720.5 MSP/6–2352
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Defense ( Lovett )1
Dear Mr. Secretary: On June 23 Mr. Foster requested guidance from the Department of State on initiation or renewal of negotiations with certain Latin American countries2 which the President, on December 14, 1951, found eligible to participate in the military grant-aid program under the Mutual Security Act of 1951.
The Department of State believes that the Dominican Republic should be approached at this time to determine its willingness to conclude a Military Assistance Agreement and a bilateral Military Plan. Accordingly, I suggest that the appropriate officials of our two Departments consult in the near future to determine the best method of carrying out such an approach.
Under present circumstances, an approach to Argentina would have little if any prospect of success in obtaining its agreement to participate in the Latin American program under conditions required by existing policy and legislation. It is therefore considered inadvisable to approach the Argentine Government on this matter. There is also little possibility that the attitude taken by Mexico which caused the suspension of negotiations early this year will become more tractable now that the national elections are over.3 However, should the Mexican Government desire to renew negotiations upon a basis which would ensure their successful conclusion, its request should be given careful consideration as a step toward closer cooperation in hemisphere defense. In view of [Page 130] recent political disturbances in Bolivia,4 and uncertainties regarding the policies of the new government of that country, it is recommended that the United States not approach Bolivia as an alternate under the program.
The Department of State believes that this government’s attitude toward an approach to Venezuela should not be influenced solely by Venezuela’s apparent willingness to pay for military equipment. As you know, delay has been encountered in renewing staff talks which were first begun in 1951 with Venezuelan military officials for the purpose of securing cooperation in protecting installations of great importance to hemisphere defense. This delay, and the resulting failure to achieve a satisfactory basis of military cooperation, appears to be caused primarily by the inability of Venezuela to obtain deliveries of military equipment which it desires to purchase. If it should develop that conclusion of a Military Assistance Agreement and Military Plan under the Mutual Security Act would substantially facilitate Venezuela’s agreement on hemisphere defense problems, the State Department would favor initiating the necessary negotiations. I recommend therefore that steps be taken immediately to explore and determine the basis upon which Venezuela’s full cooperation in hemisphere defense can be achieved.
The Department of State agrees that final planning of Title IV FY 1953 refined programs for Latin American countries which have qualified or may become eligible to receive grant-aid should proceed as rapidly as possible. It also believes that it would be desirable to retain until the end of the calendar year sufficient flexibility in the program to permit an agreement to be negotiated with Venezuela, and perhaps, with Mexico.
Sincerely yours,
- Drafted by Mr. Jamison on July 14 and revised by Fred L. Hadsel on July 22; cleared with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Mutual Security Affairs, the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, the Offices of South American Affairs and Middle American Affairs.↩
- These countries were Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, or, alternatively, Bolivia. In the referenced letter of June 23, addressed to the Secretary of State, Deputy Secretary of Defense Foster also stated in part that inasmuch as Venezuela was ready and willing to pay for equipment to meet its military requirements, “unless it appears from a political point of view that Venezuela’s omission may threaten the defense and continued flow of Venezuela’s materials, Venezuela should not be approached during FY 1953 as a recipient of grant aid.” (720.5 MSP/6–2352)↩
- On July 6, 1952, Adolfo Ruiz Cortines was elected President of Mexico.↩
- Reference is to events in connection with the military coup carried out by the National Revolutionary Movement (MNR), Apr. 9–11, 1952; as a result of the coup Victor Paz Estenssoro was proclaimed President of Bolivia on Apr. 16. For documentation on this subject, see pp. 490 ff.↩