823.248/7–2544

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief, Division of West Coast Affairs (Lyon)

In discussing other matters with Admiral Spears21 today we touched upon the question of twelve light bombers for Peru and the Department’s feeling that these planes should not be made available. I pointed out the Department’s views in some detail, stating that we were chiefly concerned with the effect it would have in the other countries, which would immediately demand additional equipment.

Admiral Spears said, “What of it? We are at war and if this material is necessary it should be supplied.” He indicated that he felt very strongly that these light bombers should be furnished to Peru, stating that it was on the understanding that they would be that we withdrew our own forces from Talara. He said that the Peruvian aircraft had done a splendid job in patrol work but was all worn out and that it was not a question of furnishing new bombers but merely replacing worn out equipment.

When I asked Admiral Spears whether he seriously thought there was a real threat of an attack by Japan, he insisted that there was, saying that no matter how slight this threat was, we should do everything to protect Talara. He indicated that he felt it was quite possible for a Japanese submarine to reach the Peruvian coast, and what is more, that it might be possible for German submarines again to operate in the lower Atlantic and work their way up the Peruvian coast and sink some of the Grace Line or U.S. boats bearing cargo from Chile, such as copper or other war necessities.

Admiral Spears said that one of the reasons we were doing all possible to build up our air forces in Uruguay at the mouth of the Rio Plata was because of the real possibility that a German submarine bearing Hitler and some of his officials fright appear there bound for Buenos Aires. By the same token Admiral Spears stated he felt it quite possible that German submarines might make raids on the Peruvian coast. In any event, it was a risk we could not run.

He also referred to the necessity of supplying this material to help out our air mission and when I asked him if that was not the primary [Page 1511] purpose, he said no, it was the secondary. He indicated that he would fight hard to get these planes for Peru and considered that our attitude was inconsistent with our recent agreement in regard to Lend-Lease policy with the War and Navy Departments.22 He felt that we were interfering in matters without our sphere.

C[ecil] B. L[yon]
  1. Rear Adm. W. O. Spears, Senior Member, Joint Army and Navy Advisory Board on American Republics.
  2. For text of a joint statement on a new lend-lease policy, see p. 97.