Office of the Historian

121. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to All Posts in the American Republics1

Washington, November 30, 1961, 2:30 p.m.

1028. Secretary and Woodward today informed Argentine Foreign Minister in Canada of acceptability to President Lleras of compromise formula suggested by Argentines to Stevenson at Trinidad November 26-27.2 Argentine formula calls for COAS decision December 4:

1.
Agree that MFM be held;
2.
That COAS decide before December 31 (a) whether meeting to be held under Article 6 Rio Treaty or Article 39 OAS Charter; (b) date and place of MFM.

Following was clearly understood as part of formula: (a) Argentina would vote favorably this resolution and obtain support other LA governments. FYI. Argentina would concentrate Chile Uruguay Brazil and if feasible Mexico. End FYI. If support for Argentine formula should prove to be limited, US would have to weigh carefully possible advisability of return to full support Colombian initiative under Rio Treaty; (b) period between December 4 and 31 would be used to reach agreement on whether MFM would be convoked pursuant Rio Treaty or OAS Charter and to seek maximum possible advance agreement on substantive action to be taken at MFM in hopes this would be sufficient to obtain support of practically all member governments. Should there be apprehension lest US abandoning view that Rio Treaty applicable you should make it clear that we continue to believe nature of threat such that it clearly falls within terms Rio Treaty Article 6.

Argentine Foreign Minister told Secretary he would immediately have Argentine embassies take up formula with OARS, particularly Brazil Chile Uruguay, while Argentine Ambassadors to White House and OAS would discuss formula with LA Ambassadors Washington. Secretary agreed we would support Argentine formula with countries that already have indicated support Colombian proposal or favor stronger action but effective outcome will depend primarily on Argentine initiative this matter. Woodward urged Foreign Minister come Washington work on this matter with Colombian Foreign Minister due arrive here [Page 268] November 30 or December 1. Foreign Minister said he would consult immediately with Argentine Ambassadors to White House and OAS as well as President Frondizi on this point.

FYI. We have acquiesced in Argentine move in expectation achieving equally good substance of OAS action on Cuba with more support than that contemplated Colombian proposal, including possibly even Brazil and Mexico. Other factors are real or dissembled disgruntlement indicated by several governments, with Argentina in lead, over precipitate formal presentation Colombian proposal to COAS (Depcirtel 997)3 and alleged lack prior consultation on exact texts Colombian draft resolutions. Views other governments so far received on substance resolutions, except for Mexico and on one or two important points Brazil (both of which obviously would prefer no MFM) do not reveal major differences on type of anticipated MFM substantive action and some of these views appear essentially constructive. End FYI.

Request you seek earliest opportunity convey foregoing orally to President or Foreign Minister. Report reaction soonest.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 371.05/11-3061. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Jamison and Bowdler; cleared by Bracken, Crimmins, Wellman, and Director of the Office of West Coast Affairs Taylor G. Belcher; approved by Woodward. Repeated to USUN, Ciudad Trujillo, POLADCINCARIB, and POLAD SACLANT.↩
  2. A memorandum of Stevenson’s meeting with Frondizi is filed ibid., 737.00/11-2761. Telegram 346 from Bogota, dated November 28, reported that Ambassador Freeman had presented the compromise formula to Lleras and that the latter had agreed to the formula with some modifications. (Ibid., 737.00/11-2861)↩
  3. Dated November 24. (Ibid., 371.05/11-2461)↩