Office of the Historian

71. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1

Washington, December 29, 1959.

SUBJECT

  • Your Proposed Visit to South America

Following your highly successful trip to Asia and Europe, it would be desirable for you to make a brief tour of about ten days of certain South American countries. Because of its prominent role in inter-American affairs and long tradition of close friendly cooperation with the United States, Brazil should be included in such a visit. Uruguay would also be particularly suitable because of its unique record of democratic stability, its devotion to free world interests and its long tradition of friendship with the United States. Chile should also be given recognition. This country has been recognized as one of the political and cultural leaders of South America. The present administration is committed to a democratic free enterprise system and has planted itself firmly in the camp of the West. It should be noted that Chile and Brazil were the only South American countries not visited by Vice President Nixon during his tour of South America. Finally Argentina should be included on your itinerary because of its traditional prominence in hemisphere affairs and to provide that country with the encouragement it deserves for carrying out an economic stabilization program against formidable difficulties. Argentine President Frondizi visited the United States as your guest in January 1959 and your proposed trip would offer an excellent opportunity to reciprocate.

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Accordingly, I recommend that you make a tour of these key South American countries. A tentative suggested schedule is enclosed.2

If you approve, the various Governments concerned will be consulted to determine whether the dates proposed would be acceptable.

Christian A. Heater3
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/12–2959. Secret. Drafted by Melville E. Osborne.↩
  2. Not attached to the source text. The schedule is, however, enclosed with the copy of this memorandum in the Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles-Herter Series.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