Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Multilateral; Mexico; Caribbean, Volume VI

48. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford) to the Chairman of the Operations Coordinating Board (Herter)¹

Washington, 15 April 1957.

SUBJECT

• Military Force Structure Requirements for Latin America (U)

1. Reference is made to our recent conversation² regarding the establishment of estimates of military force structures required by each Latin American country. In response to your request, the following views are furnished in support of a recent position taken by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that such estimates for each Latin American country should not be established.

2. MAP Force Objectives, developed primarily from military considerations, are used to assist in determining the grant assistance program for Latin America. However, it is not considered that the military need will be the determining factor as to U.S. response on future requests for reimbursable assistance. Generally, our response will be affected primarily by political considerations or our desire to exclude influences of other nations from Latin America.

3. After thorough consideration of the practicability of developing force structures, which would include the country as well as MDAP-supported forces of each Latin American nation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff conclude that no valid basis for developing firm and comprehensive force structures exists. Establishment of a list of estimated Latin American force requirements for use as a criterion in determining the military needs of Latin American countries is, therefore, impracticable.

4. Furthermore, despite the best of intentions, it is considered that there is a tendency for lists to become regarded as programs, which could lead to additional requests for both grant and reimbursable assistance and result in embarrassment or undue expense to the United States.

Arthur Radford

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 720.5–MSP/4–1757. Secret. Attached to a letter from Sprague to Herter, April 17, stating that if the enclosed memorandum “is not suitable for your purpose I will be glad to take the matter up further with Admiral Radford.” A memorandum to Rubottom from Spencer King, April 19, reads in part as follows: “Admiral Radford’s reply is disappointing and is inconsistent with Mr. Herter’s report to the OCB on April 10 in which he said that the Admiral had agreed to furnish country-by-country estimates upon request.” King further stated that he had suggested to Sayre that ARA prepare a letter from Herter to Sprague referring to Herter’s report to the OCB and requesting estimates on Argentina and Brazil.
2. This reference is uncertain, but it might be to the OCB meeting mentioned in footnote 1 above.