Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–16, Documents on Chile, 1969–1973

90. Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Information Cable¹

Washington, November 3, 1971.

COUNTRY

• Chile

DOI

• Late October 1971

SUBJECT

• Confirmation of President Allende’s Reported Intent To Handle Personally the International Aspects of the Copper Nationalization Process

ACQ

• Chile, Santiago (29 October 1971) Field No. [document number not declassified]

Source

• [6 lines not declassified]

TDCS–314/11716–71. 1. (Field comment: [document number not declassified] TDCS–314/11697–71, from a generally reliable source, reported that President Salvador Allende told Popular Unity (U.P.) leaders on 25 October that he intends to handle personally copper negotiations and international relations, specifically with the United States, without additional guidance from the U.P. parties.)

2. According to a leader of the Communist Party of Chile (PCCh), President Allende has informed the leaders of the parties within the U.P. that he intends to direct personally the international aspects of the copper nationalization process, and that he intends to do so in his own way without necessarily accepting guidance from the U.P. parties. The PCCh leader added that Allende was to have had a private meeting with Orlando Letelier, Chilean Ambassador to the United States, on 30 October to discuss relations with the U.S. and to ensure that Letelier fully understands how the President wants to handle problems with that country.

3. (Source comment: Both the PCCh and Allende continue to want to avoid any rupture in diplomatic relations between Chile and the U.S.)

4. Field dissem: State, Army, Navy, Air, CINSO, CINCLANT.

1. Summary: This cable reported that Allende was going to personally handle the negotiations over compensation to the U.S.-owned copper companies.

   Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 776, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. VI. Secret; No Foreign Dissem.