397.5 IA/3–1352
The Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs ( Miller ) to the Chairman of the United States Delegation to the Inter-American Defense Board ( Walsh )1
My Dear General Walsh : Reference is made to Lt. Colonel Sharkey’s2 memorandum of February 14, 19523 requesting that the United States Delegation, Inter-American Defense Board, be given comments on the General Military Plan for the Defense of the American Continent4 which was prepared pursuant to Resolution III5 of the Fourth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of American States. In view of the fact that, as the Secretary of State was informed in a letter from Colonel K. R. Kreps 6 dated February 14, 1952,7 the Joint Chiefs of Staff have indicated to the Chairman, U.S. Delegation, IADB, that he may inform the Chairman, IADB,8 that the United States Government has approved the Plan, the following comments of the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs on certain political aspects of the document are forwarded on an informal basis.
It is deemed politically important that the Plan, in providing the general framework for defense planning by the American Republics, should offer adequate sanction or authorization for the development by the United States Government and the Latin American governments concerned of bilateral defense plans of the kind now being negotiated with certain of the Latin American governments in connection with the U.S. military grant aid program. It is assumed that the definition of maritime sectors and the indication of “responsibility for planning and [Page 121] coordination of operations” in the Caribbean-Panama-Galapagos sector (Section V C 2a and 2b) and the “Detailed Plans of Action” in Section VII are regarded as being adequate to provide such authorization. If this assumption is correct, it would be helpful for this Bureau to be in a position to so explain the matter to representatives of other governments who may raise questions as to this point.
It is also believed desirable that it be clearly understood that whatever commitments the United States Government may assume in connection with this Plan are those which have to do with planning of a purely military character. It has been noted, for example, that Section IV B, “Basic Defense Aims”, includes a statement to the effect that “to achieve the necessary military defensive capacity it is indispensable … to tend toward dispersion throughout the Continent of the present industrial concentrations …” and that “this industrial development would be accomplished by stimulating, through mutual, technical and material aid, the creation of new centers and the development of those already existing.” However accurate such an estimate may be from a military point of view, it would be politically and economically undesirable for other American States to conclude from the Plan that the United States Government is committed to aid in the accomplishment of such dispersion or industrial decentralization as the other American Republics might desire. Similarly, question is raised with respect to that portion of Section VI, “Basic Objectives” dealing with “Internal Security.” Although the footnote to this section makes it appear that it is related exclusively to certain military aspects of the problem, several of the activities suggested, such as “strict inspection of passports,” and “planning, organizing, and training for civil defense” would appear to go beyond the strictly military field.
As indicated above, these comments are directed at certain of the aspects of the Plan which might have political importance, and which you may wish to take into consideration in expressing approval of the document.9
Sincerely yours,
- Drafted by Mr. Jamison on Mar. 12; cleared with the Offices of South American Affairs and Middle American Affairs, the Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Mutual Security Affairs, and Intelligence Adviser Hobart A. Spalding in the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs.↩
- Thomas W. Sharkey.↩
- The referenced memorandum, addressed to Mr. Jamison, is not printed. (397.5 IA/2–1452)↩
- For information on the plan, approved by the Inter-American Defense Board, Nov. 15, 1951 and by the United States, Mar. 20, 1952, see the editorial note, Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. ii, p. 1028.↩
- For text of the referenced resolution (“Inter-American Military Cooperation”), see Fourth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs: Proceedings, pp. 239–240.↩
- Kenneth R. Kreps (USAF), Deputy Director, Executive Office of the Secretary of Defense.↩
- Not printed. (710.5/2–1452)↩
- Lt. Gen. Charles L. Bolté (USA).↩
- In his reply to Assistant Secretary Miller, dated Mar. 20, 1952, Major General Walsh stated in part the following: “The points which you make are pertinent. I think it would be best not to bring them up specifically in transmitting the U.S. Government approval of the Plan to the Board, but rather to indicate that we are accepting the Plan on a military basis only.” (397.5 IA/3–2052)↩