215. Memorandum From Stephen Low of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)1
SUBJECT
- Meeting with Chilean Ambassador Trucco Thursday, February 26 (3:00 p.m.)
Ambassador Trucco may wish to discuss a number of issues which are of concern to his government, but his principal concern will be with the threatened cutoff of military sales to Chile. He may also talk about human rights and the upcoming OAS General Assembly in Santiago.
Military Arms Sales
The Chilean Government’s inability to improve its performance on human rights and recognize that truly meaningful changes are necessary to improve its international image has put real limitations on our ability to provide assistance, both economic and military, to Chile. Recently the Senate passed an amendment to the Foreign Military Assistance Act which would ban all military transfers to Chile, including spare parts and equipment already purchased and under production. The amendment (Kennedy Amendment) is a manifestation of the depth of feeling on the human rights issue and of the limitations which it imposes on our actions.
The Chilean Government has been alarmed over the widening disparity in military capability between Chile and Peru. Peru has made large purchases of sophisticated military equipment, including Soviet tanks, much of which has been positioned in southern Peru near the [Page 590] border. Chile genuinely fears a Peruvian invasion to regain territory lost during the War of the Pacific in 1879. Chile’s inability, both on financial and political grounds, to find sources of supply for military equipment to upgrade its capabilities contributes to heightened concern. In this context the Senate passage of the Kennedy Amendment produced a strongly negative reaction in Chile. Chile has indicated that if such legislation is passed it would probably call for the removal of our military mission there.
The bill will come to the House floor next week. It now contains the Buchanan Amendment which prohibits MAP and FMS credit but permits FMS and commercial sales. Harrington is expected to offer a substitute amendment similar to Kennedy’s. We think it can be defeated. The bill would then go to Conference before March 15. Humphrey is managing it and has taken a strong stand in opposition to permitting any military sales to Chile. We will be seeking to come out of Conference with something as close to the Buchanan Amendment as possible. If necessary to defeat the Kennedy Amendment, we would be willing to sacrifice some or all of the new FMS sales or commercial sales. We are most anxious to preserve the $122 million of previously committed FMS which is in the pipeline. Trucco will no doubt express his deep concern about this issue and ask for strong Administration support to defeat the Senate amendment.
Human Rights
On the human rights issue, Trucco may tell you of recent actions to improve protection of human rights. The Chilean Government has released all detained Peace Committee employees except one and has allowed nearly all Chileans who have sought asylum in foreign embassies to leave the country. It has permitted publication of criticism of the current government’s policies. It has also issued a decree which, if fully implemented, could do much to prevent abuses of political detainees. Implementation, however, remains the key and thus far no implementing regulations have been issued.
On the other hand, the government has continued its purge of Chilean universities and denied entry into the country of US correspondents (Rudy Rauch of Time and Juan de Onis of the New York Times). There is evidence that mistreatment of detainees is continuing despite the new decree. Chile continues to refuse to allow the UN Human Rights Commission group headed by Allana to examine the situation inside the country. We recently (February 19) supported a resolution passed (unanimously) at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva that expressed profound distress at Chilean human rights violations.
OAS General Assembly
Trucco will probably express his government’s hope that Secretary Kissinger will head the US delegation to the OAS General Assembly [Page 591] in Santiago this June. Two countries opposed holding the meeting in Chile (Mexico and Jamaica) and may send only low-level representations or not go at all. The Chileans place high importance upon the Secretary’s attending, particularly in view of his recent visit to Lima. The Secretary has indicated publicly he wishes to go, although his schedule for June has not yet been worked out and there are conflicting international commitments. ARA would like to get concessions in the human rights area from the Chilean Government before committing the Secretary to attend.
Trucco has been privately critical of the State Department’s attitude toward Chile, and particularly of Bill Rogers. He has made little attempt to hide his feelings. He quotes the Secretary’s expressions of full support for the Chilean Government made in Mexico City and Washington to the former Foreign Minister and says Rogers is not following the Secretary’s instructions. He forgets, however, that recent discussions by the Secretary with the present Foreign Minister did contain reservations based on the human rights problem.
Trucco has also asked to see Deputy Secretary Clements. He cancelled his appointment yesterday but has been rescheduled for Monday.
Talking Points
Arms Sales
1. As you know, we have done the best we could under the legislative restrictions in effect. We moved ahead with the sale of some previously agreed equipment in order to establish the principle that we believe we are entitled to do so under the present legislation. We restrained the level, however, in order not to prejudice the current legislation, but sales shipments are continuing. Training, of course, would have to come under sales.
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Summary: In anticipation of a meeting between Scowcroft and Trucco, Low briefed Scowcroft on the status of U.S.-Chilean relations, in particular military sales, human rights, and the OAS General Assembly meeting in June.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Latin America, Box 3, Chile 2. Confidential. Sent for information. Scowcroft initialed the memorandum. The missing portion of the memorandum is in the original. No record of the meeting has been found. The Kennedy Amendment prohibited military and security assistance; credits and loans for arms; and deliveries of military assistance. (Telegram 27598 to Santiago, February 4; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760043–0061) On February 13, Rogers, Carvajal, and Trucco discussed the UNHRC meeting in Geneva, military assistance, Chile’s relationship with its neighbors, and OASGA preparations. (Telegram 37518 to Santiago, February 14; ibid., D760058–0127) On March 1, Trucco and Clements discussed U.S. arms sales policy towards Chile, and its relationship with its neighbors. (Memorandum of Conversation, March 1; Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–79–0037–333 Memcons Only, January–May, 1976)
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