Office of the Historian

185. Memorandum From Ambassador Popper to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rogers)1

Santiago, March 11, 1975.

SUBJECT

  • Special Briefing Points

I apologize for the length of the enclosed papers, but believe if you have time to read them, they will be of some assistance to you.

Let me mention particularly a few outstanding features.

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1. The Chileans’ interest in Hemisphere problems is secondary to their interest in bilateral US-Chilean problems. Your visit will help them to make up their minds about inter-American issues. As to internal Chilean matters, you will find that the situation has changed only very slightly in recent months.

2. The Chileans want three things from us: first, a resumption of the arms shipment process; second, continuing and expanded economic assistance, particularly through the Paris Club and the international financial institutions at this time; third, a greater understanding of the relationship between their internal security problem as they see it and the controversy over human rights.

3. With respect to human rights, it will be worth while to reiterate that a policy of releasing political detainees into exile is not in itself a solution to the problem. Much more is needed. At this moment, the Chileans face a real setback, if they should decide not to admit the UN Human Rights Commission study group. I hope you will mention the consequences of a refusal to do so.

4. As to the Secretary’s trip, the Chileans will do everything possible to be helpful. There will be no substantive or security problems. We will need a reading from you as to the possibility of putting up the Secretary in a private residence which has been offered to us, or in the Embassy residence: there are fairly serious drawbacks in using either of the two best hotels.

5. Pursuant to your instruction, we have deferred action on the PDC request that you, and Secretary Kissinger, arrange to meet with President Frei individually. We will need an early decision on this matter.

  1. Summary: Popper provided Rogers with a briefing on outstanding issues with Chile upon his arrival in Santiago for meetings with Chilean officials.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, ARA Files, Assistant Secretary Files, Subject and Country Files: Lot 78D261, Chile, Secretary Kissinger’s Visit, April 1975. Secret. Rogers was in Chile from March 11 to March 12. (Telegram 1434 from Santiago, March 7; ibid., Central Foreign Policy File, D750081–0002) The papers enclosed with this memorandum have not been found. In telegram 2023 from Lima, March 12, Rogers reported on his meeting with Pinochet, in which Kissinger’s planned visit to Chile was discussed. Pinochet urged that Kissinger be made familiar with Chile’s economic problems, and he referred to his Government’s interest in arms purchases in response to Peru’s military build-up. (Ibid., D750087–0183) Kissinger’s projected visit to Chile was subsequently postponed; he did not travel to Santiago until June 1976. During an April 2 staff meeting, Kissinger indicated that he wanted Chilean debt rescheduled at a meeting of the Paris Club so that the IBRD would find Chile creditworthy, thus allowing the possibility of loans. (Ibid., Transcripts of Kissinger Staff Meetings, Lot 78D443, Box 6, Secretary’s Principals’ and Regionals’ Staff Meetings)

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