810.20 Defense/892: Telegram

The Ambassador in Colombia ( Braden ) to the Secretary of State

235. For Under Secretary. Referring to my despatch No. 1458, March 28, last paragraph and Department’s telegram No. 127, paragraph number 5. By reason of his uniquely influential position as a conservative leader who has closely collaborated with the liberal governments of Olaya, Lopez and Santos, I have long cultivated Urdaneta Arbelaez’ friendship. Among other things I have encouraged his idea [Page 9] that Colombia in particular should emulate us in making naval and air bases available to other American Republics. Simultaneously I have emphasized my inability to broach such a proposal to the authorities here and instead have said it should be volunteered by his Government.

Urdaneta since his retirement as Ambassador to Argentina has become member of Advisory Council to Foreign Ministry and is therefore thoroughly familiar with staff agreements and related matters. June 20 when dining with him en famille he expounded at some length that political difficulties of the American Republics such as Colombia would be greatly eased were staff agreements to be formalized in a general agreement approved by conference of Foreign Ministers. Despite considerations of my telegram 224, June 20,24 paragraph No. 2, he felt such a conference now would be successful, suggested Rio de Janeiro as locale since Brazilians would keep Argentina under control and he believed that by giving Castillo25 credit for initiative it would accommodate latter’s position vis-à-vis radicals and bring Argentina into full cooperation; in fact Urdaneta himself would be willing to go to Buenos Aires to work to this end. By reason of Urdaneta’s influence as an outstanding possible conservative presidential candidate and since Laureano Gomez and De la Vega have argued for such a conference he believes Conservative Party could be estopped from attacks on conference results. He concluded by offering to discuss in detail with Santos to which I said I had no objection providing that he presented whole idea as entirely his own and that my role was exclusively as a listener since I was unauthorized even to discuss it informally. In response to my inquiry he was confident through a conference of this kind utilization of air and naval bases by all could be embodied in basic inter-American agreement which in practice would mean our being sole beneficiaries.

… I have always considered it would be unwise for me even informally first to bring up topic of Colombian bases being made available to us. On the other hand since we might at some time wish to enjoy these facilities I have considered it advisable to encourage Urdaneta on his own to explore the situation. In fact I feel that Santos’ suggestion (my telegram No. 158,26 section (b)) to formalize staff agreements by an exchange of notes to be ratified by Congress was induced by Urdaneta.

Last night at intimate dinner in the Embassy Urdaneta said he had a conversation with Santos yesterday who requested him to tell me:

1.
The President believes that a rapidly convened and quickly terminated meeting of Foreign Ministers now would be entirely successful.
2.
Sole purpose thereof should be to establish bases of cooperating to meet the new and portentous developments resulting from the war and further to insure hemisphere solidarity and defense.
3.
A formalized multilateral agreement embodying staff conversations and reciprocal use of bases would constitute conference’s main accomplishment and would greatly facilitate acceptance of those undertakings by congresses and public in many countries.
4.
He preferred to handle the matter himself and not to have it even discussed with anyone including the Minister of Foreign Relations until it was further advanced.
5.
He was most friendly in his references to me and hoped I would call soon when he would discuss the entire subject.

In view of this last indication I ought to request interview with Santos within the next few days. However, my conversations with Urdaneta have been so guarded that I can easily without slightest embarrassment to anyone dismiss entire subject as informal chats between two friends or I can with equal facility push forward in whatever degree the Department may desire.

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

Please instruct what if anything you may care to have me do.

Braden
  1. Not printed.
  2. Ramón Castillo, Acting President of Argentina.
  3. May 17, 11 p.m., p. 4.