62. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II, Jan 70–Nov. 70. Confidential. The document is printed from a retyped copy of telegram 3499 from Santiago, September 5, 0858Z. This copy of the telegram was submitted to President Nixon under cover of a September 9 memorandum from Kissinger stating the following: “Attached is a cable from Ambassador Korry commenting on the Chilean election. It was written on September 4, as the final results became known. It is an important cable which I think you will find of interest. In it Korry notes that Allende’s triumph appears final; he notes the mistakes of his opponents that permitted the Marxist’s triumph. He describes the characteristics which he believes will make it relatively easy for Allende to bring about a socialist state within constitutional framework. He observes that the political and economic right can be eliminated, and the military neutralized. He also notes that Chile is isolated; that it can survive with no commitment from anyone.” At the bottom of the memorandum, President Nixon wrote, “An excellent perceptive job of analysis.” (Ibid.)

63. Message From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Chief of Station

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only. The message is a copy provided to the National Security Council staff. Although an unidentified staff member wrote on the copy that it was addressed to Korry, it is clear from both the text and the reply (see Document 64) that the message was sent to the Chief of Station.

64. Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only.

65. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the National Security Council

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret. A notation on the first page reads, “Rec’d Sept 7 6:30 p.m.”

66. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive.

67. Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Information Cable

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Secret; Priority; No Foreign Dissem. Transmitted to the White House, Department of State, Defense Intelligence Agency, Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Intelligence Council, National Security Agency, and Office of Current Intelligence. Attached to a September 9 memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger, which Kissinger saw and initialed. The memorandum summarized the Intelligence Information Cable, noting the “meeting was inconclusive,” Schneider “was apparently opposed to a coup, and Chief of the General Staff, General Prats, was ‘strangely quiet.’” (Ibid.)

68. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to USCINCSO. This telegram, sent in two parts as two cables, is also attached to the September 9 memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger, which summarizes the cable and recommends that it was “worth skimming.” See footnote 1, Document 67.

69. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to USCINCSO. This telegram, sent in two parts as two cables, is also attached to the September 9 memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger, which summarizes the cable and recommends that it was “worth skimming.” Seefootnote 1, Document 67.

70. Memorandum for the Record

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile 1970. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted on September 9. Copies were sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, Moorer, and Helms. Attached to the Department of State’s copy of these minutes is a note from Jim Gardner (INR/DDC) to Meyer and Crimmins. Gardner noted, “Bill McAfee, who was there, feels that minutes much understate Helms’ pessimism about influencing Congressional vote, and that they overstate passivity of State representatives in face of prospects of an Allende government. We can ask that minutes, insofar as they relate to State position, be corrected if you wish.” Crimmins wrote on the note, “This is accurate, but does not reflect the fine line as to ‘whose civil war.’ Alex did not make clear the distinction between a 100% Chilean military action and one inspired by or based upon U.S. support. I think the minutes could reflect this difference.” (National Archives, RG 59, Chile–ITT–CIA 1963–1977, Lot 81D121, Documents Requested by the Department of Justice, 1970–1977)

71. Backchannel Message to the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) and the Chief of Station

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Chile–ITT–CIA 1963–1977, Lot 81D121, Documents Requested by the Department of Justice, 1970–1977. Secret. Attached to a note from Broe to Gardner that states, “This message was seen by Pete Vaky and John Crimmins and includes their views and thoughts.”

72. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Station in Chile

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Chile–ITT–CIA 1963–1977, Lot 81D121, Interview with Secretary Kissinger, January 10, 1976. Secret; Priority. Printed from a previously redacted text; the full text was not found.

73. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

74. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Chile

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 14 CHILE. Secret; Immediate. Drafted and approved by Crimmins; cleared by Rueckert in S/S.

75. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 14 CHILE. Secret; Immediate; Eyes Only. A stamped notation on the first page reads, “Action Copy.”

76. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed at the top of the page.

77. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15 CHILE. Secret; Priority; Limdis. Repeated to Asunción, Bogotá, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Guatemala, La Paz, Lima, Mexico City, Montevideo, Panama, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, San Salvador, Santo Domingo, and USCINCSO.

