Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 1, Documents on Mexico; Central America; and the Caribbean, 1973–1976

36. Telegram 4056 From the Embassy in Nicaragua to the Department of State¹

Managua, October 20, 1975, 2255Z.

4056. To Assistant Secretary Rogers from Ambassador Theberge. Subject: Travel Plans for the Secretary. Ref: State 248400.

1. As requested I have informed Foreign Minister concerning the postponement of Secretary Kissinger’s visit to Central and South America until the New Year. Given the unfortunate background of previous postponements, I stressed that this one was in response to a preference expressed by one of the governments. The Foreign Minister said that he regretted this latest development, and he asked me to keep him informed of the Secretary’s plans to reschedule the trip.

2. Comment: Although the Foreign Minister’s reaction was reserved, I know from prior conversations with him and President Somoza that the GON feels that by putting off his visits to the region the Secretary has seriously undermined his efforts, which were initially well-received, to establish a friendly, cooperative dialogue. While fully understanding the heavy responsibilities borne by the Secretary, they nevertheless feel that these trip deferments have effectively strengthened the creditability of the claims of various Latin American leaders that the Secretary is not really very interested in Latin America and U.S.-Latin American relations.

3. In my conversation with President Carlos Andres Perez in Caracas in January of this year, he told me flatly, in the presence of Ambassador McClintock, that the postponed trips reflected Secretary Kissinger’s complete disinterest in the region. This comment of President Carlos Andres was reported to the Secretary at that time.

4. The morbid lack of Latin self-esteem constitutes a major incumbrance to a mature relationship with countries of the region. Therefore, it is especially important to avoid any actions which convey the impression of a lack of U.S. respect or interest in our remaining friends in the area. The personal interaction between the Secretary and his Latin colleagues is extremely important in creating a more favorable, or less unfavorable, psychological context for dealing with bilateral and regional problems.

Theberge

1. Summary: Ambassador Theberge reported on increasing resentment of Kissinger’s repeated postponements of scheduled trips to Latin America, which were seen to indicate a lack of interest in the region.

   Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840178–2229. Secret; Nodis. In telegram 248400 to Caracas, San José, and Brasilia, October 18, the Department reported that a planned November trip by Kissinger to Latin America was to be rescheduled. (Ibid., P850033–2147.) In telegrams 1351 and 1352 from Caracas, February 4, Ambassador McClintock reported on the conversation with Venezuelan President Pérez referred to in this telegram. (Ibid., D750041–0436.)