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

91. Telegram 184123 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Brazil¹

Washington, September 15, 1973, 1727Z.

184123. Subject: Consultation on Chile.

1. With regard to your meeting with ForMin Gibson Barboza, you may wish to draw on the following:

(A) Recognition question—We do not wish to approach the question of relations with the new government in the context of recognition per se. During the past several years, the practice has been to avoid seeming to give either “approval” or “disapproval” of new governments. Thus, we do not wish to give emphasis to any public act of “recognition” of the new GOC. We have not initiated formal contacts with the GOC, but we do have informal avenues of communication with members of the new government—in due course we expect to take some action which will be a “continuance of relations,” but the final decision as to when and how we will characterize continuation of relations has not yet been made.

(B) Feelings of other govts—We agree with Brazilian assessment that while various governments have made loud pronouncements of sorrow at Allende’s death, and the overthrow by the military, at least some Latin American governments privately harbour more sympathetic sentiments toward the new government than they publicly demonstrate.

(C) Future of GOC—It is still too early to assess the form and philosophy of the new regime. While it has called for a national effort of reconciliation, it has not yet defined itself further and it may be some time before it does begin to evolve a political and economic philosophy. There is no evidence to date to suggest that the military will relinquish control in the near future.

(D) Request for assistance—The USG has not rpt not received any formal request for assistance. We have, nevertheless, received informal approaches on possible assistance such as medical supplies, foodstuffs, and some military items previously in the discussion or pipeline stage. We are carefully examining our position with regard to all types of assistance and, while our presumption at present is that we will be as helpful and cooperative as we are able to and appropriately can, we have not made any final decisions as yet.

Rush

1. Summary: The Department informed Crimmins that he could raise with Gibson Barboza the issue of diplomatic recognition of the new Chilean Government, as well as the attitudes of Chile’s neighbors toward it, the future of the new regime, and U.S. assistance.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850027–1631. Secret; Flash; Eyes Only. Drafted by Devos, cleared by Bowdler, approved by Kubisch. In telegram 182529 to São Paulo, September 13, the Department instructed Ambassador Crimmins to deliver a démarche to Gibson Barboza on Chile. (Ibid., Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 772, Country Files, Latin America, Brazil, Vol. 4, 1973–1974) On September 14, Cortés informed [text not declassified] that Gibson Barboza would probably raise the following issues: the diplomatic recognition of, attitudes in the region toward, and the future form of the Chilean regime. Also, Cortés stated that Gibson Barboza might inquire about the Chilean regime’s requests for assistance. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Box 19, Brasília 1973–1980) No record of the Crimmins-Gibson Barboza meeting has been found.