There is circulated herewith for the consideration of the Committee a
letter from the Secretary of the Air Force regarding the Air Force
program of military assistance to the other American Republics.
The Air Force believes that the other American Republics should be
allowed to purchase aircraft and equipment on the open United States
market and the quantities should not be limited to equipment levels
established by the over-all Western Hemisphere Defense Program.
[Annex]
The Secretary of the Air Force (Symington) to the Secretary of State
secret
Washington, 16 October
1947.
Dear Mr. Secretary: The Department of the
Air Force has had under study for some time the Air Force program of
military assistance to the other American Republics. As you know,
because of the lack of implementing legislation, provisions of the
Surplus Property Act of 1944 have been utilized for the transfer,
under the “Interim Allocations Program,” of certain aircraft and
equipment included
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in the
“Over-all Western Hemisphere Defense Program.” Prior to transfer,
these aircraft were overhauled and put in excellent mechanical
condition and were accompanied by as complete a level of one year’s
maintenance spares as was available. This was done at considerable
expense to the Department of the Air Force in the interest of
assuring that the success of this program would not be jeopardized
as a result of unsatisfactory equipment being transferred to the
Latin American Republics.
Because of budgetary limitations and shortages of aircraft and
maintenance spares, it is not now feasible for the Department of the
Air Force to offer aircraft for transfer to the other American
Republics, except on an “as is where is” basis, and on the
understanding that there is a limited availability of spare parts.
Moreover, because of higher priority requirements, sufficient
aircraft will not be available to implement fully the “Over-all
Western Hemisphere Defense Program.”
However, there is available ground maintenance, communications and
weather equipment, included in this program, and excess to United
States Air Force requirements, which could be transferred at little
cost to the United States Air Force. Further allocations of this
type of equipment can be continued by the Department of the Air
Force. It is felt that the purchase of this type of equipment should
be encouraged in order to build up technically sound and balanced
Air Forces in Latin America.
In order that the Department of the Air Force will not be placed in
the position of dictating what air force equipment the other
American Republics should have, especially when we are not in a
position to furnish such equipment, it is felt that the other
American Republics should be allowed to purchase aircraft and
equipment on the open United States market. In addition, they should
not be limited to equipment levels established by the “Over-all
Western Hemisphere Defense Program.”
In view of the above and pending passage of authorizing legislation
and establishment of a long term program of military collaboration,
the Department of the Air Force has no objection, from the military
point of view, and without consideration of the political aspects,
to the purchase by the other American Republics of new or surplus
aircraft and equipment of authorized security classification, from
any source on the open United States market. However, it is desired
that the approval of export licenses for such equipment be
coordinated in each instance with the Department of the Air Force in
order to preclude approval of purchases which interfere with United
States
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Air Force
procurement or which are inimical to hemispheric solidarity from the
military point of view.
Sincerely yours,
