126. 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
1. Guillermo Carey, Jr., of Anaconda, told Krest Cyr September 27 (presumably to relay to me) that a group of military persons, exclud-ing the top military leaders, are prepared to launch a coup if they can be given the following three assurances (presumably by the U.S. Government):
a. A sum of U.S. dollars 50,000 (as received) is set aside to take care of each of the families of the ten leaders should anything go wrong.
b. The sum of 200,000 to 300,000 Escudos (less than (US$10,000) is made available for “special items” to be obtained in Argentina.
c. Sufficient food such as wheat and other staples will be made available to feed the populace of Chile in the aftermath of the takeover.
2. Cyr was uncomfortable to be the carrier of this sort of message but gamely asked if I had any response to this proposal. I said there was no answer. I reminded Cyr that I had told U.S. business community Friday that rightists were trying to foment coups and that Allendistas might be pushing them into abortive actions that could only seal Allende’s victory. Cyr said he had asked Carey about this and Carey replied he was aware of the danger.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Chile–ITT–CIA 1963–1977, Lot 81D121, Documents Requested by the Department of Justice, 1970–1977. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only.↩