36. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State (Ball) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Woodward)1
When I saw the Attorney General this morning, he made a strong point of asking that on any statements made by the United States at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Punta del Este2 we should emphasize the positive approach through the Alliance for Progress and our concern for the Latin American people, rather than merely the negative approach of our apprehension over the threat of Castroism. I told him that I was sure this was being planned, but he asked me if I would make a special effort to see that this was done. He said that “It would be extremely helpful in several quarters if this could be accomplished.”
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.20/1-862. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Swank, Dutton, Jamison, Tully, and Moscoso. A marginal notation indicates the memorandum was intended to be circulated to Goodwin.↩
- Reference is to the Eighth Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of American States convened at Punta del Este, January 21-31.↩