338. Telegram 205744 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Uruguay1
205744. Subject: Ambassador Luisi Calls On Asst. Sec. Kubisch.
1. On October 15, Uruguayan Ambassador Hector Luisi called on Asst. Sec. Kubisch at the Department. Ambassador Luisi told Mr. Kubisch that his resignation as Ambassador, now three months old, had not been accepted. He said that he had submitted it because of his unhappiness over events in his nation during the recent past, but that of late he was encouraged by efforts of military and civilian leaders to work in harmony toward solutions of problems. He said that he had hope for the future of his country and would serve Uruguay to the best of his ability so long as he was Ambassador.
2. Ambassador Luisi said that he had been concerned about the situation in Chile and Argentina, and possible effect that could have on Uruguay, but that he was pleased that the Uruguayan army had not yet been engaged in excesses or executions. He said he was encouraged with the progress of the preliminary talks on the matter of rescheduling foreign military sales credit arrearages here, and in that connection he visited Ambassador Robert Hill, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, on October 10.
3. Ambassador Luisi told Assistant Secretary Kubisch that he had informed his government that the USG had responded to events in Uruguay these past months with “sad pragmatism” and that he had wanted the activist military leaders to understand USG concern. He also said that he hoped that US military officers assigned in Uruguay might improve contacts with the Uruguayan military which he thought was now lacking partly due to aloofness and uncertainty on the part of the Uruguayan military. Such improved contacts, he thought, might have a stabilizing influence.
4. In order to encourage the Government of Uruguay, he wondered if a “gesture” of understanding could be made by the USG. He first [Page 909] suggested that such a gesture would be to convert part of the foreign military assistance sales program to a grant program.
5. Asst. Sec. Kubisch said that he was pleased that Ambassador Luisi had visited Ambassador Hill. The Asst. Sec. praised Ambassador Luisi for his personal and official representation in behalf of his government in Washington during the past five years. Mr. Kubisch said that the US has cherished its friendship for Uruguay over many decades and that we had great respect for that nation and admiration for its democratic institutions and social progress. Mr. Kubisch added that although we could hardly take comfort from recent developments in Uruguay, we had, of course, accepted the realities of the present situation.
6. The Asst. Sec. said that we would like to make some appropriate gesture as Ambassador Luisi had requested to boost the morale of the government, including the military interests. He assured Ambassador Luisi that any GOU proposal would receive sympathetic consideration within the bounds of US policy and legislative limitations. However, he said, that due to a number of limitations of which the ambassador was no doubt aware that entering into a significant new grant program at this juncture was not possible.
7. In response to a question of the Ambassador, Mr. Kubisch said that a low profile theme for the US in this hemisphere was unrealistic, but that the USG wanted its presence to be constructive and helpful. Mr. Kubisch hoped that Uruguay would find its own solutions to its own problems and, needless to say, the USG would not interfere in any way in Uruguay’s internal affairs.
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Summary: During an October 15 meeting with Kubisch, Uruguayan Ambassador Luisi suggested that the U.S. could encourage the Government of Uruguay by converting part of its military sales program into a grant program. Kubisch replied that the U.S. would consider any proposal Uruguay wished to bring, but that a new grant program was unrealistic.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Priority; Limdis. Drafted by Rogers; approved by Kubisch; and cleared by Bowdler and in OSD/ISA. Uruguayan Foreign Minister Blanco also met with Kubisch and Bowdler at the Department on September 28, 1973. See telegram 195330 to Montevideo, October 1. (Ibid.)
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