184. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)1
Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to the letter of April 20, 1955, from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Admiral Davis, to me,2 which includes a recommendation that a U.S. military survey be conducted to make recommendations on Argentina’s force objectives for hemisphere defense if this Department considers exploratory talks to be feasible and politically expedient at this time. It is understood that such a survey would be preliminary to the possible initiation of a military grant assistance program with Argentina.
In view of the desire of President Perón that conversations be held between Argentina and the United States regarding Argentina’s role in hemisphere defense, as expressed to Secretary of the Navy Thomas and reported in the attached despatch No. 839 from the American Embassy in Buenos Aires,3 I believe the time is appropriate for such conversations to be proposed by Ambassador Nufer. Before such an approach is made, however, I believe it essential that the Department of Defense and the Department of State be in agreement that funds to implement any bilateral military assistance agreement which may eventuate will be made available or will be sought from the Congress, and that such funds will be sufficient at least to [Page 361] approximate reasonable Argentine aspirations in relation to other bilateral programs. I should appreciate your informing me as to the amount which might be required for an Argentine program, and whether the Department of Defense is in agreement that such funds will be made available or will be requested from the Congress in the event that Argentina is prepared to agree to the necessary terms and conditions.
Should there be agreement on these points, this Department will authorize Ambassador Nufer to make the necessary approach to the President of Argentina. Should the initial conversations which may be held make it appear likely that the Argentine Government is prepared to enter into the agreements requisite to its participation in the grant aid program, it is also believed essential that appropriate information regarding such possible Argentine participation be provided to the Congress, in view of the interest expressed by Congressional committees regarding the possible provision of grant assistance to that government.
The Department of State is in agreement with those portions of your letter of April 20 which contemplate the provision of additional assistance to Brazil and Cuba and assumes that funds required for this assistance are available or will be included in the current request to Congress for military assistance funds.4
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 720.5–MSP/4–2055. Secret. Drafted on May 20 by Jamison. In a memorandum to Dulles, May 20, Holland enclosed a draft letter to Defense, identical to the source text. “It seems to me essential,” Holland stated in part, “that Defense put itself clearly on record that it will make funds available or seek them from the Congress before conversations with Perón are initiated. The amount contemplated should be sufficient to meet reasonable Argentine aspirations in relation to other bilateral programs. Although it is possible that Perón will not show any disposition to agree to the terms required for us to provide grant aid, we should do all that is feasible to insure that, if he does agree to such terms, we are in a position to deliver the goods.” (Ibid., 720.5–MSP/4–2055)↩
- Vol. vi, Document 23.↩
- Document 182.↩
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In a letter to Dulles, August 24, Gordon Gray enclosed a memorandum from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense Wilson, dated August 2, concerning the possible initiation of a military assistance program with Argentina. That memorandum reads in part as follows: “The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not consider it judicious to make an unsupported estimate of the probable initial size or monetary value of a military aid program for Argentina. Lack of detailed knowledge of the status of the Argentine military forces and their equipment would make such an estimate of little or no value.” Appropriate recommendations, the Joint Chiefs pointed out, could only be developed after the United States first undertook a military survey of Argentina. Gray wrote that the Department of Defense concurred with the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this subject. (Department of State, Central Files, 735.5–MSP/8–2455)
In reply Robert C. Hill sent a letter to Gray, dated November 25, which reads in part as follows: “The Department of State has not been able, because of the political situation in Argentina, to authorize military discussions with the Argentine Government looking toward a possible grant military assistance program. It would be desirable, however, to initiate discussions as soon as politically feasible. In this connection I understand that a military survey team could be organized on a stand-by basis. If this understanding is correct, it is suggested that such a team be organized to be utilized as soon as conditions permit.” (Ibid.)
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