A “Noisy Democracy”: The Decline of Eduardo Frei, January–December 1969
1. National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Council, Job 79R01012A, NIE 94–69. Secret; Controlled Dissem. According to the covering sheet, the CIA and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and the National Security Agency participated in the preparation of the estimate. All members of the U.S. Intelligence Board concurred in the estimate except the Atomic Energy Commission and the FBI, on the grounds that the subject was outside their jurisdiction. For the full text of the NIE, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–16,Documents on Chile, 1969–1973, Document 1.
3. Memorandum for the 303 Committee
Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile through 1969. Secret; Eyes Only. No drafting information or attribution appears on the memorandum. A handwritten notation on the memorandum indicates it was noted by the Committee at its April 15 meeting. Embassy reports on the March 2 election are in telegrams 781 and 807 from Santiago, both March 3. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 14 CHILE)
4. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 1 CHILE–US. Confidential; Limdis. This is one of three cables Korry transmitted on March 25 reporting on the subjects of Foreign Policy, Chilean Politics, and Economic Policy. Telegram 1161 is Document 5. Telegram 1168 is published in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–16, Documents on Chile, 1969–1973, Document 2.
5. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 1 CHILE–US. Confidential; Limdis.
6. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 1 CHILE–US. Secret; Exdis.
7. Memorandum for the Record
Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile through 1969, 303 Committee Minutes. Secret; Eyes Only. Copies were sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, and Helms.
8. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Secret; Priority; Nodis.
9. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Attached to another copy of this telegram is a note from Haig to Kissinger that reads: “This has earmarks of a new crisis. Pete Vaky is preparing a memo for your sig to President today.” (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I) A May 6 memorandum for the President summarizing telegrams 1767 and 1768 from Santiago was initialed by Kissinger, although there is no definitive indication that the President saw it. (Ibid.)
10. Letter From Chilean President Frei to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Secret. This translation and a copy of the original letter in Spanish were sent to Washington in airgram A–146 from Santiago, May 8, along with data on the copper industry given by Frei to Korry. In the airgram, Korry wrote, “While I cannot vouch for the authenticity of all the figures, I did warn the President that if any errors were to be discovered later, it would not serve the good faith or reputation of his government. He assured me that they had been triple-checked and that the most sensitive ones had been taken from the balance sheets from the companies which must submit their accounts to the Chilean Copper Corporation.” (Ibid.)
11. Memorandum of Conversation
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Secret. Drafted by Chapin; cleared by Crimmins, Feldman, Salzman (AA/PRR), and Korry; and approved in D on May 13. The meeting took place in Samuels’s office.
12. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Secret; Priority; Limited Distribution.
13. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Confidential. On May 10, Rogers sent a memorandum to Nixon discussing developments in Chilean copper, recommending that Nixon meet with Meyer and Korry to receive Frei’s letter and that the initial U.S. Government reaction be to let the copper companies decide whether to seek an accommodation with the Chilean Government. On May 16, Kissinger submitted a memorandum to Nixon echoing Rogers’s recommendations. Nixon declined to meet with Meyer and Korry, authorized Kissinger to see them on his behalf, and approved Rogers’s policy recommendation. (Ibid.)
14. Letter From President Nixon to Chilean President Frei
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Unclassified. President Nixon signed the letter based on Kissinger’s recommendation in a May 19 memorandum. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I) Vaky informed Kissinger that he revised the Department of State draft of the letter “to express at least some mild words of caution to Frei.” (Memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger, May 17; ibid.)
15. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, INCO COPPER CHILE. Secret; Priority; Exdis.
16. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Confidential; Exdis. Attached is a note from Vaky to Kissinger: “Per our conversation this memo is for you to use with Flanigan. I now understand that a tentative decision has been made to send Hurd to Chile. Korry has been queried by wire as to whether he sees any problem in Hurd’s going to Chile. I hope you can raise this with Flanigan soonest.” In telegram 2995 from Santiago, July 14, Korry noted that John Hurd would face insuperable obstacles to effective performance given his close ties to the oil industry and the bad publicity surrounding his nomination as Ambassador to Venezuela. Korry also criticized the suggestion that he be nominated as Ambassador to Venezuela, noting that he would be viewed as a specialist in massaging Christian Democrats, and that the idea that he could be promoted from Chile to Venezuela would be taken in Chile as an insult. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 17 US–CHILE)
17. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it.
18. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 15 CHILE. Secret; Exdis.
19. Intelligence Note Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 CHILE. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; Background Use Only. Drafted by Denney.
20. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for information. A notation on the memorandum indicates it was returned on October 23.
21. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I. Confidential. Sent for information.
22. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 CHILE. Confidential; Priority; Exdis.
23. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 CHILE. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis.
24. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Embassy in Venezuela
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 23–9 CHILE. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated priority to the Department, USCINCSO, and DIA. Rumors concerning plans for coups continued to surface through the end of the year and were reported in CIA Intelligence Information Cables TDCS DB–315/04881–69, November 18; TDCS 314/16272–69, November 21; TDCS 314/17198–69, December 11; and TDCS 314/17358–69, December 14; all are ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 773, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. I.