78. Memorandum From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the 40 Committee

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive. Although the memorandum is dated September 12, Korry noted in Document 83 that it was sent on September 11.

79. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the 40 Committee

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive.

80. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL CHILE–US. Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Eyes Only. A stamped notation on the first page reads, “Action Copy.”

81. Telegram From the Embassy in Chile to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 12 CHILE. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.

82. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 364, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. No classification marking.

83. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. A note attached to the message reads, “General Haig: Copies have been given to HAK and you. Vaky copy is being held pending your approval.” Haig wrote, “No copy to Vaky.” However, Vaky most likely saw the message. A September 14 memorandum from Kissinger to President Nixon summarizing Korry’s backchannel message was sent under cover of a September 17 memorandum from Vaky to Kissinger recommending that the memorandum from Kissinger to President Nixon be forwarded to the President. The Vaky memorandum to Kissinger bears the notation, “DRY [David R. Young, Jr.] hand carried to AB [Alexander Butterfield] 9/18.” There is no indication that the President saw the memorandum from Kissinger. (Ibid., Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II)

84. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 774, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, Vol. II. Confidential. Sent for information. This memorandum was written in response to a September 8 memorandum from John Brown of the Office of the Staff Secretary. (Ibid.)

85. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Chile (Korry) to the 40 Committee

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Eyes Only.

86. Memorandum From Viron P. Vaky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.

87. Memorandum From Winston Lord of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile, 1970. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. A copy was sent to Haig.

88. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Rogers and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 364, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File. All blank underscores are omissions in the original

89. Memorandum for the Record

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile 1970. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Drafted by Millian. Although the meeting took place on September 14, the memorandum was drafted and sent to Kissinger on September 18 with a note from Helms that reads: “Here is a write-up of the talk we had with Mr. Edwards from Santiago. Further conversations and a more exhaustive debriefing are going on with Mr. Edwards right now.” The only other record of the meeting with Edwards, reporting a series of conversations held on September 15 and dated the following day, provides no substantive information regarding the discussion other than “the meeting went well.” (Central Intelligence Agency, Job 80B01086A, DCI Eyes Only File, 1970)

The background for these meetings is discussed briefly by Kissinger in The White House Years, p. 673, and by Thomas Powers in his biography of Richard Helms, The Man Who Kept the Secrets, p. 228. In his congressional testimony, Helms recalled that “prior to this meeting [with the President (described in Document 93)] the editor of El Mercurio had come to Washington and I had been asked to go and talk to him at one of the hotels here, this having been arranged through Don Kendall, the head of the Pepsi Cola Company . . . I have this impression that the President called this meeting where I have my handwritten notes because of Edwards’ presence in Washington and what he heard from Kendall about what Edwards was saying about conditions in Chile and what was happening there.” (Alleged Assassination Plots, p. 228, footnote 1) [Ellipses are in the original footnote.]

90. Letter From John McCone to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL108, Geopolitical File, Chile, 3–30 Oct 1970. Personal and Confidential. McCone was Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1961 to 1965 and was a member of the ITT board of directors at the time this letter was written. Kissinger signed an October 7 reply prepared by Vaky that reads, “Thank you for your letter of September 14 on Chile. You may be sure that we are all concerned about the situation. It is a difficult one, and I assure you that the President is similarly concerned. I appreciate you sending me your thoughts and I shall certainly keep them in mind. Perhaps when I return from Europe we can have a chat.” (Ibid.)

91. Memorandum From the Chief of Naval Operations (Zumwalt) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 777, Country Files, Latin America, Chile 1970. Secret; Sensitive. An attached covering memorandum from Robinson to Kissinger indicates that Moorer provided Packard with a copy. Zumwalt sent Moorer a draft of this memorandum on September 14, which noted that policymakers favored a “restrained, deliberate posture” on Chile. Moreover, it took issue with the CIA for the assessment that an enlarged Soviet presence would not threaten any U.S. vital strategic interest. (The History of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Volume X: The Joint Chiefs of Staff and National Policy, 1969–1972, Historical Division Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1991, p. 159)