Office of the Historian

PE–51. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Robert M. Phillips of the Office of West Coast Affairs1

Washington, December 23, 1960

SUBJECT

  • Proposed Purchase of Military Aircraft by Peru

PARTICIPANTS

  • Mr. Jorge Nicholson, First Secretary, Peruvian Embassy
  • Col. Enrique Fuller, Assistant Air Attaché, Peruvian Embassy
  • Robert M. Phillips, WST

Following inquiries from the Peruvian Embassy to the Departments of Defense and State, and after consulting with Mr. Lane2 of WST and Mr. McLean of RPA/S, I telephoned Mr. Nicholson and informed him that the United States Government had decided that it could not at this time authorize the sale of the B–26 and B–57 aircraft requested by the Peruvian Government.3 We were sure that the Peruvian Government was fully aware of the delicate circumstances which prompted us to withhold the requested authorization4 and we trusted that the Peruvian Government would agree as to the undesirability of taking any action which might upset the recent relative improvement in this situation. I said I would also call Col. Fuller, who had telephoned while I was out, in order to give him the same information.

Mr. Nicholson thanked me for this information and said he understood the Department’s position. He gave no indication that the U.S. decision might be disagreeable to his Government.

I then telephoned Col. Fuller and gave him the same information. He betrayed no surprise at the news but merely requested that the Department send a written reply to the Peruvian Embassy’s notes [Typeset Page 1137] requesting authorization to purchase these aircraft. I promised that we would send a written reply as requested.5

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 723.5622/12–2360. Confidential. Phillips, the Officer in Charge of Chilean Affairs, presumably acted for Richard A. Poole, the Officer in Charge of Peruvian Affairs, in this case.↩
  2. Samuel O. Lane, Deputy Director, Office of West Coast Affairs, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs.↩
  3. Allan F. McLean, Jr., Assistant Officer in Charge of Inter-American Military Assistance, Office of Inter-American Regional Political Department of State.↩
  4. According to telegram 9 to Lima, July 5, the Peruvian Air Force wanted two B–57s. (723.5622/7–560) In a note of October 3 to the Secretary of State, the Peruvian Ambassador specified the eight B-26s the Peruvian Air Force wanted. (723.5622/10–360)↩
  5. In telegram 263 from Quito, November 14, the Embassy advised against sale of military aircraft, particularly bombers, because it would intensify Ecuadoran reaction against a guarantor statement regarding the Peru-Ecuador border dispute. (723.5622/11–1460)
    In a note of January 23, 1961, to the Peruvian Ambassador, the Departmental of State expressed its regret that it could not approve sale of the eight B-26s and two P-57s. (723.5622/10–360)    ↩