Office of the Historian

360. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State1

Santiago, September 18, 1973, 2120Z.

4372. Subject: Relations With New Chilean Government. Ref: State 185004; Santiago 4356, 4304.2

1. I met Foreign Minister Huerta privately and informally in a private home this afternoon. Huerta told me he had received instructions from Admiral Merino to ask me if it would be possible for USG to confirm establishment of ongoing diplomatic relations as soon as possible—and hopefully during course of the day today. Admiral Huerta said he had received his instructions from Admiral Merino by telephone from Valparaiso, and Admiral Merino had not been in a position to give him reasons. Admiral Huerta asked me if I had received his message to this effect last night, and I affirmed that I had, and had passed it on to Washington. I went on to explain, however, that there were domestic and international considerations which made a very brief delay highly desirable in the interests of both our countries. I told Huerta that we shall respond affirmatively to the Junta’s note, and expect to do so within the next few days. I also advised him of our strongest desire to cooperate closely and establish a firm basis for a cordial and most constructive relationship. After some back and forth, Admiral Huerta, who said he was going down to Valparaiso this evening in any case, said he would explain the situation to Admiral Merino, find out Admiral Merino’s reasons for having made his urgent request, and get back to me tomorrow.

2. Huerta advised me that the Papal Nuncio has just informed GOC it is recognizing, and will send a note today. Huerta also mentioned with some pleasure that France had formally responded to the Junta’s note. He mentioned the following countries as recognizing (above and beyond the ones mentioned in Santiago 4304): Nicaragua, Austria, Uganda, and the Republic of Korea. Huerta also mentioned that Peru had made some sort of declaration in Lima indicating a continuance of relations. He had no knowledge that Yugoslavia had reportedly announced anything in Belgrade.

Davis
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile Vol. VIII. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.↩
  2. For telegrams 185004 and 4356, see footnotes 2 and 3, Document 358. Telegram 4304, September 16, listed the countries that had already recognized the new government and requested guidance on U.S. recognition. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])↩