FOREIGN1 RELATIONS, 19 5 0, VOLUJME I


  For those nations which could not make contributions of battalion
size or-greater, the Joint Chiefs of Staff would give sympathetic con-
sideration to the organization and employment in the Korean opera-
tion of some such units as an Inter-American Force of national units,
each under its own flag and preserving its own national identity, pro-
viding the plan for such an organization is worked out through the
appropriate agency of the Organization of American States, namely
the Inter-American Defense Board, and subject to Department of
State approval. On the other hand, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the
opinion that it would be wholly impracticable and militarily unsound
for the United States to attempt at present to organize, train, and
equip an international unit composed of unorganized volunteers from
the several Latin American nations. Furthermore, the Joint Chiefs of
Staff have consistently opposed the organization of any United Na.-
tions force, other than armed guards, in lieu of the forces to be pro-
vided that Organization under Article 43 of the Charter. Accordingly,
the general recruitment of volunteers under United Nations-aegis of
an international unit from Latin America is opposed by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, particularly since this would set a precedent. The
grouping together of units from an area included in a United Nations
security arrangement under the aegis of the Unified Command for the
United Nations Forces in Korea would not be inconsistent with pre-
vious positions of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  The Joint Chiefs of Staff would welcome offers from Latin Ameri-
can nations possessing troop transports or merchant vessels registered
under their flags to provide water transportation for their own con-
tingents and those of other participating countries.
  The procedures now in effect between our respective Departments,
whereby the Joint Chiefs of Staff are consulted in each instance prior
to the acceptance of offers of military assistance, should, of course, be
followed with respect to offers by Latin-American nations. Once the
United States Government has accepted a firm offer of assistance from
another nation, then the military representatives of that nation will
complete negotiations pertaining to the assistance directly with the
United States military department concerned.
  The Department of Defense recognizes that many of the Latin
American nations will not be able to reimburse the United States for
some of the equipment, supplies and service which will have to be
:provided by the United States in order to make their contribution
of armed forces effective. As you know, with the concurrence of the
Depa.rtments of State and Treasury, and ,after approval by the Presi-
     or text ,of the Charter of the  nited Nations, signed at San Francisco,
June 26, 1945, see Department of State Treaty Series (TS) No. 993, or 59
Stat.
(pt. 2) 1031.


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