Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XII, American Republics

148. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Martin) to Secretary of State Rusk¹

Washington, August 30, 1962.

SUBJECT

• Informal Meeting of OAS Foreign Ministers

Discussion

Enthusiasm for the United States resolution on Latin American military coups² is lagging with the general resumption of relations with Peru. After considerable negotiating of text, we can still not be sure of a majority. The Argentine Ambassador has indicated that his government cannot vote for our resolution but would think it useful to have an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss this subject. This would substitute an informal meeting in the immediate future for the formal meeting in the indefinite future as proposed in the United States resolution. Moreover, such an informal, private meeting, precedent for which was established in 1958,³ would have the advantage of demonstrating our continuing concern with the problem of coups but without public debate or voting of resolutions on the subject.

In addition, there is widespread concern in Latin America about news accounts of recent arrivals of Soviet arms and men in Cuba. The Guatemalan Government has suggested a meeting of the OAS Foreign Ministers to consider what action should be taken. This could be better handled at an informal meeting.

You could also give them a general briefing. The Berlin crisis is serious. The Geneva disarmament negotiations have been the scene of important new Western proposals. These are both matters in which there is much interest in Latin America and should be more. It is in our interest to give the Latin American Foreign Ministers a greater sense of participation in these developments.

The XI Inter-American Conference scheduled for Quito in 1960, in accordance with the OAS Charter, has been twice postponed. Meanwhile an agenda of over 40 items has accumulated. It would be desirable to decide whether or not this series of Conferences at 5-year intervals should be continued, replaced by something else or abandoned. This, too, could be taken up at the informal meeting and a manageable agenda of five or six items could be worked out for the Quito Conference.

In addition to the above matters, such a meeting could discuss and perhaps resolve the pending problem of the admission of Jamaica and Trinidad to the OAS.

Everything considered, it would appear highly desirable for the United States to issue invitations for an informal two-day meeting of Foreign Ministers in Washington⁴ during the last ten days of September or early October when many of the Foreign Ministers will be in the United States for the UN General Assembly opening.

Recommendations⁵

1. That we respond favorably to the Argentine suggestion and informally seek to develop support for such a meeting with the other American Republics.

2. That, assuming generally favorable response, the United States take the initiative in arranging such a meeting.

3. That you secure the approval of the President for taking up these matters in this way.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 371.04/8-3062. Confidential. Drafted by Director of the Office of Regional Political Affairs Ward P. Allen and Martin.
2. Reference is to a U.S. draft resolution presented to the OAS Council on August 16. The text of the operative portions is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, p. 308. Related documentation is in Department of State, Central Files 371.04 and 371.05.
3. Reference is to an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics held in Washington September 23-24, 1958. The text of the communique issued at the conclusion of the meeting is printed in Department of State Bulletin, October 13, 1958, pp. 575-576. See also Foreign Relations, 1958–1960, vol. V, p. 37, footnote 2.
4. At this point on the source text, the words “or New York” were handwritten in the margin. Rusk crossed out Washington and wrote “in N.Y.”, which he underscored twice.
5. Rusk initialed his approval of recommendations 1 and 2 on August 31. He wrote in the margin next to recommendation 3, “Not necessary to bother him. DR”.