810.20 Defense/8–144
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics 2
Sirs: Reference is made to the first paragraph of Department’s secret circular instruction of June 24, 1944, subject “Statement on Procurement of Military Material” (File no. 810.24/554).3
Enclosed herewith is a draft of a note4 which you are requested to address to the Foreign Minister of the country to which you are accredited. You will observe that the note proposes that bilateral staff conversations be undertaken with a view to laying the foundations for continued military collaboration between the American Republics in the post-war period, and that if it is agreeable to the government of the country to which you are accredited the United States will send officers to undertake such conversations. You will recall in this connection that similar conversations were undertaken in the summer and fall of 1940. Substantial modifications in the understandings then reached must already be envisaged as necessary in the post-war era. It is of course intended that these preliminary conversations shall be conducted in the light of the fact that the establishment of a general international organization with security functions is anticipated.
In presenting this note you are requested to emphasize orally that this Government is anxious that its proposal to hold these conversations be treated in the strictest confidence.
In certain of the countries to which this circular is directed the armed forces of this Government enjoy operational facilities granted for the duration of the emergency. It is not proposed that the staff [Page 106] conversations suggested to the other governments concern themselves with the post-war status of these facilities. In your discretion you may so orally inform the Foreign Minister of the country to which you are accredited if you feel there is any likelihood of the proposed staff conversations’ being considered as pertaining to that question.
You are requested to inform the Department by telegram of the reply which you may receive to your note. Further instructions will be sent to you in the event that you receive a favorable reply to your note. These instructions will not only inform you of the contemplated date of arrival of the United States officers assigned to undertake the conversations but also will make certain general comments with regard to the manner in which the conversations should be carried out.
Very truly yours,
- The diplomatic representatives in Peru, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Ecuador. The instruction to Ecuador was slightly reworded. A similar circular was addressed on August 26, 1944, to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Paraguay, and Bolivia.↩
- Instruction not printed, but for policy statement enclosed therewith, see p. 97.↩
- Not printed.↩