825.248/294
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of the American Republics (Bonsal) to the Adviser on Political Relations (Duggan)
Mr. Duggan: The Chilean Ambassador telephoned me on the afternoon of August 13 to say that he was having some difficulty reconciling the number of planes included in the list handed him by Mr. Welles, with the statements made to him by the President and by Mr. Welles. After discussing the matter with you and examining the list, I informed the Ambassador that the situation was as follows:
Forty planes on the War Department list as in process of delivery. Twenty-two planes on the War Department list for future delivery.
[Page 32]Fifteen planes on the Navy Department list as in the process of delivery.
Two planes on the Navy Department list for delivery before the end of 1942.
Eighteen planes on the Navy Department list for delivery prior to June 30, 1943. That should make a total of ninety-seven.
I stated that in addition to these ninety-seven planes the President and Mr. Welles had mentioned fifty planes for patrolling activities. I said that these planes were not included in the list handed to the Ambassador and that we had not yet been informed exactly as to the type and specifications thereof.
This afternoon Señor Rodríguez of the Chilean Embassy, in the Ambassador’s absence, asked me whether we had yet received any further information regarding these fifty planes. I replied in the negative.
If you will let me know whether these planes are to be supplied by the War or Navy Departments, I will be glad to take the question up directly with those Departments for the purpose of clarifying this matter.