Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXI, Chile, 1969–1973

317. Memorandum¹

Washington, January 11, 1973.

SUBJECT

• Approval to Expend [dollar amount not declassified] Set Aside by the 40 Committee for Support of [1 line not declassified] During January and February 1973

1. On 26 October 1972 the 40 Committee approved a memorandum authorizing the expenditure of $1,427,666 to support four political parties and three private sector organizations during the period preceding the 4 March 1973 congressional elections in Chile.² This approval was granted with the provision that the precise timing of assistance [1 line not declassified] be subject to Department of State and National Security Council concurrence.

2. It is proposed that the [dollar amount not declassified] approved by the 40 Committee for [less than 1 line not declassified] be used during January and February 1973 to help the [1 line not declassified] mount a get-out-the-vote campaign. These organizations have already voted to undertake such a campaign, but need funds to pay for publicity, transportation and other costs incidental to this effort.

3. Funds to support this get-out-the-vote campaign would be channeled through a trusted [less than 1 line not declassified] asset [5 lines not declassified]. Use of this asset as a cut-out would effectively conceal any U.S. Government sponsorship of this effort.

4. [9 lines not declassified]

5. [name not declassified] will be unwitting of the ultimate source of the funds, and will be told by our asset that those contributing to this campaign desire to remain anonymous in order to avoid any possibility of government reprisal. [name not declassified] will be asked for regular accountings to insure that funds are being provided only to those [less than 1 line not declassified] organizations which are actively and effectively supporting the get-out-the-vote campaign.

6. The above proposal has the concurrence of Ambassador Davis and his Deputy Chief of Mission, Harry Shlaudeman, who commented that the proposal appears to have adequate security safeguards and could be helpful in reaching voters who are normally inaccessible to political parties.³

1. Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject File, Chile 1973. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. This summarizes a more detailed January 11 memorandum from the Chief of Station to Davis. See Document 129 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–16, Documents on Chile, 1969–1973. A January 11 covering memorandum from Shackley to Meyer, requested Meyer’s and Davis’s concurrence with passing [text not declassified] for a get-out-the-vote campaign. A January 11 memorandum from Shackley to Jorden requested Jorden’s support to spend the money. Jorden concurred in an attached January 19 memorandum to Shackley. (Both in the National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject File, Chile 1973)
2. The memorandum for the record is Document 121 in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. E–16, Documents on Chile, 1969–1973.
3. On a January 15 memorandum from Meyer, Johnson initialed his approval on January 18 for the passing of the funds. (Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, INR/IL Historical Files, Chile, 40 Committee Action after September 1970)