810.20 Defense/6–2248
The Secretary of Defense (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State
secret
Washington, 22 June
1948.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I am forwarding herewith,
for your information, a copy of a memorandum which was recently prepared
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in anticipation of the probable passage of
the proposed Inter-American Military Cooperation Act (H.R. 3836, 80th Congress, 1st Session).
Although this legislation was not adopted during the last session of
Congress, I believe that the conclusions reached by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff will nevertheless be of considerable interest to your Department.
Moreover, in view of the possible enactment during
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the next Congress of some such law, these
conclusions should serve as a useful guide in considering problems of
Latin American aid.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs
of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Forrestal)
secret
Washington, 19 June
1948.
Subject: Implementation of the Inter-American
Military Cooperation Act
In accordance with a memorandum to them from the Chief of Staff,
United States Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have studied the
question of levels of implementation of the proposed Inter-American
Military Cooperation Act (H.R. 3836,
80th Congress, 1st Session) on which action is scheduled in the
current session.
As a result of the study the Joint Chiefs of Staff have concluded
that:
-
a.
- It is not practicable for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to
establish levels of implementation under the proposed
Inter-American Military Cooperation Act or the phasing of
such implementation until combined Western Hemisphere
defense schemes have been approved for planning
purposes.
-
b.
- With due consideration to the factors involved, it is
practicable and desirable for the United States to furnish,
as an interim measure, some such munitions and services as
might be made available to the other American states in the
interest of military cooperation.
-
c.
- Since levels of implementation under the proposed
Inter-American Military Cooperation Act cannot at this time
be related to combined Western Hemisphere defense plans, it
would appear appropriate for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in
implementation of the policy in SWNCC 4/101
approved by the President (SWNCC 4/12) to indicate general guidance, from
the military point of view, to the Department of State and
the National Military Establishment for interim provision of
munitions and services to the other American states.
Accordingly, they would suggest that if and when the bill is enacted,
bilateral conversations with each of the American states be held as
soon thereafter as practicable to bring the Bilaterial Staff
Conversations of 1945 up to date and to indicate to those
governments the extent to which the United States would make
available arms and equipment based on the following general
considerations:
-
a.
- That it should be the policy of the National Military
Establishment, through its several departments, to provide
to the other American
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states munitions (with maintenance and
replacement parts) and training in the use and upkeep of
such munitions.
-
b.
- That, as an interim measure and in advance of the
formulation of a Western Hemisphere defense plan, programs
for initial implementation should be established by the
several military departments leading to the standardization
and modernization of the present armed forces of the other
American states by:
- (1)
- Replacement of obsolete and non-United States arms
and equipment within each of the armed forces
required to effect standardization and modernization
of these forces without materially disturbing
relative strengths among countries and with
consideration being given to the recommendations
contained in the Bilateral Staff Conversations of
1945.
- (2)
- Reorganization in accordance with United States
organization practices, and supply of other
munitions accordingly coupled with indoctrination,
training and duty under United States
supervision.
-
c.
- That the amounts of munitions provided and/or procured by
the United States services for export under these programs
should be allocated to each American state by each military
department after consideration of the following factors:
- (1)
- Availability of such munitions for this purpose in
light of our requirements and commitments, both
present and prospective (for example, aid to Western
Europe).
- (2)
- Capability of each American state to compensate
the United States for what it receives.
- (3)
- Ability of each American state to properly utilize
and care for the munitions requested.
- (4)
- Desirability, from the standpoint of United States
security, of improving current status of the armed
forces of specific American states.
- (5)
- That in implementation of the Canada-United States
Basic Security Plan, Canada should receive first
consideration among the other American
states.
- (6)
- Approval by the Department of State as to the
political and economic desirability of each state’s
interim program.
-
d.
- That these programs for initial implementation should be
amenable to modification to meet political and military
conditions as they arise.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff request that, if you concur, these views be
furnished the Secretaries of State, the Army, the Navy, and the Air
Force for their general guidance.
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
William D. Leahy
,
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chief of Staff to the
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
