40. Circular Telegram From the Secretary of State to All Diplomatic Missions in the American Republics 1
103. Depcirtel 81.2 Argentine proposal meet with Uruguay, Brazil defense South Atlantic3
General Military Plan for Defense American Continent prepared by Inter-American Defense Board November 1951 in accordance Rio Treaty4 and approved by all OAS governments (except Mexico) including US (Venezuela approved with reservations) . . . .
From information available Department not clear whether Argentina contemplates 1) solely military level planning and coordination operations as provided IADB Plan or 2) formal treaty organization at government to government level.
US position is we have no objection alternative (1). Concept of Latin American contributions to hemisphere defense (as opposed solely defense one’s national territory) within individual country’s means is fundamental of US military policy Latin America. This fundamental manifest Rio Treaty, Resolution III of Fourth Meeting [Page 269] Foreign Ministers Washington 1951,5 … and US bilateral mutual defense assistance agreements with 12 Latin American countries (Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic). We would expect however if Brazil Uruguay decide participate with Argentina in defense coordination those two countries would assure their bilateral defense commitments with US would be preserved.
US does not favor alternative (2). In our opinion Rio Treaty entirely adequate as formal treaty arrangement collective defense entire hemisphere and treaties for collective defense areas within hemisphere neither necessary nor desirable.
Possibility Argentine proposal might result in further Argentine Uruguayan Brazilian requests US military equipment. US position is those countries’ acceptance either alternative (1) or (2) would not alter amount military aid US prepared provide each of three countries.
If invited US would send observers to military level discussions Buenos Aires.
In your discretion you may inform government foregoing.…
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 710.5/8–856. Secret; Priority. Cleared with Gray at the Department of Defense and signed for the Secretary by Rubottom. Pouched to Guatemala, Habana, Managua, Panamá, San José, San Salvador, Tegucigalpa, Port-au-Prince, and Ciudad Trujillo.↩
- Not printed. (Ibid., 710.5/8–356)↩
- On July 31, the Argentine Foreign Office publicly announced that it had extended invitations to Brazil and Uruguay to attend a meeting in Buenos Aires to consider organization for the defense of the south Atlantic. In a memorandum to Deputy Under Secretary Murphy, dated August 6, commenting on the Argentine proposal, Acting Assistant Secretary Rubottom wrote: “According to the Argentine Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the proposal originated with the Argentine Navy. While it undoubtedly reflects a desire to maximize hemispheric cooperation as well as a move to gain international prestige, it probably also springs from internal motives and may represent a desire to obtain greater military assistance and equalize Argentina’s status vis-à-vis Brazil in this regard.” (Ibid., 710.5/8–656)↩
- Reference is to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), opened for signature at Rio de Janeiro, September 2, 1947, and entered into force for the United States, December 3, 1948; for text, see 62 Stat. (pt. 2) 1681.↩
- For text of Resolution III, entitled “Inter-American Military Cooperation,” see Fourth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of American States, Washington, D.C., March 26–April 7, 1951: Report of the Secretary of State (Department of State Publication 4928, Washington, 1953), pp. 69–70.↩