569. Letter From President Stroessner of Paraguay to President Nixon 1 2

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Dear President Nixon:

I have asked Paraguayan Ambassador Dr. Roque Avila, my trusted personal representative in Washington, to deliver this letter to you personally because of my grave concern about Paraguay’s need for more help from the United States under the military assistance grant program.

I compliment you on the Nixon doctrine, particularly that portion indicating you will “furnish military aid and economic assistance when requested”. I also compliment you on statements your representatives have made in testimony on foreign assistance legislation pending in the U.S. Congress to the effect that your foreign and military assistance are a “means of maintaining a cooperative relationship with friendly countries and helping them insure their security”.

The Republic of Paraguay has made enormous progress in recent years. Our domestic revenues have risen dramatically from $45,944,000 in 1965 to $56,547,619 in 1970. However, our social progress program has compelled budget expenditures in excess of revenues. The percentage of our gross national product devoted to defense remains at about 2%, and we prefer not to increase that percentage unless compelled to. Therefore, I am requesting increased military assistance on a grant basis from the United States.

The threat, both internal and external, from Castro-trained Communist guerrillas and other unfriendly elements makes it imperative that Paraguay equip and modernize one pilot division of its armed forces in the exercise of its sovereign right to maintain its national [Page 2] security. It is my hope that on the basis of the mutual security relationship that has existed between our countries for many years, you can provide the equipment outlined in the schedule attached hereto, under your military assistance grant program.

I am deeply concerned with the indications of witnesses at hearings in the U.S. Congress on foreign assistance appropriations that military assistance to Paraguay may be phased-out or severely reduced at a time when we must upgrade and modernize our armed forces by some means and from some source. Any phase-out of military assistance for Paraguay would not be consistent with the Nixon doctrine of hemispheric security.

I am hopeful you can initiate action on my request for military assistance to modernize our armed forces as outlined in the attached itemization. The United States has no better friend in the world than Paraguay, and our strategic geographic location in the center of Latin America is important to hemispheric security.

The feasibility of a leased U.S. air facility in the Chaco might justify study as a further step in increasing the security of our hemisphere. You may recall from your last visit here that the Chaco is a vast, broad area not dissimilar in weather and topography to the southwestern United States.

I would hope we can have a personal meeting during your Administration. A personal exchange of views respecting the continuing cooperation of our two countries would be of benefit to the cause of peace and progress.

Paraguay is a peace loving country living in harmony and enjoying cordial and fraternal relations with her neighboring countries constituting the “Cuenca del Plata” (River Plata Basin). Our economic future has tremendous potential. However, in line with the spirit of the Rio treaty of reciprocal assistance, Paraguay must be prepared at all times for any eventuality of extra-continental aggression to further insure hemispheric solidarity. We have faith and confidence, and adhere to a foreign policy for peace. I believe this is our common purpose.

I was most gratified to receive your kind message of greetings through Mr. Alberto Nogues, Under-Secretary of State of the [Page 3] Ministry for Foreign Affairs of my government, when he was presented to you at the reception given in the White House to Delegations of the OAS. I send you my cordial regards and wish to express once again my great pleasure at hearing from you personally.

Please accept my best wishes for your personal welfare and success.

Sincerely yours,

Gen. de. Ej. Alfredo Stroessner
  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 760, Presidential Correspondence, 1969–1974, Paraguay, President Alfredo Stroessner. No classification making.
  2. President Stroessner told President Nixon that Paraguay faced a threat from Communist subversion. The Paraguayan leader expressed concern that there would be cuts in U.S. military assistance.