825.20/163
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of the Military Attaché’s report dated May 26, 1943,56 concerning the campaign that is being carried on by certain officers in the Chilean Army to remove pro-United States and pro-Ally officers from important positions in the Army and to place them in relatively unimportant positions where they can exert no influence on the policies of the Army or on the indoctrination, training or operations of its troops, and cannot contribute toward further cooperation with the United Nations.
In this connection, the Counselor of the Embassy had a talk on May 21 with General Oscar Escudero, strongly pro-United States, Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army, who said that he was worried about the movement developing in the Army in opposition to his pro-United Nations policy. The General added that he had not been able as yet to identify the leading spirits in this movement.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