608            FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 5 0, VOLUME I

   12. The United States will be prepared to consider estimates of
what supplementary assistance from the United States might be fur-
nished only after it has been demonstrated that the perform-
ance of agreed tasks by any member nation is beyond its capabilities.
In this connection, the United States would expect reciprocal assist-
ance from the Latin American nations to the greatest extent prac-
ticable. Appropriation of funds by the United States Congress Will be
necessary to provide significant amounts of military equipment, but
it cannot be expected that the Joint Chiefs of Staff would support
such legislation unless the foregoing condition has been met.
   13. It should be made clear to the Latin American representatives
that the reciprocal assistance we would expect from them will include
as a minimum, base and transit rights and assurance of the security
and protection of vital installations upon which the production and
delivery of strategic materials depend.
   14. The Western Hemisphere defense scheme can be developed only
in broad terms for acceptance in principle by the Organization of
American States.

PPS Files: Lot 64D563: PPS 63 Series
           Paper Prepared by the Policy Planning Staff1

TOP SECRET                       [WASHINGTON,] September 20, 1949.
PPS 63
COMMENT ON NSC/56, AUGUST 31, 1949, "U.S. POLICY CONCERNING
   MILITARY COLLABORATION UNDER THE INTER-AMERICAN TREATY OF
   RECIPROCAL ASSISTANCE"
   The problem is stated: "To assess and appraise the position of the
 United States with respect to the military aspects of the implementa-
 tion4 of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, with
 particular reference to continued military cooperation among the
 American states".
   There are three major considerations included in the comment on
the NSC paper: (1) the Organization of American States and the
nature of the Rio Treaty, (2) the background during the past few
years of inter-American military cooperation, and (3) the type of
Latin American military establishments best fitted to meet the needs

  "This paper was transmitted on September 20 by the Director of the
Policy
  Planning Staff (Kennan) to the Department of State Representative on the
NSC
  Staff (Bishop) with the suggestion that the views of the Policy Planning
Staff
  be cleared with ARA and then submitted to the NSC Staff for use in the
prepara-
  lion of the report to be made for NSM consideration.
  NSC 56 underwent subsequent revisions before its approval on May 19, 1950,
  as NSC 56/2 by President Truman.