31. Memorandum for the Record1
SUBJECT
- Minutes of the Meeting of the 40 Committee 25 March 1970
PRESENT
- Mr. Kissinger, Mr. Packard, Mr. Johnson, and General Cushman.
- Mr. Mitchell was out of the city; his views on the agenda items were obtained prior to his departure.
- Mr. William Broe was present for Items 1 and 2.
- Mr. Archibald Roosevelt was present for Item 3.
- Mr. [name not declassified] was present for Item 4.
- Mr. Wymberley Coerr was present for Items 1 through 4.
- Mr. Thomas Karamessines was present for Items 1 through 5.
1. Chile—Political Action Related to 1970 Presidential Election
a. Mr. Broe briefed the Committee in detail on the close three-way presidential election race in Chile between Alessandri, Allende, and Tomic. He noted that the joint State/CIA consensus is that the U.S. should not provide direct support to any presidential candidate. Rather, the covert effort should be confined to spoiling operations undertaken against the Popular Unity (UP) electoral front, a coalition of Communists, Socialists and leftists supporting Allende. Mr. Broe described the operations, mechanisms and secure funding methods to be used and noted that total estimated costs of these efforts through September 1970 would be $125,000.
b. In the ensuing discussion, cognizance was taken of the fact that following an electoral poll to be conducted in Chile in April, the Ambassador and the CIA Station Chief might recommend additional action, possibly even including direct support to one candidate.
c. The members were unanimous in approving the proposal as described in the CIA paper dated 5 March 1970,2 including the funding level.
[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to Chile.]
- Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Chapin on March 30. Copies were sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, and Helms.↩
- Document 29.↩