109. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1

SUBJECT

  • Chile

Attached are two cables from Korry through CAS channels.2 I assume you have seen them. In them Korry

—Describes a confused picture, with some doubt that any plan of action is agreed upon by anyone.

—Describes himself in an activist role encouraging the military formula.

Charlie Meyer wanted to send out a message to Korry last night reining him in. Meyer is still under the opinion that we have agreed only to encourage the “Rube Goldberg” political formula. He thinks Korry is exceeding his instructions. I told him not to send any message last night, and to check with Alex Johnson before he sent anything out. I did not say anything to him about the meeting on the military alternative, nor do I think he is aware of either the meeting or the report that Helms circulated.

There is a very awkward and possibly dangerous gap between what you see as our policy and what Meyer and ARA understand to be the policy. I believe this gap is sincere—they simply are unaware of guidance existing that is any different from last week’s 40 Committee.

I recommend that you tell Johnson to tell Meyer what the mood is in the White House so that ARA understands they may be on a different frequency. Otherwise they are going to cross wires. I have also taken the precaution of saying we wanted to clear any instructions to Korry in the 40 Committee line.3

  1. Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Printed from an uninitialed copy.
  2. Document 108 and footnote 2 thereto.
  3. Kissinger wrote, “Good,” in the left margin of this paragraph.