810.24/1234/21

Memorandum Prepared by the War Plans Division of the War Department, Revised by the Department of State, and Approved by President Roosevelt 22

Proposed National Policy re Supply of Arms to American Republics

1. The policy adopted should provide:

a.
For arming the countries named to the extent indicated, as determined in each case by our estimate of their requirements:
(1)
(a) Brazil—To insure her ability to defend herself against a major [Axis] attack from neighboring states, or from overseas, and against internal disorder, until United States armed aid can arrive in sufficient force to insure success.
(b) Mexico—To insure her ability to defend herself against any probable attack from overseas, and against internal disorder, until U.S. armed aid can arrive in sufficient force to insure success.
(2)
Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela—To insure their ability to meet and repel any probable minor attack from overseas, and to insure their internal stability.
(3)
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic—To insure internal stability.
(4)
Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru—To be determined after requirements of other republics have been computed and plans to supply them have been approved.
b.
For providing these arms on financial terms these Republics can meet.
c.
For assistance in the matter of military, naval, and industrial personnel.
d.
For adjusting the economic relations between the United States and Latin American states to insure the latter’s political cooperation. Financial arrangements to accomplish this adjustment should be made on the basis of accepting the loss as a proper charge against our National defense.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  1. Approved by President Roosevelt on August 1, 1940.