Office of the Historian

182. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rogers) to Secretary of State Kissinger1

Washington, February 8, 1975.

Démarches in Chile on Human Rights

You inquired (TAB A) about Ambassador Popper’s meeting with Foreign Minister Carvajal of December 13 and his meeting with Interior Minister Benavides of February 3.

1. December 13, 1974 Meeting: Ambassador Popper took advantage of a meeting called to review the Ayacucho conference to brief the Foreign Minister on developments in Congress regarding the FAA. Carvajal raised the question of what kinds of “fundamental improvements” in observance of human rights would be required to support the Presidential waiver provided in the original House version of the bill. Ambassador Popper mentioned that Congressional critics might be impressed and progress be possible if the GOC were to move towards restoration of normality regarding the applicability of traditional Chilean legal requirements and the state of siege, restoration of habeas corpus, a role for civil court review of military sentences and convincing assurances regarding alleged practice of torture (TAB B).

2. February 3, 1975 Meeting: In a conversation on another matter January 30, Interior Minister Benavides asked Ambassador Popper to meet with him on civil rights matters. We suggested several points that might be made (TAB C). Ambassador Popper’s conversation concentrated on the GOC’s detainee release program, but Popper also raised with Benavides the significance to foreign observers of proce [Page 492] dural safeguards and use of normal legal processes, such as restoring the rule of law, habeas corpus, proper trials and appeals. He also noted that the release of a few well known prisoners, while important and welcome, was probably not sufficient to restore the GOC’s image unless accompanied by substantial progress in these other areas. Ambassador Popper’s report of the meeting is at TAB D.

Attachments:

TAB A-Briefing Memo Feb. 6

TAB B-Santiago 7578 Dec. 13

TAB C-State 023898

TAB D-Santiago 00789

  1. Summary: Rogers briefed Kissinger on Popper’s démarches to Foreign Minister Carvajal and Interior Minister Benavides, in which the Ambassador had stated that legal reform and improved human rights practices would help to improve Chile’s international image and to placate the Chilean Government’s critics.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P830132–0278. Confidential. Drafted by Hechtman and Gantz. Tabs A–D are attached but not published. In Tab A, a February 6 memorandum to Kissinger, Rogers listed the 10 démarches Popper made to Chilean officials on human rights from April 1974 to February 1975; next to the entries for December 13, 1974, and February 3, 1975, Kissinger wrote, “What was this about?” Tab B is telegram 7578 from Santiago, December 13, 1974. In Tab C, telegram 23898 to Santiago, February 1, the Department instructed Popper to communicate to Benavides that legal reform, improved human rights practices, and a Chilean invitation for an IAHRC visit were important for Chile to restore its international credibility. In Tab D, Telegram 789 from Santiago, February 4, Popper relayed to the Department that Benavides thought that Chilean efforts towards legal reform and curbing human rights abuses were adequate. Popper concluded that future dialogue on the human rights problem should not be conducted with Benavides.

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