116. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1

Ref: Santiago Nodis 3872.2

1. Appreciate UnderSec’s message.3 However, no necessity for me to give any assurances of any kind to Frei since I have emphasized from start that whatever he does will be Chilean and only Chilean. Only requests GOC has made have been reported. They have been limited to propaganda and now (see below) diplomatic.

2. Embassy profile is at zero level and no repeat no risks of any kind have been taken. Frei has been receiving my suggestions that are clearly personal and within the framework of my instructions. I still have my doubts about a “coup” and still have greater hopes it will be a typical Chilean-type kaffee klatch solution. Embassy operates under strictest orders to seek no contacts of any kind and only to receive those who seek us. In some cases we are very dissuasive and the situation is under as tight a control as is humanly possible.

3. GOC and everyone here, including me, hoping for a reversal of Allende “victory” would also welcome a reversal of Department’s position of diplomatic non-action with our friends, particularly British whose influence here is not inconsiderable and whose weight is being thrown to Allende with very damaging effect.

  1. Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.
  2. Dated September 23. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II)
  3. Document 113.