ARGENTINA-CHILE: THE BEAGLE CHANNEL CRISIS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005505086
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2011
• Case Number: F-2009-01666
• Publication Date: December 13, 1978

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Subject ARGENTINA-CHILE: THE BEAGLE
CHANNEL CRISIS
APPROVED FOR
RELEASEL DATE:
04-Apr-2011
 CIA OPS CTR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA-CHILE: THE BEAGLE CHANNEL CRISIS
CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER CUBILLOS AND ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER
PASTOR APPARENTLY HAVE MADE NO PROGRESS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO AVERT A
MILITARY ACTION IN THE BEAGLE CHANNEL DISPUTE- CUBILLOS, HOWEVER, DID
NOT LEAVE BUENOS AIRES AS SCHEDULED -- SUGGESTING THAT EFFORTS ARE
STILL UNDERWAY TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. VIDELA REPORTEDLY IS
STILL MEETING WITH THE JUNTA.'
NO COMMUNIQUE HAS BEEN ISSUED AND THE CHANCES FOR A JOINT STATE-
MENT OF ANY KIND ARE SLIM. CUBILLOS REPORTEDLY CAME TO BUENOS AIRES
WITH PROPOSALS WHICH ARGENTINE PRESIDENT VIDELA AND MILITARY LEADERS
HAVE REVIEWED AND APPARENTLY REJECTED.Y
MEANWHILE, BOTH SIDES CONTINUE TO MAKE FINAL MILITARY PREPARA
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ORIG
UNIT
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 TIONS.ARGENTINA HAS MOVED COMBAT UNITS FROM ALL FOUR MILITARY CORPS
TO THE CHILEAN BORDER. IN THE PAST 24 HOURS CHILE HAS PLACED ITS ARMY
AND POLICE UNITS OW FULL ALERT AND HAS ORDERED COMBAT SHIPS TO MOVE
SOUTHWARD FROM THE MAIN PORT OF VALPARAISO, PROBABLY TO THE BEAGLE
CHANNEL AREA.P
ON A SEPARATE FRONT, A LEADING ARGENTINE NEWSPAPER THIS MORNING
STATED THAT THE US HAS ASKED THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES TO
INTERVENE IN THE DISPUTE AND THE US EMBASSY IN BUENOS AIRES BELIEVES
THAT WE WILL BE BLAMED FOR THIS INITIATIVE. THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT
REPEATEDLY HAS EXPRESSED ITS RECEPTIVITY TO DIRECT US INVOLVEMENT OR
MEDIATION, BUT COULD EASILY INTERPRET AN APPEAL TO THE OAS AT THIS
TIME AS A LEGALISTIC MOVE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE CHILEANS, WHO HAVE
THE JURIDICAL ADVANTAGE IN THE DISPUTE. PREPARED BY:
DATE 13 DEC 78
ORIC S D O
UNIT OPS CTR
REPRODUCTION BY OTHER THAN THE ISSUING OFFICE IS PROHIBITED