795B. 5/4–751
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. John K. Havemeyer of the Office of South American Affairs
Subject: Request for Uruguayan Troops for UN Action in Korea1
| Participants: | Foreign Minister of Uruguay Alberto Dominguez Cámpora |
| Ambassador of Uruguay José A. Mora | |
| Admiral Alfredo Aguiar Carrasco, Uruguayan Navy | |
| Chief of Staff General Carlos Iríbar, Uruguayan Army Chief of Staff Captain Eduardo Beraldo, NA, Uruguayan Embassy | |
| Assistant Secretary Miller2 | |
| Major General R. L. Walsh3 | |
| Brig. General E. L. Sibert4 | |
| Ivan White5 | |
| John K. Havemeyer |
Mr. Miller said that he wished to reopen the conversation6 he had had in Montevideo with respect to Uruguay sending troops to assist in the UN action in Korea. He stated that he recognized that Uruguay had political opposition toward carrying out such action and likewise that the United States has the same problem.
At present the U.S. could only offer assistance to Uruguay under the; following two arrangements:
One would assist Uruguay in purchasing military equipment. The other would permit the Uruguayans to obtain arms and equipment for the troops that Uruguay could not supply itself, including transportation, food and quarters in Korea, and hospital facilities, provided there was an agreement reached to reimburse the U.S. at a future date.
Mr. Miller said that the U.S. troops have been in Korea now for nine months, and we are strongly desirous of rotating the troops in Korea in order that some of those now fighting with the UN could be supplanted by fresh troops.
Foreign Minister Dominguez Cámpora replied that as Mr. Miller knew he strongly desired to furnish Uruguayan troops for the UN in Korea and that there were political obstacles in Uruguay which had prevented Uruguay from sending troops up until this time. Mr. [Page 1613] Dominguez Cámpora is scheduled to leave Washington at 11 a.m., April 11, and that he hopes he might have an answer from his Government prior to that time. He further indicated that he would continue to press his Government to take action with respect to sending troops to Korea. Such action, however, must be cleared through the Uruguayan Congress, and he hoped that action could be taken in the very near future.
- For additional documentation concerning United States efforts to secure from Latin American governments offers of troop participation in Korea, see pp. 985 ff.↩
- Edward G. Miller, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.↩
- Robert L. Walsh, Chairman, Joint Mexican-United States Defense Commission.↩
- Edwin L. Sibert, Director of the Staff, Inter-American Defense Board.↩
- Ivan B. White, Director, Office of Regional American Affairs.↩
- No memorandum of this conversation was found in the Department of State files.↩