97. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)1
1. In a separate State message I am reporting (a) the mounting pressures on the Cardinal of Santiago to recognize Allende, (b) on the pressures abuilding against holdout El Mercurio and (c) the French negotiations with Allende.2 I would welcome very prompt assistance from Washington on all three:
A. [2 lines not declassified]
B. Is there some way to get First National City Bank to take heat off El Mercurio? Bank, which is preparing to fold its local tent, is dunning the paper for its loans. This kind of pressure is no less pernicious than that of the Communists.
C. Can Department take any diplomatic action in Europe to prevent rug-pulling.
- Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive.↩
- Document 99.↩