Subject: Air Force Program of Military Assistance to the
Other American Republics
There is circulated herewith for the information of the Committee the
State Department reply to the Air Force letter45 contained in D–11/15. This letter was prepared
in accordance with the Committee’s action on November 14, 1947 (see
M–69, p. 9, #1846).
[Annex]
The Acting Secretary of
State to the Secretary of the Air Force
(Symington)47
secret
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to your
letter of October 16, 1947 in which you submit, for the
consideration of the State Department, the views of the Air Force
with respect to the sale to the other American republics of military
aircraft.
The State Department has given careful consideration to the proposals
made in your letter, as well as to the political aspects of the
problem. In view of the testimony given, in connection with the
Inter-American Military Cooperation Bill, to the House Foreign
Affairs Committee regarding the control of all exports of arms under
the export license system, the Department is of the opinion that
some measure of control should be retained over sales of military
aircraft in order to assure that they are obtained for a legitimate
purpose only. Accordingly, it is believed that, as a general but
flexible rule, aircraft procured from commercial sources should be
limited to the number and types which each country needs in the
over-all hemisphere defense program. The State Department is
prepared to consult with the Air Force regarding any future requests
for export licenses or government-owned surplus aircraft and to
approve them whenever the aircraft requested are considered
reasonable and necessary.
With respect to the sale to the other American republics of those
aircraft which the Air Force has reserved for the hemisphere defense
program, it is believed that no further sales should be promoted
until Congress has taken action on the Inter-American Military
Cooperation Bill. However, the State Department is prepared to
review any requests initiated by the Latin American republics and to
approve the sales, if the aircraft requested are considered
reasonable and necessary, provided such action is not considered to
affect adversely the position of the Executive vis-à-vis the
Congress with respect to the requested enactment of the
Inter-American Military Cooperation Bill.
The policy set forth herein is subject, of course, to any
modifications which the State Department may find it necessary to
make, in view of specific and temporary political disturbances
arising in any of the Latin American republics.
Sincerely yours,
