ETA–35. Memorandum from the Deputy Coordinator for Mutual Security (Bell) to the Acting Secretary of State1
SUBJECT
- S/P Memorandum on New Initiatives
At the risk of heresy I want to express opposition to the S/P proposal. I am opposed because I think it exaggerates a need for “refurbishing U.S. leadership”, provides an oversimplified and probably inadequate answer to the problems of U.S. policy towards Latin American development, underrates the difficulties of Congressional approval, ignores the danger of failure, and assumes a global effect which would be probably confined in its beneficial aspects to Latin America and would risk adverse repercussions elsewhere.
I do think our policy towards Latin America needs revision. My staff has prepared a study on this subject which was recently transmitted to ARA, S/P and C, and which attempts to address the problem in a somewhat more thoughtful manner.2 I have very serious doubt that [Typeset Page 95] we would find adding to the capital of the IADB a solution to our problems and the adoption of this course at this time might well make us unable to attempt a more considered program later. If we want to have a new program for Latin America, then I think a task force should be immediately put to the job of developing a proposition which is defensible. I would think the Congress would regard as somewhat hysterical a proposal to add a large dimension of capital to an organization that has yet to spend its first penny and that in all probability could not use any additional capital for a long time.
- Source: Department of State, PPS Files, Lot 67 D 548, “American Republics 1960–1961.” Confidential. Drafted by Bell; copies were sent to Smith and Achilles.↩
- For information on the referenced study, see Document ETA–32.↩