Chile
139. Telegram 4549 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Although press reports discussed mass executions of prisoners in Chile, the Embassy indicated that it had no hard information to confirm or deny the allegations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. In telegram 189464 to Santiago, September 24, the Department informed the Embassy of news reports on torture and executions in Chile’s National Stadium. (Ibid.) In telegram 4589 from Santiago, September 25, the Embassy informed the Department that two U.S. citizens detained in the National Stadium reported that they saw no mistreatment of prisoners, and neither did other foreigners detained in the same location. (Ibid., P750018–1258)
140. Telegram 190162 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: The Department instructed Ambassador Popper to raise with the Chilean Government the question of human rights abuses.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 777, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 Jan 1973–31 Mar 1974. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Gantz; cleared by Feldman and Kubisch; approved by Porter. Repeated to the Mission to the United Nations and the Mission in Geneva. In telegram 4629 from Santiago, September 27, Davis reported that he had met with Huerta as instructed; in his discussion with Huerta, he stated that the Embassy wanted to be in the position of advising members of Congress of the démarche privately or in executive session. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P750018–1255) In telegram Tosec 99/192805 to USUN, October 4, the Department informed the Embassy it thought it important to discuss Popper’s démarche in open session in Congress. (Ibid., P750014–0156) In telegram 4674 from Santiago, September 27, Davis replied that public discussion of the démarche could be damaging and unhelpful, and he expressed a belief that private consultations with Chilean leaders would be the most effective means of protecting human rights. (Ibid., P750011–2084)
141. Telegram 4647 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Ambassador Davis reported that he had advised Ambassador Designate Heitman of the “public relations implications” of the unexplained disappearances of Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. In telegram 4594 from Santiago, September 27, Davis reported on the Embassy’s efforts to account for various U.S. citizens in Chile, in particular, Horman and Teruggi. In the latter case, U.S. officials were investigating discrepancies regarding a body discovered at a local morgue and presumed at the time to be Teruggi. Davis also noted: “I raised Teruggi and Horman cases with Foreign Minister Huerta yesterday, urging maximum GOC efforts to locate Horman, positively identify Teruggi and ascertain full facts if he was in fact the deceased reported in the morgue.” (Ibid.) The Embassy also reported separately that the body found in the morgue was not Teruggi. (Telegram 4665 from Santiago, September 27; ibid.)
142. Transcript of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting
Summary: Kissinger and Kubisch discussed the human rights situation in Chile during the Secretary’s Staff meeting.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Kissinger Staff Meetings, Entry 5177, Lot 78D443, Box 1, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret; Nodis. Kissinger chaired the meeting, which was attended by all the principal officers of the Department or their designated alternates. A “Summary of Decisions” of the staff meeting, October 4, noted “so far as the new government of Chile is concerned, we should not support moves against them by seeming to disassociate ourselves from the Chileans and on the other hand should not be in a position of defending what they are doing in Santiago.” (Digital National Security Archive, Item No. CL00881) In telegram 195002 to Santiago, October 1, the Department forwarded the text of the Newsweek article to the Embassy. (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) On October 2, a U.S. consul who had visited the morgue confirmed that the facility held approximately 150–175 bodies and that most of the dead had apparently been shot. However, he also reported that the wounds of the dead varied considerably and that he had not noticed any bodies bearing gunshot wounds under the chin, as reported in the Newsweek article. A U.S. citizen who visited the morgue with the consul and examined all of the bodies reportedly “never commented on likelihood they result of mass execution.” (Telegram 4766 from Santiago, October 2; ibid.)
143. Telegram 4802 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Ambassador Davis reported on his meeting the previous evening with Ricardo Claro regarding their discussion of Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Immediate. Claro was a Chilean lawyer, businessman, and professor of political economy with close ties to the military junta who also served as an economic adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In telegram 4715 from Santiago, September 29, the Embassy reviewed the available information on Horman and Teruggi. Davis also noted: “I took occasion of call by Admiral Huidobro, chief of staff of military junta, to raise Teruggi and Horman cases once again and to urge that gov[ernment] exert every effort to find out what happened to them. Huidobro said GOC had already made exhaustive search in Horman case—including loud speaker announcements in all places of detention. He was less familiar with Teruggi case, but promised to go through all possible procedures, including computer file check, and leave no stone unturned. As Department aware, this approach to Huidobro follows my earlier approaches to FonMin Huerta and Ambassador-Designate Heitmann.” (Ibid.) The Embassy later reported that Steven Volk, a U.S. citizen and friend of Teruggi, visited the morgue with consular officials on October 2 and identified one of the unclaimed bodies as Teruggi. (Telegram 4787 from Santiago, October 2; ibid.)
