Office of the Historian

PE–52. Telegram from the Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Peru1

Washington, December 29, 1960, 11:48 a.m.

431. Exchange of notes completed December 28 (Dept’s note of December 27 and Peruvian Embassy’s note of December 28) agreeing to loan to Peru of 1 Lavalette (ex-Fletcher) class destroyer under same terms and conditions as agreement of February 12 and 26, 1960, to which this destroyer is added to annex, but with rehabilitation etc. as requested by GOP to be at latter’s expense.2

Dept. has requested Peruvian Embassy urge GOP refrain from publicity in order avoid if possible further adverse Ecuadorean reaction at this time. Embassy Lima requested make similar informal representations appropriate officials Lima.

Dept planning inform Chiriboga3 of above agreement, with following further explanation: (1) above agreement represents fulfillment of long-standing commitment made under Ship Loan Act4 which U.S. obligated to honor; (2) timing of agreement necessitated by expiration Ship Loan Act December 31, 1960; (3) delivery will probably not be made for as much as 2 years as vessel will be turned over from active fleet; (4) we have urged Peru refrain from publicity as above in interest avoid public reaction in Ecuador. Dept will also ask Chiriboga avoid publicity to maximum extent possible.5

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 723.5621/12–2960. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Poole and signed by Lane. This message was repeated to Quito.↩
  2. For citations to the referenced notes, see Document PE–14.↩
  3. José R. Chiriboga Villogómeg, Ecuadorean Minister of Foreign Affairs.↩
  4. Reference is to Public Law 532, approved July 18, 1960; for text, see 72 State 376.↩
  5. No record of whether this information was conveyed to Chiriboga was found in Department of State files.↩