34. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Helms to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1

SUBJECT

  • Chilean Election

1. [name not declassified] telephoned me this afternoon from the [1½ lines not declassified]. He plans to be in Washington on Thursday for a meeting and may head himself in your direction to voice his concern about the upcoming Chilean presidential election scheduled for the fourth of September. He is advocating that the United States Government give a lot of financial help to the Alessandri campaign.

2. As you will recall, this election has been dicey and difficult to figure for a whole variety of reasons going back many months. [1½ lines not declassified] We in the Agency are worried about pouring money into the Alessandri campaign, because his political organization ap[Page 90]pears to be so diffuse that we are afraid it will have little impact. On the other hand, we recognize that Allende has been coming on pretty strong despite what was alleged to be a heart attack some weeks ago.

3. The purpose of this note is to give you time to consider this problem in the event you hear from [name not declassified]. The Agency is following this matter closely, but it is only fair to say that we are in a quandary as to what action is wise.

Richard Helms2
  1. Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret.
  2. Helms signed “Dick” above his typed signature.