144. Telegram 4904 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Pinochet denied reports of mass executions and sharply criticized legislation in the U.S. Senate that would cut off U.S. assistance to Chile.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Limited Official Use; Immediate. Repeated to USCINCSO and DOD/DIA. On October 4, the Senate approved an amendment to a foreign assistance bill sponsored by Kennedy denying all but humanitarian assistance to Chile. (Telegram 197523 to Santiago, October 4; ibid.) On October 5, the Embassy informed the Department of Santiago press reports that Huerta would present concrete evidence to the UNGA that the Allende Government planned to assassinate military and civilian opposition leaders before it was deposed (“Plan Zeta”), which the junta had used to justify its coup. (Telegram 4886 from Santiago; ibid.) In an October 12 conversation with Davis, Pinochet stated that the junta was attempting to minimize loss of life, but that it would prove difficult, as “left extremists” continued to attack government officers. (Telegram 4992 from Santiago, October 12. See Document 146.)
145. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Secretary Kissinger and Foreign Minister Huerta discussed the situation in Chile and the types of assistance the U.S. Government could provide.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL CHILE–US. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office at the State Department. Drafted by Karkashian. Pickering approved the memorandum for Kissinger on October 23. According to Kissinger’s Record of Schedule, the meeting lasted until 6:45 p.m. (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers) In an October 9 memorandum, Kubisch briefed Kissinger in advance of the meeting, noting that the while it was in the U.S. interest to help the Chilean junta consolidate power, its “actions in the human rights field have rendered our task more difficult.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–1973, POL CHILE–US) When Kissinger was called out of the meeting, Kubisch informed Huerta that a “variety of Chilean governmental and military authorities” had made requests for “rifles, bayonets, submachine guns, ammunition, and tear gas.” Karkashian noted that the Chilean government had also requested “training in such sensitive areas as counter-insurgency, psychological warfare and detention camp organization and management.” Kubisch informed Huerta it would extremely difficult for the U.S. Government to comply with the requests at the present time. (Telegram 207026 to Santiago, October 18; National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 777, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 January 1973–31 March 1974)
146. Telegram 4992 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Davis reported that during a meeting in Pinochet’s office that evening the two men discussed the human rights problem in U.S.-Chilean relations, including the cases of Horman and Teruggi.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Secret; Immediate. Davis formally left his post on November 1; David H. Popper officially replaced him in Santiago on February 22, 1974.
147. Memorandum From Rob Roy Ratliff of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Summary: Ratliff recommended that Kissinger reapprove a CIA proposal for funding pro-government groups in Chile.
Source: National Security Council Files, Nixon Administration Intelligence Files, Minutes of 40 Committee. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only; Outside the System. Scowcroft approved for Kissinger on October 15. Jorden concurred with Ratliff’s recommendation. Attached but not published is Tab A, a memorandum for the 40 Committee, October 10. In a Memorandum for the Record, October 15, Ratliff noted that the 40 Committee had telephonically approved the recommendation. (Ibid.) The Agency’s determination that the previous 40 Committee approval was invalid is discussed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXI, Chile, 1969–1973, Document 366. On October 11, Kubisch requested Porter’s approval of the CIA proposal. (Department of State, INR/IL Congressional Liaison Files, 1959–1990: Lot 94D565, James Gardner Chron File) On October 16, Gardner confirmed that Porter thought that it was not necessary to vote on the proposal. (Ibid.)
148. Telegram 5088 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy reported that the body of Charles Horman had been found and identified.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Limited Official Use; Immediate.
