825.24/1759
Memorandum by Mr. Richard P. Butrick, Foreign Service Officer, to the Director of the Office of American Republic Affairs (Duggan)
Mr. Duggan: General Escudero, who is the Minister of Defense as well as the General in Command of the Army, spoke to me at length prior to my departure from Chile25 in regard to obtaining additional equipment for the Chilean Army under the United States $50,000,000 Lend-Lease credit.
He is very anxious to obtain some additional equipment as soon as possible, but is thoroughly reasonable about the whole matter, realizing that many of the items which he desires are not available for export to Chile at the present time. Nevertheless, he asked that if at all possible, I assist him in obtaining some additional equipment, which I promised to do.
Although not mentioned in the letter, General Escudero told me that the equipment of the Argentine Army in effective value was five times that of the Chilean Army, and he is anxious to bring the Chilean Army’s equipment to a better standard as soon as possible. He informed me that Chile is in no sense aggressive, but that it does desire to be prepared to repel outside attacks and maintain internal order in a country difficult to defend and to control because of its peculiar geography.
It is my feeling that if at all possible we should complete the delivery to Chile of the 30-calibre machine guns which the General desires, of the 90 mm. anti-aircraft guns, and while it is not absolutely necessary, I think it would be a wise move on our part to deliver, say, 100,000 rifles and a corresponding quota of Garand rifles in order that the conversion of the Chilean Army to American equipment may be begun. It is my understanding that small arms are now available, and it would seem advisable to have an entering wedge in Chile for the commercial sale of further armament of the American type and [Page 680] perhaps arsenal equipment for the manufacture of American type armament. Granting Chile certain amounts of American equipment under Lend-Lease would form the entering wedge.
My personal feeling from official contacts with General Escudero over a period of several months is that he is thoroughly pro-Ally, reasonable and reliable, and anything we can do to make his position in Chile firmer, I believe would redound to our own benefit.
- Mr. Butrick was Counselor of Embassy for Economic Affairs in Chile prior to his assignment to the Department December 4, 1943.↩