,WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFENSE


  Some Latin American Icountries are overwhelmed by financial obli-
  gations which they cannot meet; most of, them have a severe shortage
  -of dollars; their position in international trade is precarious; they
  are seeking United States assistance to solve these problems and are
  receiving it in the form of loans 'and constructive, but expensive, eco-
  nomic projects. In approaching the problem of inter-American mili-
  tary collaboration most of the Latin American leaders will be inspired
  more by their own .ambitions, and by fears regarding their neighbors,
  than by the basic requirements of hemisphere defense. Implied United
  States commitments almost inevitably develop in the minds of the
  Latin Americans following any military discussions with this country.
  It is difficult in such discussions to avoid stimulation of their desires
  for: military equipment which this country cannot deliver. When the
  United States is successful in reaching military agreements with the
  Latin American countries it is likely -that those countries will expect
  the United States to provide the means to implement the agreements.
  It is therefore important constantly to be on guard to avoid stimulat-
  ing desires land giving rise to an assumption on their part of implied
  commitments beyond our intention or capacity to fulfill. No matter
  how sound a policy and program for inter-American military collabo-
  ration may be, the difficulties of timing and implementation will re-
  quire constant coordination of all the changing political, economic,
  and military factors affecting United States over-all security interests
  in Latin America.
  9. When the Latin American countries are unable to expend their
  budgeted funds to procure military equipment from the United States
  they turn to whatever markets are available (including the satellite
  nations of the USSR) for such equipment and may develop resent-
  ment toward the ,United States. While standardization of military
  equipment for all Latin American countries remains an ultimate ob-
  jective, its realization is not necessary for the early undertaking of
  a program of inter-American military collaboration. Procurement by
  Latin American countries of military equipment from     European
  sources may well involve the sending of European military missions
  to the American countries ,which would be detrimental to the ultimate
objective of standardization. It must be recognized that the attain-
ment of this ultimate objective is blocked at the present time by ob-
vious practical difficulties, particularly the high cost of United States
armaments, higher priorities accorded to non-hemisphere countries,
and the limitations on United States subsidies during peace time.
Furthermore, as desirable as standardization may be, it is not an over-
riding consideration taking precedence over all other military or
political factors in the situation. Under present circumstances, the
emphasis on standardization must be weighed against other factors


631