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

94. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Battle) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)¹

Washington, February 28, 1962.

SUBJECT

• National Security Action Memorandum No. 118—Participation of U.S. and Latin American Armed Forces in the Attainment of Common Objectives in Latin America

This constitutes a revised report in response to the State Department’s responsibility under NSAM 118 to provide policy guidance on collaboration between U.S. and Latin American military forces.²

The fundamental objective of U.S. military activities and programs in Latin America is the establishment of a Latin American military leadership dedicated to the tasks of: (1) preserving democratic constitutional order; (2) maintaining internal security; (3) contributing to collective defense on a scale commensurate with Latin American military and economic capabilities; and (4) promoting social and economic development. Pursuant to this objective, it is our policy to encourage the Latin American military to reorient their military establishments in the following manner:

1. Encourage acceptance and fulfillment of the concept that each of the Latin American countries is responsible for contributing to the defense of the hemisphere by:

a. Maintaining security against the communist-Castro threat of violence and subversion, including guerrilla warfare, and the movement of armaments and men clandestinely across land, sea and air borders for subversive purposes.

b. Maintaining security, against overt external aggression, of their ports and coastal waters, bases and strategic areas within their territories, but placing maximum reliance on effective application of the Rio Treaty with full U.S. military cooperation to deter or counter such aggression.

c. Contributing to overall hemispheric defense capabilities in adjacent areas of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, e.g. anti-submarine warfare, patrol harbor defense, and related functions.

d. Contributing patrol or combat forces, or other feasible assist-ance, for any Caribbean Security arrangements that may be negotiated and for implementing any OAS decision that collective military action be taken to maintain the peace and security of the hemisphere.

2. Encourage, to the maximum extent consistent with needs and capabilities of each Latin American nation, standardization along U.S. lines of military doctrine, unit organization and training.

U.S. military programs developed in implementation of the foregoing policy objectives should be so designed as to win the support of non-communist civilian elements, both for the programs and for the local military. To this end, U.S. programs should:

1. Consist of types of assistance that can be justified to non-communist elements of the population as a bona fide security requirement for them and for their constitutional governments.

2. Whenever possible without losing primary military capability, include assistance having some visible economic utility, e.g. assistance for dual-purpose units which contribute to economic development as well as security.

3. Acquaint the Latin American military with the complete portfolio of communist techniques, including the communist tactic of alienating the military from the support of the civilian population by depicting it as a repressive, extravagant and irresponsible element in public life.

It is particularly desirable that the foregoing policy objectives and guidelines be used in the development and conduct of military training and exchange programs, military conferences and other forms of military collaboration which bring U.S. and Latin American military personnel into close professional and personal association. Inasmuch as such programs and activities provide particularly effective channels for promoting U.S. interests, U.S. military personnel engaging in them should be made fully cognizant of U.S. policy objectives.

Finally, it is essential that U.S. military programs be carefully tailored to the individual requirements of Latin American countries. Neither Latin American military nor civilian authorities should be stimulated to request a particular program prior to a careful determination by our Ambassador, confirmed by the State Department, that the program would serve U.S. foreign policy interests in that country.

ML Manfull³

1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 118. Secret. The source text bears no drafting information, but the Department of State record copy indicates that it was drafted by Officer in Charge of Inter-American Security and Military Affairs George O. Spencer and cleared by U. Alexis Johnson and Haydn Williams and in the Agency for International Development.
2. The text of the undated memorandum omitting the introductory paragraph, and entitled “United States Policy for Participation of U.S. and Latin American Armed Forces in the Attainment of Common Objectives in Latin America,” was circulated with NSAM 140, from Bundy to Rusk and McNamara, March 26, which states that the President had approved it. (Ibid., NSAM 140)
3. Manfull signed for Battle above Battle’s typed signature.