149. Telegram 5093 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Pinochet and Davis discussed the image of the Chilean Government in the United States, Chile’s economic problems, and U.S. assistance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P750018–1223. Secret; Priority; Exdis. In telegram 5124 from Santiago, October 19, Davis reported on a conversation on human rights with Minister of Justice Gonzalo Prieto, during which Prieto informed him that detainees accused of pre-September 11 crimes would be tried in civilian courts. (Ibid., [no film number]) In September and October, the U.S. Government shipped a total of $216,000 in medical supplies to Chile. (Telegram 218967 to Brasília, November 6; ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 772, Latin America, Brazil, Vol. 4, 1973–1974) Telegram 4992 from Santiago is Document 146.
150. Telegram 212443 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: The Department concurred in the Embassy’s view that a single coordinated channel for Chilean requests for military supplies would be undesirable, and it observed that the provision of lethal equipment in the prevailing congressional and public atmosphere would hurt the future ability of the U.S. Government to aid the Chilean Government.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 777, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 January 1973–31 March 1974. Secret; Priority; Nodis. Drafted by Shlaudeman; cleared by Gammon; and approved by Kubisch. In telegram 5121 from Santiago, October 19, the Embassy informed the Department it thought that a single channel for Chilean requests of military supplies would stimulate a very comprehensive list, substantially increasing the pressures on the Department for a prompt response, which would be politically damaging given the current climate. (Ibid.)
151. Telegram 216697 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: The Department informed the Embassy it did not intend to pressure either the copper companies or the Chilean Government to reach an agreement on compensation for expropriation, and the Department recommended direct negotiations between the companies and the Chileans.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P750026–2009. Secret; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Shlaudeman and Feldman; cleared by Karkashian, Kennedy, Miller, Hunt, and Lee; approved by Kubisch. In telegram 5141 from Santiago, October 23, Davis described Saenz’s plans for compensating the U.S. copper companies expropriated during Allende’s tenure in office. (Ibid., P750018–1215) In a December 12 conversation with Kubisch, Saez asked that “the USG not press too hard on the ITT case because of its sensitive nature” and expressed concern that if it became a propaganda issue it would exacerbate an already difficult problem. However, Saez suggested that discussions on ITT could begin as early as January 1974, and Kubisch agreed. (Telegram 245016 to Santiago, December 14; ibid., P750029–0776) On March 13, 1974, Cerro reached a compensation agreement with the Chileans. (Telegram 1270 from Santiago, March 14, 1974; ibid., [no film number]) On July 13, 1974, Anaconda reached a settlement. (Telegram 4125 from Santiago, July 13, 1974; ibid., D740188–0393) On October 23, 1974, Kennecott reached a settlement. (Telegram 6444 from Santiago, October 23, 1974; ibid., D740302–0628)
152. Memorandum for the Record
Summary: The Chairman of the 40 Committee concurred with CIA that the September 11 coup in Chile so completely changed the political situation that previous approvals of covert action were no longer valid.
Source: National Security Council Files, Nixon Administration Intelligence Files, Minutes of 40 Committee. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. The August 20 approval is referenced in footnote 4 in Document 340 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXI, Chile, 1969–1973.
153. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Summary: Kubisch informed Kissinger of the arrests and executions in Chile, concluding that the junta was desisting from summary executions.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files, 1970–1973, POL 29 CHILE. Secret; Nodis. Tab A and Tab B are published. In airgram A–218 from Santiago, November 9, the Embassy described the security situation as of the end of October and outlined the measures taken by the Chilean Government during the state of siege. (Ibid., POL 23–9 CHILE) Kissinger was in Japan November 14–16.
