810.20 Defense/7–3146
The Secretary of War (Patterson) to the Secretary of State85
Dear Mr. Secretary: I have Mr. Acheson’s letter of 23 July 194686 inclosing a copy of the Aide-Mémoire submitted by the British Ambassador expressing the interest of the British Government in the Inter-American Military Cooperation Bill. I suggest that in replying to the British Ambassador the following information be considered.
The War Department does not know of any plan whereby only twenty-five percent of the military and naval needs of the various [Page 291] republics of this hemisphere would be furnished by the United States. On the contrary, the plan contemplates comprehensive standardization of all military and naval equipment and training in the republics of this hemisphere. A plan whereby any percentage would be furnished from sources outside the hemisphere would defeat entirely the purpose of the plan for standardization of equipment.
The program of standardizing military equipment and training in all of the republics of America, including the United States, is an outgrowth of the desire of these republics, as declared in the Act of Chapultepec, to consult among themselves in order to agree upon the meaures to be taken in the event of aggression. Since these republics agree that standardization of equipment, organization, and training within the hemisphere is a necessary advance step to provide for common defense and internal security, the introduction of military or naval equipment manufactured outside the hemisphere would not be compatible with the expressed desires of these republics. Nor would the introduction of equipment produced outside the hemisphere be to the best interests of the United States, since it could only lead to a situation similar to that which we faced at the beginning of World War II when the other American Republics were stocked with European equipment. At that time, replacements and ammunition were not available for the then standard equipment and a considerable amount of men and materiel had to be diverted from United States’ forces for the training and equipping: of armies of the other American Republics so that they could protect their own coastlines and could furnish some units for transfer to the more active theaters of operation.
In view of the basic purposes of the military collaboration program, it does not appear desirable to apportion it among the nations of the world. Any action leading to the contribution by any other nation to the armaments of the other American Republics, who look to us for leadership and guidance, can only lead to a renewal of the unfortunate prewar situation by serving as an incentive to other non-hemispheric nations to renew attempts to sell large amounts of armaments to the American Republics.
Insofar as Argentina’s participation in the program is concerned, I feel that the decision as to whether or not she receives such equipment rests largely with the State Department. I feel that it would be most desirable to include that country in the program of military standardization as soon as she adheres to her hemispheric commitments. Moreover, I would consider it most unfortunate from the viewpoint of the military security of this hemisphere if Argentina were to receive military or naval equipment from sources outside the hemisphere.
Sincerely yours,