824.248/208
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations (Duggan)
The Ambassador32 inquired whether there was anything I could tell him with regard to the desire of his Government to obtain antiaircraft equipment and certain detachments of planes to protect vital installations in Bolivia.
I told the Ambassador that a translation had been made of his note33 and the matter was under consideration by the appropriate authorities of the Government. I added that our preliminary exploration made it appear as though this equipment, were it to be available, would probably have to be furnished out of Bolivia’s Lend-Lease allocation. I impressed upon the Ambassador that there was no assurance yet, however, that the equipment could be spared owing to the extremely heavy demand for antiaircraft guns and for planes of the type desired by his Government.
The Ambassador then stated that, under the arrangements contemplated by his Government, it might not be necessary at this time to turn the equipment over to Bolivia. With respect to the planes, his Government was prepared to accept the assignment of these squadrons as part of the United States Aviation Mission. The planes together with pilots, mechanics, and any other necessary personnel, under this arrangement would be stationed in Bolivia theoretically as a part of the United States Aviation Mission but actually there to protect Bolivian vital installations from air attack and to perform other missions important to this Government. The Ambassador then explained that although it was impossible so to state in the note, what his Government had in mind in effect was the establishment of aviation bases in Bolivia. On account of the central location of Bolivia in South America, his Government thought that this Government might be very glad to station squadrons in Bolivia that would be in a position to immediately proceed to any neighboring country for whatever purpose, at a moment’s notice, thereby saving what might be very valuable time.
The Ambassador stated that his Government was prepared to agree to similar arrangements in connection with the antiaircraft guns, [Page 529] namely, that United States detachments accompany these guns and set them up and man them.
With respect both to the planes and guns, a later determination could be arrived at by the two Governments as to whether they would be turned over to Bolivia.
In concluding, the Ambassador referred to the interest in this general question shown by the President when he received Señor Guachalla as Ambassador. Señor Guachalla said that the President himself asked the Ambassador what Bolivia was doing to protect its tin mines. The President emphasized that it was vital to the successful prosecution of the war that nothing happen to these mines.
I thanked the Ambassador for his courtesy in amplifying orally the intent and purpose of his note. I told him that his views would immediately be brought to the attention of the Acting Secretary of this Department and appropriate high officials in the other Departments.