Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

ES–7. Memorandum of Conversation by the Officer in Charge of El Salvadoran Affairs (Ross)¹

Washington, April 1, 1959

SUBJECT

• Salvadoran Interest in a Mutual Assistance Agreement

PARTICIPANTS

• Dr. Don Hector David Castro, Ambassador of El Salvador
• Mr. Roy R. Rubottom, Jr., Assistant Secretary
• Mr. Robert Ross, Officer-in-Charge of Salvadoran Affairs

Ambassador Castro said President Lemus had asked him to discuss informally with Mr. Rubottom the possibility of obtaining a U.S.-El Salvador mutual assistance agreement under the provisions of the Rio de Janeiro accord.² He said that while the previous Salvadoran administration, under President Osorio, had been “disinclined” to sign such an agreement with the U.S., President Lemus believed his country’s inter American defense obligations and close friendship with the U.S. indicated the desirability of an agreement of this type. President Lemus would like to know, the Ambassador said, whether or not agreements were still being signed and the possibilities for consideration of one with El Salvador.

Mr. Rubottom said that certainly the absence of such an agreement with El Salvador was not due to a lack of friendship between the two countries nor does it have any deleterious effect upon this friendship. He went on to say that the world and the future of its people had changed a great deal since the Rio agreements. The Assistant Secretary cited the new probability of any future war being an atomic conflict as an example of the changes, since 1945. He also pointed out the effectiveness of the Organization of American States as an instrument for the avoidance of inter-American wars and reminded the Ambassador of the small size of our mutual defense programs in Latin America, with the exception of our program in Brazil resulting from the strategic location of the country and our missile tracking facilities there.

He also told the Ambassador that the present trend of public and Congressional opinion in the U.S. was away from defense expenditures and in the direction of economic assistance. The Ambassador’s frank discussion was appreciated, Mr. Rubottom said, and the question would be given full consideration. However, Mr. Rubottom said he could not be optimistic.³

Ambassador Castro appreciated the frank reply and said he believed his President also doubted that this program was being emphasized by the U.S. at this time. He said he would advise President Lemus of the conversation and await further informal reply by Mr. Rubottom.

It was agreed that no formal steps, such as a note to the Secretary, would be taken at this time.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 716.5-MSP/4–159. Limited Official Use.
2. Reference is to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), signed at Rio de Janeiro, September 2, 1947; for text, see 4 Bevans 559.
3. On April 21, 1959, Rubottom told Ambassador Castro that the United States could not conclude a mutual assistance agreement with El Salvador. (716.5–MSP/4–2159)