154. Telegram From the Station in Chile to the Central Intelligence Agency
Summary: Following allegations that U.S. officials had mishandled the cases of Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi, the Station provided an account of actions by two consular officers assigned to the cases.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of General Counsel, Job 12–01548R: Legal Subject Records Files (OGC), Box 1, Chile Special Search Project, CIA Documents Denied in Full Pertaining to Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi—Gonzales/Privacy Issues—[text not declassified]. Secret. Printed from a copy that the CIA Review Staff forwarded to the House Select Committee on Intelligence on January 19, 1976. To prepare the copy for the Committee, the telegram number and time, and the names of the two consular officers were deleted from the copy. The officers are identified here, however, by bracketed insertions. The identifiers “Officer A” and “Officer B” were handwritten on the copy prepared for the Committee. No original copy of the telegram has been found. In telegrams 5132 (October 20), 5135 (October 20), and 5143 (October 23) from Santiago, the Embassy forwarded a detailed three-part chronology of its efforts to account for Horman’s welfare and whereabouts. (All telegrams are in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) In telegram 5129 from Santiago, October 19, the Embassy provided additional information on the role played by Timothy Ross, a British journalist, in the Horman case. (Ibid.)
155. Memorandum From the Director of Operations Policy of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Gardner) to the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (McAfee)
Summary: Department and CIA officials discussed the possible provision of secret assistance to the PDC and other private sector organizations in Chile.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Congressional Liaison Files, 1959–1990: Lot 94D565, James Gardner Chronological File. Secret. The CIA’s memorandum of proposal has not been found. On December 7, Gardner outlined reasons for covert action in support of the PDC. By his estimation, such action would support centrists as opposed to right-wing groups, support democracy in Chile, and strengthen a group that could perhaps compel the junta to curtail human rights abuses. Gardner added that exposure of the assistance would not damage the reputation of the U.S. Government since the motive was to prevent the extinction of democracy, and that an abrupt cut-off of assistance might create resentment in the PDC. (Ibid.)
156. Telegram 303 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: The Embassy forwarded a request from General Leigh for U.S. Government support in acquiring aircraft and an air defense system.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential. Repeated to SecDef, JCS, CSAF, and USCINCSO. In a December 3, 1973, letter to the Northrop Corporation, Leigh expressed the “firm intent” of the Chilean Air Force to purchase fifteen F–5Es and three F–5Fs. Leigh recognized that some elements of the aircraft were government-furnished equipment and would have to be purchased through the U.S. Government, and requested Northrop contact the U.S. Government on the matter. (Memorandum for the Record, January 19, 1974; Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–79 0061, Negotiations–Chile Sales) On January 23, the Department instructed the Embassy to demur if Leigh sought a response to his January 15 request. (Telegram 14758 to Santiago, January 23; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])
157. Transcript of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting
Summary: Kissinger and Kubisch discussed the Chilean Government’s interest in acquiring heavy weaponry. Kubisch noted that large purchases of tanks and warplanes would make it politically more difficult for the U.S. Government and international financial institutions to provide needed economic assistance to Chile. Kissinger expressed the view that the Chilean Government should be allowed to decide for itself whether or not to buy the equipment.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Kissinger Staff Meetings, Lot 78D443, Box 2, Secretary’s Staff Meetings. Secret. Kissinger chaired the meeting, which was attended by all the principal officers of the Department or their designated alternates. The Mexico City meeting to which Kissinger referred was a regional Meeting of Foreign Ministers planned for February 1974. In telegram 680 from Santiago, February 11, the Embassy reported that Kubisch had affirmed to Huerta in a February 10 meeting that U.S. policy was to support the junta in Chile and had added that the Chilean Government would have to do what it could to deal with the human rights situation and to improve its international image. (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) In telegram 710 from Santiago, February 13, the Embassy reported that Kubisch and Huerta had discussed Peru’s military buildup and the possibility of a Peruvian attack on Chile. (Ibid.)
158. Telegram 846 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Popper outlined ways in which the Chilean Government might articulate its response to accusations of human rights abuses in order to dampen international criticism of the regime.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P740146–0996. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated immediate to Moscow, Mexico, and USUN. Telegram 564 from USUN, February 20, reported on a Chilean request for U.S. support in defeating an effort to establish a working group of the U.N. Human Rights Commission to visit Chile and investigate alleged human rights violations. (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])
159. Telegram 38951 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: During a February 22 discussion at a Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Mexico City, Huerta and Kissinger discussed Chilean economic problems and Chile’s request for military assistance. Kissinger assured the Foreign Minister of U.S. support.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 777, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 January 1973–31 March 1974. Confidential; Nodis. Drafted by Low on February 22; cleared by Bloomfield. According to telegram 40006 to Santiago, February 28, the penultimate sentence in paragraph 2 should read, “the GOC, he said, had applied for $190 million in food credits which the U.S. had said it would consider after July 1.” (Ibid.) In his appearance before a congressional symposium on February 28, Swedish Ambassador Edelstam made no criticism of U.S. policy towards Chile. (Telegram 40733 to Stockholm, February 28; ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) Telegram 661 from Santiago, February 10, reported on Kubisch’s February 10 meeting with Huerta during the Assistant Secretary’s visit to Chile. (Ibid.)
