810.24/5–3044
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The Department of State has recently been giving very careful consideration to the policy issues involved in the procurement in the United States of material destined for the use of the armed forces of the other American republics. In this connection particular attention has been paid to the report of the Joint Advisory Board on American Republics dated December 13, 1943, approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and transmitted to the Department under cover of a letter of December 30, 1943, from Admiral Leahy, and to subsequent related correspondence.
It is stated in the Joint Advisory Board report “that under the present strategic situation any major threat to the security of the Western Hemisphere has largely been removed”. This opinion is reiterated in the policy statement regarding Lend-Lease procurement20 approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and transmitted to the Department under cover of a letter from Admiral Leahy dated May 30, 1944.21 I gather from these two documents that the highest military authority of the United States considers that, in general, the allocation of military material to the armed forces of other American republics is no longer essential to the security of the American continent against external aggression during the present war or to the successful prosecution of the war. I realize, of course, that specific exception is made in the cases of Brazil and Mexico.
As you know, the delivery of arms, ammunition and implements of war to the other American republics whether under Lend-Lease or for cash, always involves important political considerations. The relations among other American republics and the relations between the United States and other American republics may be very gravely affected by the allocation of such material to one of those countries. I am of the opinion that, now that any major threat to the security of the hemisphere has been largely removed, considerations of foreign policy should prevail in decisions respecting such allocations. Should the Navy Department or the Joint Chiefs of Staff inform me in any particular case that the threat of aggression is so acute that important foreign policy considerations must be set aside, I shall, of course, defer at once to your judgment.
Because of the foreign policy aspects of requests for materials for the armed forces of other American republics, I consider it necessary that the Department of State be consulted regarding such requests. [Page 102] In this connection it should be noted that this Department has approved the policy of limiting the assignment of materials to other American republics under Lend-Lease and specifically concurs in the statement of policy transmitted with Admiral Leahy’s letter of May 30. In approving this statement, however, the Department of State has not abandoned, and furthermore, because of its responsibility in the field of foreign relations, could not abandon, its right to consider the question of individual assignments from the point of view of their possible effect on the foreign relations of this country.
I am sure that you will agree with me that this matter is one of the utmost importance for the future of the relations between the United States and the other American republics, and that it is necessary that there should be a clear understanding with respect to it.
I am addressing a similar communication as of this date to the Secretary of War.
Sincerely yours,