254. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Shlaudeman) to Acting Secretary of State Robinson1
Your Meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Chile David H. Popper, November 24, 1976 at 4:00 pm.
PARTICIPANTS
- The Acting Secretary
- Ambassador David H. Popper
SETTING
Ambassador Popper is in the Department for consultation after his service on the promotion panels. He will be returning to Chile this week. You may wish to discuss the following:
1. The recent release of political prisoners held without charge under state of siege authority.
2. Resolutions under consideration by the UNGA Third Committee and UNESCO.
3. The request by the GOC not to be included in next year’s foreign assistance legislation.
4. The growing arms imbalance between Chile and Peru.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The GOC announced early this week that it would release unconditionally about 300 political prisoners being held under state of siege provisions. It also announced that it would be willing to release Chilean Communist Party leader Corvalan in exchange for Soviet dissident Alexander Bukovsky and another former Communist in exchange for a Cuban prisoner. We have also been working with the GOC to facilitate the proposed Corvalan-Bukovsky prisoner exchange. Later in the week [Page 681] it announced that 198 persons would be released from internal exile (relegation).
The prisoner release appears to have been timed for maximum impact on the Chile debate in the UNGA Third Committee. A resolution pointing towards future economic sanctions stands a good chance to be passed during this session. Now it appears that support for the resolution is weakening in reaction to the prisoner release and the suggested prisoner exchange. In Nairobi, a UNESCO resolution proposed by Cuba and Norway on Chile may be losing some support due to this week’s announcements.
Several weeks ago the Chileans asked us, through a Memorandum delivered to me, not to give them any economic assistance next year. Foreign Minister Carvajal had mentioned this idea to the Secretary during the bilateral in New York on October 7. We are now in the process of negotiating a phase-out of the AID program in Santiago.
In New York Foreign Minister Carvajal also discussed with the Secretary his fears of the growing arms imbalance with Peru. The impending sale of Soviet SU–22 fighter bombers to Peru exacerbates this problem and, given the limitations against the purchase of US military equipment, is forcing the Chileans to begin to look elsewhere for military hardware: to Israel and to Brazil most recently. It may also be forcing them to reexamine their human rights policies and may have been another factor influencing last week’s prisoner release.
TALKING POINTS
1. Release of Prisoners
—Release of those held without charges under state of siege authority and those exiled within Chile are positive steps which we welcome.
—We should provide the Chileans with some positive feedback and encourage them to continue in this direction.
2. UN Chile Debates
—The news of the prisoner release may ease some of the pressures to condemn Chile in stronger terms than last year.
—We will not support UNGA or other resolutions opening the door to the application of economic sanctions.
3. End of Economic Assistance
—The GOC, sensing that Congressional debate results in greater losses than the meager aid involved, may be lapsing into a “siege mentality” by cutting the aid tie.
—We must be sure to keep some lines of contact open that would permit us to continue humanitarian assistance and provide some avenues of influence.
[Page 682]4. Chile-Peru Arms Imbalance
—Peru, with Soviet-made military hardware, has a matériel advantage over Chile.
—The Chileans should be encouraged to discuss the arms problem directly with the Peruvians.
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Summary: Shlaudeman reviewed topics that Robinson might wish to discuss with Popper, including human rights in Chile, UNGA and UNESCO resolutions, the junta’s termination of the U.S. assistance program, and the arms imbalance between Peru and Chile.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P760185–1435. Secret. Drafted by Levine on November 22; cleared by Fimbres, Hewitt, and Luers. Robinson and Popper discussed the Chilean economy and human rights. Popper thought that the human rights situation was improving, and Robinson and Popper thought that the U.S. Government should encourage such progress. (Telegram 289068/Tosec 310069 to Kissinger, November 25; ibid., D760438–0305)
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