Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The American Republics, Volume VII

825.24/1748

Memorandum by the Liaison Officer With the War and Navy Departments ( Wilson ) to the Adviser on Political Relations ( Duggan )

[ Washington ,] January 12, 1944.

I have consulted Colonel Hertford¹⁴ and Colonel Johnston¹⁵ concerning the ground material requested by the Chileans, and various officers in the Army Air Forces in regard to the desired increase in the Chilean aviation equipment.

Colonel Hertford told me that, towards the end of December, General Fuentes obtained an interview with General McNarney¹⁶ to whom he gave the list of ground equipment which was handed to you. General McNarney sent it to Colonel Hertford who passed it on to Colonel Johnston for comment. In reply to my inquiry Colonel Hertford told me that the War Department would take no action on this list without consulting the Department. In his opinion the material desired by the Chilean Government has no bearing whatever on the present war except for the possibility that it might prevent Chile from aligning itself with Argentina. He felt that if Chile should receive any of this armament it would be necessary to consider the advisability of allotting similar quantities to Peru and Ecuador in order to prevent ill feeling and rivalry.

Colonel Johnston informed me that General McNarney and he had written letters of acknowledgment to General Fuentes. Excerpts from Colonel Johnston’s letter are attached.¹⁷ It seems clear that at least some of the equipment listed in General Fuentes’ request has already been included in earlier lists. This is indicated by the statements in the first paragraph of the excerpts from Colonel Johnston’s letter. With reference to other portions of this request, you will observe that Colonel Johnston states that strategic requirements prevent consideration of these items for the present. This is in line with statements which have been made to representatives of other Latin American countries.

The list of planes requested by the Chileans for delivery in 1944 has been sent to the Army Air Forces. I have ascertained that the list of planes requested by the Chileans for delivery in 1944 is the same as that contained in Colonel Niergarth’s memorandum of September 30.¹⁸ Colonel Loutzenheiser, of the Operations Planning Division, Army Air Forces, tells me that his division will recommend to the Munitions Assignments Committee that Chile be granted only the 106 training planes and none of the 41 combat and service craft. The reason for this decision is that Chile is not a belligerent and the need for combat and service planes is great elsewhere. This recommendation will be submitted on Tuesday next, January 18, to the sub-committee of the Munitions Assignments Committee (Air) which will ascertain whether the training planes requested by Chile are available.

Therefore, if for reasons of policy it appears desirable to the Department to permit the Chileans to obtain combat or service aircraft such as the Catalinas (PBY–5’s) mentioned by Ambassador Bowers, I think such views should be submitted to General Jamison, Chief of the Munitions Assignments Committee (Air). Our answer to Mr. Bowers’ cable of December 30¹⁹ will be governed by this.

Orme Wilson

14. Kenner F. Hertford of the Caribbean-Latin American Section, Operations Division, War Department.
15. Col. Winant P. Johnston, Director, International Division, Army Service Forces, War Department.
16. Lt. Gen. Joseph T. McNarney, Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army.
17. Not printed.
18. Col. Omer O. Niergarth, Chief of the United States Military Aviation Mission in Chile; the memorandum (not printed) apparently was produced jointly by personnel of the Chilean Air Force and the American Military Aviation Mission and presented to the War Department on December 24, 1943.
19. Not printed.