834.00/4–1447: Telegram
The Chargé in Paraguay (Trueblood) to the Secretary of State
201. Since present Paraguayan situation developed the observation has been frequently heard that it is fortunate US has not supplied this country with a greater supply of modern instruments of warfare under proposed hemisphere arms program. The destructive consequences of a [Page 980] supply here at present time of modern bombing planes, tanks, etc., are obvious and underline the dangers involved in arming even on a modest scale countries such as Paraguay which have no institutional stability.
As it is, all except one of the few airplanes in flying condition and the bulk of the small amount of modern equipment in use by both sides such as machine guns, mortars and 105–mm guns were supplied under Lend-Lease. Most of equipment on both sides was captured from Bolivians during Chaco War.