I hope this information meets the purpose of your inquiries and will be
helpful.
[Enclosure]
Aide-Mémoire
On July 8 [18] the British Ambassador left
with the Acting Secretary of State an Aide-Mémoire containing certain inquiries with respect to
the plans of the United States Government under the program for
Inter-American Military Cooperation submitted to Congress by the
President. It specifically requests detailed information, to be held
in confidence, regarding:
- “(a) the proposals for
furnishing, or exchanging, standard United States
equipment against existing non-standard armaments in
Latin America;
- “(b) the percentage of Latin
American forces which it is proposed to equip and train
under the Hemisphere Defense proposals now before
Congress.”
With respect to (a) above, operational plans
and procedures have not yet been worked out, nor has a final
conclusion been reached regarding any pattern for the actual
furnishing or exchange of equipment. These matters are currently
under consideration by the authorities of this Government. The
objectives, however, are clear and may be stated as follows:
- (1)
- Under the Act of Chapultepec and other inter-American
agreements, the American republics have agreed that the
military defense of the Hemisphere against any aggression
from abroad is a matter of common concern to be achieved by
political and military cooperation among them. This is in
keeping with the provisions of the United Nations Charter
respecting the right of self-defense and the institution of
regional arrangements. It is generally understood among the
American republics that the cooperation envisaged cannot be
fully effective unless their respective military forces are
designed to operate on the basis of standard organization,
training and equipment. Such
[Page 308]
standardization is the immediate
objective of the program for Inter-American Military
Cooperation.
- (2)
- This Government is hopeful that this program may be
carried out in such a way that its effect will be to limit
the size and cost of the military establishments involved.
The increased effectiveness of these establishments for the
defense of the Hemisphere, under such a program, should
contribute to their economy. This Government appreciates,
however, the danger that international competion among the
suppliers of military equipment might tend to thwart the
attainment of this objective.
With respect to paragraph (b), quoted above,
this Government has at no time considered that the program of
standardization would be applicable to any limited percentage of the
armed forces involved, nor was it aware that there had been any
thought to this effect until it received the Aide-Mémoire under reference. Such a limitation would
appear to be in derogation of the objectives of the program stated
above.
The Aide-Mémoire also contains the inquiry
whether Argentina is, or is likely to be, included among the
countries which, under the terms of the Inter-American Military
Cooperation Act, would be furnished with a percentage of
standardized United States equipment. This Government continues
absolutely faithful to its policy of furnishing no equipment to the
armed forces of Argentina while the Government of that country
continues to be in default on its explicit commitments to the United
States and the other American republics. Appreciating the
cooperation of the British Government in this policy, under the
“Gentlemen’s Agreement”, it considers itself bound to notify that
Government immediately should a change in the circumstances appear
to warrant a change in the policy. Meanwhile, it understands that
the “Gentlemen’s Agreement” continues in effect.
The Aide-Mémoire also refers to the question
of furnishing items of armament for the military forces of the
Dominican Republic. This Government continues to adhere to its
policy of not furnishing such items to the Dominican Republic, and
welcomes the cooperation of the British Government in this policy.
Again, should a change of circumstances suggest the discontinuance
of this policy, this Government would be glad to inform the British
Government forthwith.
This Government appreciates the understanding and cooperative
attitude of the British Government with respect to these matters. It
stands ready to discuss them further at any time on the continuing
basis of mutual confidence and helpfulness between the two
Governments.
In particular, this Government recognizes that the arrangements under
discussion must be regarded in the light of such international
[Page 309]
agreement with respect to
the traffic in arms as may be reached in the future.
Washington, August 26, 1946.
