54. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Sprague) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Murphy)1
Dear Bob: I have your letter of 9 October2 referring to the agreement between you and General Twining concerning consideration of applications for military assistance by Latin American countries.
As you know there was a long standing disagreement between the Department of State and the Joint Chiefs of Staff concerning the method of handling force goals for these countries. While Admiral Radford was Chairman I participated in meetings which resulted in [Page 298] the understanding that such force goals would be established only on a case by case basis.
However, if the more recent understanding which you have with General Twining is to the effect that the Joint Chiefs of Staff on application directly from the State Department will advise it with respect to individual Latin American country applications for military assistance, I cannot agree to it.
In order for this office to carry out its duties within the Department of Defense, requests from the Department of State for such information as is required for a particular Latin American country in connection with the Military Assistance Program should be directed to this office. We in turn will request guidance from the Joint Chiefs of Staff after which the Department of State will be advised. If as a result thereof the Department of State wishes to change the Military Assistance Program for a particular Latin American country, discussions can be undertaken with ICA participation to determine the extent of such assistance. The Secretary of Defense, through this office, is not bound to follow the force goals established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in determining the military assistance to be programmed for a particular country. The Joint Chiefs of Staff indigenous force goals are military objectives which have to be evaluated by this office representing the Department of Defense by ICA and by the State Department to ensure that all factors in connection with the Military Assistance Program are considered. Of course, the over-all foreign policy implications involved are determined by the Department of State.
I am forwarding a copy of this letter to General Twining who I am sure will agree that the normal channels within the Department of Defense should be used in any situation involving the responsibilities of this office.
Because of my projected absence from the country, may I suggest that Mr. Irwin might contact you in order that this office may render the maximum assistance using prescribed Department of Defense procedures with reference to military assistance programming for Latin American countries.
Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 720.5–MSP/10–1157. Secret.↩
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In this letter, Murphy wrote:
“It is my understanding of the agreement between General Twining and myself that the Joint Chiefs of Staff would, on the request of the Department of State, consider applications by Latin American countries for military assistance, and would give an opinion as to the military needs of the requesting country to serve as guidance for the Department of State. We also agreed that the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs should deal with Vice Admiral Bernard L. Austin with reference to these matters. At that time, I stated that the Department of State no longer seeks to obtain a formal statement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of force goals of Latin American countries in view of the decision by the Joint Chiefs that there is no basis for a firm and comprehensive long-range military program which would include country as well as MAP-supported forces for each Latin American country.” (Ibid., 720.5–MSP/9–557)
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