Minutes of the Thirty-first Meeting of the Committee, Held in Conference Room "G", at the Ministry of Defence, S.W.I, on Friday, Ivth March, 1950 at 10.45 Am.

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Minutes of the Thirty-first Meeting of the Committee, Held in Conference Room "G", at the Ministry of Defence, S.W.I, on Friday, Ivth March, 1950 at 10.45 Am.

3. SUPPLY OF AIRCRAFT TO VENEZUELA SECRET GUARD (Previous Reference: J.I.C. (50) 17th Meeting, Minute 6) MR. REILLY referred to the previous conclusion of the Committee that the Joint War Production Staff should be invited to obtain deferment of any action regarding the supply of aircraft to Venezuela pending completion of the examination being carried out+ of the military situation in Central America with particular reference to any possible threat to British possessions. He informed the Committee that the De Havilland Aircraft Company had been negotiating with the Venezuelan Government concerning the supply of more Vampire aircraft. Venezuela had already bought four of these aircraft. He understood that these negotiations had been started by the Venezuelan Government following the presence of two officers of the Venezuelan Air Force at the Royal Air Force Staff College, And over, in 1948 and 1949, following which one of these officers had undergone a short attachment to De Havillands. The enthusiasm of this student had led the Venezuelan Government to wish to introduce Vampires into their Air Force despite possible opposition from the United States. The total order was likely to be for 25 aircraft representing a value of £700,000 in dollars. The Venezuelan Air Force already had 24 Thunderbolts and if the contract was not secured by De Havillands they would place their order with the United States for P. 80's. The current order was for 3 aircraft and if we lost that it was almost certain that we should lose the remainder of the order. The Foreign Office, therefore, were strongly of the view that De Havillands should be authorised to proceed with their negotiations. The Foreign Office saw no objections to the sale since the present regime in Venezuela was unlikely to embark on any adventures regarding British Guiana. He therefore asked whether the Committee would agree not to ask for negotiations to be deferred pending completion of their report. MAJOR GENERAL SHORTT said that the only possible argument against the sale was that the supply of large numbers of armaments to Central American Republics might lead to a proportion finding their way to the Caribbean Legion. Since, however, it was likely that the Venezuelan Government would purchase the same number of aircraft from the Americans, if not from us, this argument would not apply and he therefore supported the Foreign Office views. REAR-ADMIRAL LONGLEY-COOK said that the Admiralty entirely supported the Foreign Office views, particularly as the present Venezuelan Government was opposed to the Caribbean Legion. AIR VICE MARSHAL OGILVIE-FORBES said that the Air Ministry endorsed the Foreign Office views. Such sales helped to keep the aircraft industry healthy and, should circumstances arise where by the Venezuelan Government became unfriendly towards us, it would always be possible to immobilise the aircraft by with holding replacements of spare parts. THE COMMITTEE:- Agreed that consideration of the sale of aircraft to Venezuela should no longer be deferred, and invited the Foreign Office to take note of their views accordingly for representation to the Joint War Production Staff. + J.I.C. (50) 19. -2-
Collection ID
CAB159
Conflict
Cold War
Document Reference
CAB 159/7/33
File Reference
CAB 159/0007
Identifier
10.1080/swwf.cab159.0007.033
Keywords
British Intelligence Organisation Defence Threat Of War With The Ussr Contingency Planning War Preparations Allies French Armed Forces Morale French Politics Aircraft Trade Equipment Military Supplies Invasion Threat Foreign Policy Predicting Enemy Intentions Assessing Enemy Strength Colonies Empire Imperial Defence Defectors Embassies Press Reports Propaganda Communism Ideology Recruitment Subversion Intelligence Gathering Intelligence Channels Intelligence Requirements Intelligence Services Responsibilities Security Military Intelligence Attachés Consular Intelligence Sources Personnel Scientific Research Technology Strategy Soviet Foreign Policy Sabotage Operations Planning Military Objectives Soviet-yugoslav Relations Diplomatic Disputes Mobilisation Former Colonies Diplomatic Intelligence
Note
Sections of this document have been retained under Section 3(4) of the Public Records Act, 1958.
Pages
13
Published in
United Kingdom
Series
Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office: Central Intelligence Machinery: Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee Later Committee: Minutes (JIC Series). Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee. Meetings 1 (0)-60 (0)
Themes
Military Intelligence and Operations Propaganda, Censorship and Psychological Warfare Foreign Policy and International Relations