265. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to President Johnson1

This is merely an extra note of insurance, but you may want to know that we have been asked by our friends in Santiago not to make any public recognition of Chile ‘s break with Cuba.2 In response to this request, we are making no public statement at all, and when pressed [Page 587] by reporters we will say simply “This is a decision taken by a democratic government in the light of its own assessment of its international obligations, and that is all we need to say about it.”

If we look as if we are interfering in any way, it will be bad for our friend Frei and good for the Communist-supported Allende.

The election prognosis continues favorable at the moment.3

McG. B.
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, McGeorge Bundy, Vol. VI. No classification marking. Copy to Reedy.
  2. Although it had recently voted against such action at the 9th Meeting of Foreign Ministers, Chile suspended diplomatic relations with Cuba on August 11.
  3. A handwritten notation at the end of the memorandum reads: “O.K. L”.