership, which the U.S. Representative at the United Nations, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., delivered before the General Assembly on September 22, 1955. (Ibid., 310.2/11–1355)↩
  5. Reference is to circular telegram 327, which reported U.S. opposition to the admission of Outer Mongolia. (Ibid., 310.2/11–1555)↩