160. Telegram 942 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: Popper recommended that the Department agree to support a proposal for covert assistance to the PDC.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 16, Santiago, 1963–1979. Secret. Roger Channel. In telegram 332 from Santiago, January 22, the Embassy reported that Ministry of Interior Decree 1899, which clamped down on all political activity, seemed to be “particularly aimed at Christian Democratic Party.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) On March 2, Flannery sent the March 1 CIA proposal to Gardner, and on March 4, Gardner sent a copy of the proposal and telegram 942 to Shlaudeman. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 16, Santiago, 1963–1979.) On March 19, Phillips sent a memorandum to Gardner which maintained that continued PDC subsidies would liquidate obligations for which the PDC thought the U.S. Government responsible and maintain an important source of information, while termination of the funding might cause bitterness towards the U.S. Government. (Ibid.)
161. Memorandum 1030/74 Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency
Summary: The Central Intelligence Agency provided an analysis of the situation in Chile six months after the coup.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Support Services (DI), Job 79T00863A: Intel Pub Files, Box 32, Folder 3: Aspects of the Situation in Chile. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. The memorandum was prepared in response to a March 1 request by William Morrell in preparation for Treasury Secretary Shultz’s April 1–4 visit to Santiago as the head of the U.S. delegation to an IDB meeting. (Ibid., National Intelligence Council Files, Job 80B01495R: Policy Files, Box 5, Folder 14: NIO, Latin America, 1974) In telegram 1188 from Santiago, March 11, the Embassy reported that the Chilean Government had issued its most detailed policy statements to date as a prelude to a ceremony marking the junta’s six months in power. The statements pledged to enhance Chile’s social and economic development while denouncing communist groups and the Radical and PDC parties. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number])
162. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Lord) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Summary: Lord outlined policy options for Kissinger regarding the sale of U.S. military equipment to Chile.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 January 1973–31 March 1974. Secret. Drafted by Einaudi and Simons, and cleared by Bowdler and Stern. Attached but not published is Tab A, a March 14 memorandum from Bowdler and Weiss, through Donaldson, to the Secretary, which outlined options on arms sales to Chile. On April 25, Kissinger approved the first two recommendations and disapproved the third. Next to the first recommendation, he wrote, “But please check with Brent [Scowcroft] and make sure DOD is aboard.” A notation below Kissinger’s note reads, “Taken care of.” Low summarized the memorandum for Scowcroft on April 3. (Ibid.) Kissinger’s speech to the OAS General Assembly is printed in the Department of State Bulletin, May 13, 1974, pp. 509–515.
163. Telegram 64524 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: As the Chilean Government prepared to put a number of political prisoners on trial, the Department instructed the Embassy to make a démarche to Chilean officials on the human rights issue.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Country Files, Box 777, Latin America, Chile, Vol. 8, 1 January 1973–31 March 1974. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Drafted by Runyon, Gantz, and Isaacs; cleared by Shlaudeman, Karkashian, and Kubisch; approved by Maw. In telegram 1323 from Santiago, March 18, the Embassy reported that the Chilean Government had extended a “state of siege” for an additional six months and that trials of MIR and Socialist Party members were under way or planned for the coming weeks. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]) Telegram 828 from USUN, March 11, reported on the Chilean Government’s response to criticism of its human rights record; in a letter, Huerta asserted that the Soviet Union was responsible for attacks on Chile and that his Government upheld human rights. (Ibid., D740071–0322) Telegram 190162 is Document 140. Telegram 4674 is discussed in the source note to Document 140.
