Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The American Republics, Volume IV

723.5321/3–3152

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Military Assistance, Department of Defense ( Olmsted ) to the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Mutual Security Affairs ( Cowen )

secret

Washington , March 31, 1952.

Subject:

• Purchase by the Peruvian Government of U.S. Naval Vessels for use by the Peruvian Navy. Case No. Peru–13

1. Reference is made to memorandum from your office 5 January 1952,¹ requesting information concerning the status of the Peruvian Government’s current request for the purchase of a cruiser from the United States Government under Section 408(e) of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, as amended.

2. The following information is furnished relative to the status of subject request:

a. The request of Peru for a cruiser is still under active consideration by the Department of Defense. In the event that it is found that a cruiser can be made available to Peru, no assurance can be given at this time as to the identity of the cruiser that might be made available.

b. Public Law 3, 82nd Congress, 1st Session,² requires Congressional approval prior to disposal of battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines which have not been stricken from the Navy Register. It is the opinion of this office, as of now, that representation to the Congress for disposal of a cruiser to Peru during this session should not be made and would not meet with favorable consideration if made.

c. The Department of Defense is unable to confirm the information which Admiral Saldias ³ reports having received of various officers in the Department of the Navy and subsequently relayed to the State Department by Mr. Aramburu,⁴ Minister Counselor of the Peruvian Embassy. Admiral Saldias was informed, however, during a visit to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and subsequent to letter from this office, 15 December 1951,⁵ subject: Request by the Government of Peru for U.S. Naval Vessels, that the Peruvian Government’s request for a U.S. cruiser is being considered.

d. The concept of the Joint Outline War Plan for Latin America is based upon Latin American Forces in being, and the two Chilean modern cruisers now in the plan are capable of countering the threat of raider action on the west coast of South America. It is considered that Peru would contribute more to hemisphere defense by maintaining the combat efficiency of her patrol type ships to fill the critical need of convoy escorts in the event of hostilities than to contribute a cruiser, not required to fill the Naval Force gap in the plan. On the above premise there is no overriding military requirement for a Peruvian cruiser in the defense of the Western Hemisphere.

3. This confirms certain information previously furnished your office by letter 15 December 1951, discussions with representatives of your office and this office, 26 February 1952, and various telephone conversations.

George H. Olmsted

Major General, U.S. Army

1. Not printed (723.5 MSP/1–552).
2. Reference is to the “Act to authorize the construction of modern naval vessels, and for other purposes,” approved Mar. 10, 1951; for text, see 65 Stat. 4.
3. Rear Adm. Roque A. Saldías, Peruvian Minister of Marine.
4. Germán Aramburú, Lecaros. A memorandum of telephone conversation between Robert J. Dorr of the Office of South American Affairs and Minister Counselor Aramburú, dated Mar. 20, 1952, reads in part as follows: “In the course of the conversation Minister Aramburú said that Admiral Saldías had been given to understand by the U.S. Navy that the whole question of a cruiser for Peru hinged on the possibility of obtaining legislative approval for the transfer. The Minister stated the Navy had said it would be able to find a cruiser for Peru and would sponsor legislation for a transfer if it appeared legislative approval could be obtained.” (723.5621/3–2052)
5. Not printed.