Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976

136. Telegram 183401 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil¹

Washington, July 23, 1976, 2228Z.

183401. Subject: Grant Military Training for Brazil. Ref: A. Brasília 6085; B. Brasília 6421.

1. Department has reviewed issues raised Ref A. and Ambassador’s recommendations for limited phaseout of program in transition quarter. Judgment here is that, while there is no legal prohibition to provision of grant training to Brazil in the TQ or in FY 77, there would be serious difficulties in ignoring the intent of Congress to quote terminate unquote program for Brazil as reflected explicitly in House International Relations Committee report on legislation for FY 76.

2. Plan of action is to consult in the next few days with key members of HIRC in attempt gain their understanding and acquiescence in the continuation of a limited number of specific training activities through TQ and possibly FY 77 in order to effect a termination which minimizes the disruption to programs where an abrupt cutoff would violate the reliance and expectations which had reasonably developed. It must be emphasized that these activities will be limited in number and that criteria for selection of specific projects will include a finding that substantial planning and preparation has already been done, making abrupt cancellation difficult. Department’s intent is to phase down Brazil program in orderly fashion, arriving at point where it is limited to training that is clearly justifiable as being “in connection with regional activities” consistent with congressional intent. We do not intend to continue program at anything close to level which would otherwise have been approved for Brazil, or to open door for setting in motion plans for new projects during the phaseout period.

3. As soon as congressional consultations are complete, Department will provide more detailed guidance.

Robinson

1. Summary: The Department informed the Embassy of Congress’s intent to phase out the military training program for Brazil.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760285–0077. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Eltz; cleared by Zimmermann, Winship, Black, Borek, Quigg, Ledogar, Johnson; approved by Luers. Repeated Immediate to Rio de Janeiro for the Consulate and for the Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the Joint U.S.-Brazil Military Commission. In telegram 6085 from Brasília, July 12, Crimmins reported that terminating funding for military training would cause the Brazilian military to suspect that U.S. interest in Brazil was waning. (Ibid., D760268–0300) In telegram 6421 from Brasília, July 22, Crimmins reported that the Brazilian Government was unhappy with the impending termination of grant military training. (Ibid., D760282–0396) In telegrams 191824 and 243040 to Brasília, August 3 and September 30, the Department informed the Embassy that $100,000 had been granted to Brazil for training but that Congress explicitly directed that the funds were for phasing out the grant military training program. (Ibid., D760299–0692 and D760369–0291)