164. Telegram 1687 From the Embassy in Chile to the Embassy in Panama and the Department of State
Summary: In Santiago for a meeting of the IDB Board of Governors, Shultz discussed economic and human rights issues with Pinochet.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740074–0992. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Sent to Panama for Shultz and Hennessy. In telegram 1726 from Santiago, April 4, the Embassy concluded that Shultz seemed to convince Pinochet of the harmful potential of criticism Chilean human rights abuses. (Ibid., D740076–0934) In telegram 1731 from Santiago, April 4, Popper reported that he had spoken to Huerta about human rights along similar lines, drawing upon the instructions he had received in telegram 64524 to Santiago, published as Document 163. (Ibid., D74077–0016)
165. Telegram 2046 From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State
Summary: During a meeting with Pinochet, General William B. Rosson of the U.S. Southern Command noted that concerns about the junta’s human rights record affected the ability of the U.S. Government to provide it with military assistance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740090–1029. Secret; Exdis. On April 25, the Department informed the Embassy that it had approved the sale to Chile of 18 F–5E aircraft, 15 M–60 tanks, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, and the light anti-tank weapon (LAW) system; and that it would continue to examine their other arms requests on a case-by-case basis. (Telegram 84285 to Santiago, April 25; ibid., D740098–0052) In telegram 86774 to Santiago, April 27, the Department reported that Kubisch had told Ambassador Heitmann that the arms sales had been authorized in order to deter aggression in the region. (Ibid., D740101–0067)
166. Telegram 99532 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile
Summary: Commenting on allegations that Chilean political prisoners had been tortured, the Department discussed the political costs that Chile would incur if it did not adhere to its professed prohibition of torture of detainees, and suggested ways the junta could address accusations of such abuses.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740117–0986. Confidential. Drafted by Gantz; cleared by Runyon, Karkashian, and Isaacs; approved by Shlaudeman. When Chilean defense lawyers raised the issue of torture being used to obtain confessions, the prosecutor denied the allegation and stated that the proper manner for defense lawyers to proceed was to file direct personal charges against the agent who had supposedly committed the abuse. (Telegram 2375 from Santiago, May 3; ibid., D740117–0931)
167. Transcript of the Acting Secretary of State’s Principals’ and Regionals’ Staff Meeting
Summary: Sisco, Kubisch, and Hartman discussed Chile-Mexico relations, forthcoming congressional hearings on Chile, and the attitude of European nations toward the Chilean Government.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Kissinger Staff Meetings, Entry 5177, Lot 78D443, Box 3, Acting Secretary’s Principals’ and Regionals’ Staff Meetings. Kissinger chaired the meeting, which was attended by all the principal officers of the Department or their designated alternates. Secret. A draft of Shlaudeman’s June 12 testimony before Fraser and Fascell’s subcommittees is ibid., ARA Files, Miscellaneous Chile Subject Files, 1971–1976: Lot 80D43, Shlaudeman Testimony Before Fraser-Fascell Subcommittee.
168. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the 40 Committee (Ratliff) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Summary: Ratliff recommended that Kissinger approve a 40 Committee proposal for the provision of covert aid to the Christian Democratic Party for commitments made before the coup.
Source: National Security Council Files, Nixon Administration Intelligence Files, Chile, 1973–. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Outside the System. Sent for action. Low and Kennedy concurred. Attached but not published was the January 7 memorandum to the 40 Committee containing the request. Popper discussed the January proposal in Document 160. On June 24, Scowcroft approved the recommendation for Kissinger. In a June 25 memorandum for the record, Ratliff noted that the 40 Committee telephonically approved the recommendation on June 24. (Ibid., Minutes of 40 Committee) Colby informed Kissinger on September 5 that of the $1 million authorized in August 1973, only $13,000 was spent, all before the coup; Colby added that “the sum of about $50,000–60,000” authorized in 1974 had been provided to cover obligations “undertaken before the coup and was clearly given with the statement that it was not for current or projected activities. Thus, the statement can be made that we have given no political assistance since the coup and that any assistance given before the coup was in the hope that a change in the Allende government would occur as a result of the election of 1976.” (Ibid.)