Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976

183. Memorandum From the Chief of the Latin America Division of the Central Intelligence Agency (Phillips) to Director of Central Intelligence Colby¹

Washington, February 21, 1975.

SUBJECT

• Efforts to Assure Greater Concern for Human Rights in Chile

1. On 18 February 1975 President Pinochet for the first time acknowledged publicly that individuals had exceeded their authority and mistreated prisoners and that many had been punished and some had been removed from their positions. At the same time, he announced the establishment of medical commissions to assure the good health of prisoners. The day before, he reiterated that his regime had waved the power of prior censorship and announced that the new Chilean constitution would contain provisions concerning freedom of the press.

2. These statements represent the culmination of [less than 1 line not declassified] efforts, begun in October 1974, to improve the Chilean government’s policies on human rights [less than 1 line not declassified] In mid-October [less than 1 line not declassified] approached President Pinochet and key members of the junta to persuade them to modify existing press policies. On 31 October General Pinochet publicly renounced prior censorship of the press and eased restrictions on foreign newsmen expelled from Chile.

3. In December, [less than 1 line not declassified] convinced Air Force General Leigh and other senior members of the junta that the government must improve its performance on human rights in order to obtain loans and military aid from the U.S. and European countries. [less than 1 line not declassified] urged President Pinochet publicly to ban all forms of torture, to recognize habeas corpus, and promptly to notify the interested parties in cases of arrest. The government subsequently instructed all security services to notify appropriate embassies when foreigners were arrested. Pinochet issued orders to all unit commanders to guard against all forms of prisoner abuse.

4. In January, further representations were made to President Pinochet that he admit publicly misdeeds by army personnel and [less than 1 line not declassified] presented documented cases of torture and mistreatment of prisoners directly to Pinochet. [less than 1 line not declassified] that inspired Pinochet’s public announcements on 18 February. In addition, the influence of [less than 1 line not declassified] has resulted in a general reduction of sentences for numerous detainees and in increased government efforts to persuade other countries to accept Chilean political exiles.

David A. Phillips
Chief Latin America Division

1. Summary: Phillips reported that U.S. officials had persuaded the Chilean Government to take steps to curb human rights abuses and to liberalize its policy toward the media.

   Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 80M01542R: Executive Registry Subject Files, Box 2, C–7: Chile. Secret. [drafting information not declassified]. Sent through the DDO. A copy of the memorandum was sent to Walters. In a January 4 memorandum to Walters, [name not declassified] asserted that the U.S. Congressional cutoff of assistance to Chile was not having a significant impact on Chilean policy. (Ibid.) In telegram 1118 from Santiago, February 20, the Embassy reported on Pinochet’s February 18 announcement, and observed that while there had been improvement in the area of human rights, until progress was made “on other fronts (due process, modifying state of siege), Chile will continue to have both a problem and a poor world image.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750061–0357)