811.22725/326: Telegram
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27—12:06 a.m.]
368. General Oscar Escudero, Commander of Chilean Army, plans to leave Santiago by plane March 7 for a stay of a week or so in the States. He will be accompanied by his secretary, Colonel Milciades Contreras.
He informs us confidentially that his trip has three purposes:
- 1.
- To obtain “better coordination” among the various services represented in the Chilean military mission in Washington.
- 2.
- To discuss with our command just what form and measure of military cooperation in the defense of the Americas they expect of Chile and what defense problems and dangers are anticipated.
- 3.
- To inquire and discuss possible further cooperation of the two armies beyond the prime question of defense of Chile’s coastline and strategic production centers.
Escudero said at this time the Chilean Army is not thinking of anything more than defense which is the immediate problem, but added the future developments might offer some new role for the Chilean Armed Forces. He said he wants to avoid official entertainments and the Military Attaché of the Embassy tells us that he thinks the fourth purpose of the trip is to see actually on the ground the military equipment we propose to furnish Chile.
I hope the equipment we are furnishing is first class of its kind, for it would be a mistake to furnish outdated or inferior materiel to this Army which in discipline and organization, if not in equipment, is perhaps the best in South America and knows good equipment when it sees it. Rather than give inferior matériel it would be better to give a lesser amount of superior equipment.
Escudero has fought a successful battle this last year to eliminate, convert or silence anti-American elements in the Chilean Army. He is unquestionably democratic in outlook and our friend.