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

831.2553/2–854

The Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Woodward) to the Director of the Office of Foreign Military Affairs, Department of Defense (Davis)¹

secret

[Washington,] September 29, 1954.

Dear Admiral Davis: I refer to your letter of February 8, 1954,² concerning resumption of military staff conversations with Venezuela at Caracas.

Arrangements for the initiation of military staff conversations were not made after the receipt of your letter in view of several problems which arose in our military and other relations with Venezuela, that are already known to members of your staff. It was also considered advisable to delay the initiation of such conversations until after the chiefs of the three military services in Venezuela had visited the United States.

The Commandant of the Venezuelan Navy visited the United States in June as the guest of the Department of the Navy and the Chief of the Venezuelan Air Force is to visit the United States this month as the guest of the Air Force. The chief of the Venezuelan Army is unable to accept a similar invitation.

Our Embassy at Caracas reports that as a result of recent conversations between the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs and the President of Venezuela there has been a marked improvement in the relations between the United States and Venezuela.

In view of the above, this Department considers that it would now be desirable to initiate military staff conversations and I would appreciate being informed of the earliest practicable date that the Department of Defense would be prepared for such conversations so that the matter may be taken up with the Venezuelan Government.³

Sincerely yours,

Robert F. Woodward

1. Drafted by Mr. Sayre.
2. Ante, p. 1664.
3. In a memorandum to Special Assistant to the Secretary for Mutual Security Affairs Nolting, dated Dec. 3, 1954, the Acting Director of the Office of Military Assistance, Department of Defense, Col. J. K. Wilson, Jr., stated that U.S. military representatives would “be prepared to resume conversations with Venezuelan military representatives thirty (30) days after notification is received that Venezuela agrees to resume the talks.” (831.2553/12–354)