Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

46. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford¹

Washington, July 19, 1976.

SUBJECT

• The Significance of the OAS General Assembly in Santiago

Secretary Kissinger has sent you the attached memorandum describing the significance of the recent OAS General Assembly in Santiago. He believes that the meeting represented a turning point in our relations with Latin America.

In brief, the memorandum notes that the atmosphere at the meeting was amicable, and that the tone of US-Latin American relations is better than at any time in the recent past. This improvement is largely due to our resumption of an active role in inter-American forums. The Latins regard this as proof that the United States is genuinely concerned about its relations with the rest of the hemisphere. This impression has been enhanced by the personal attention given the region by Secretary Kissinger and other high Administration officials as well as by U.S. initiatives on major issues of interest to the Latin Americans: development cooperation, human rights, and modernization of the inter-American system.

Latin America has changed during the 60s and early 70s. It is now wealthier and more self-confident. The low profile of U.S. policy during that period contributed to the process of maturation. It is now possible, as the meeting in Santiago proved, for the United States to deal with the Latin Americans in a new spirit based on mutual respect and understanding. We have, in fact, established a new basis of communication with the other nations of the hemisphere.

1. Summary: Scowcroft transmitted a memorandum from Kissinger which referred to the OAS General Assembly in Santiago as “a turning point in our relations with Latin America.” Kissinger also referred to a “historic shift” in U.S.-Latin American relations during the Ford administration and attached a memorandum from Rogers giving a more detailed account of recent trends in relations with the region.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Latin America, 1974–1977, Box 3, Chile. Confidential. Sent for information. Ford initialed the memorandum, and a note reads: “The President has seen.” The July 8 memorandum from Kissinger to Ford that was transmitted with this memorandum is ibid. The July 8 memorandum transmitted a June 30 memorandum from Rogers to Kissinger on “The Significance of Santiago.”