371. Telegram 58100 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Venezuela1
58100. Subject: Ambassador Aguilar’s Call on Acting Assistant Secretary Crimmins: President Caldera’s Statements During LA Tour. Refs: State 35197, Caracas 2422.
1. At his request, Ambassador Aguilar called on Acting Assistant Secretary Crimmins at the Department, Saturday, March 24. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Little and Venezuelan Desk Officer Forrester were also present.
2. Aguilar opened by asking if Mr. Crimmins knew the reason for the call. Mr. Crimmins answered no and admitted his considerable curiosity. Aguilar explained that he had been recalled March 16 for [Page 992] consultations with FonMin Calvani. According to Aguilar, Calvani expressed puzzlement with questions Ambassador McClintock asked him during their March 8 meeting regarding a possible shift in Venezuelan policy towards U.S., its attitude toward Cuba and anti-Americanism in Venezuela. Aguilar observed that Ambassador McClintock had travelled unmolested throughout Venezuela; sizeable U.S. investment was flourishing; GOV had launched major effort to attract U.S. tourists; Venezuela’s qte masses unqte are not anti-American; and none of major political parties has introduced U.S. as issue in election campaign.
3. Aguilar contended friendship must be measured in deeds, not words, mentioning seeming U.S. proclivity toward paying more attention to our enemies than to our friends. As example Aguilar referred to minimum press coverage Caldera’s state visit received in U.S. versus coverage like visit by Chile’s President Allende would probably receive.
4. Aguilar concluded saying Venezuela is one of few remaining LA democracies and that special U.S.-Venezuela relations are historic, thus Ambassador McClintock’s query re a changing Venezuelan policy towards U.S. seems inexplicable and without basis. Aguilar also asked whether Ambassador had acted with knowledge or instructions from Department.
5. Mr. Crimmins responded that Ambassador McClintock had called on FonMin Calvani at the behest of and with authorization of Department. He cited as major factors prompting query about the significance to GOV position of reported Caldera statements: the long history of close U.S.-Venezuelan relations, the fact that Venezuela is indeed one of few LA democracies and a key country in the area; Venezuela’s leading role in the hemisphere; and President Caldera’s stature as a person and statesman. Because of these factors, Mr. Crimmins continued, the Department attaches special significance to what President Caldera says and what the President says can have special weight in the hemisphere. Placing inquiry to Calvani in broad context, Mr. Crimmins noted growing trend in hemispheric relations for strident rhetoric and sterile confrontation. Fact is that Caldera’s statements, as reported in Brazilian publication qte Manchete unqte, gave these pronouncements hemispheric impact and could have indicated that GOV was associating itself with negative chorus.
6. Mr. Crimmins said that Calvani’s response and Aguilar’s own comments fully satisfied the Department’s query, and he stressed that our questions were not based on any a priori political judgment. We had, through the inquiry, sought reassurance about GOV’s attitude, and it had been given.
7. Aguilar, although indicating he was not fully convinced, thanked Mr. Crimmins for this explanation and said he would relay his response to Caracas. Concluding, Mr. Crimmins suggested that FonMin Calvani, [Page 993] if he considered further discussion useful, might wish to pursue the matter further with Secretary Rogers during the OASGA meeting next month. Aguilar said he would pass this suggestion to Calvani.
8. Finally, Aguilar noted that his approach to the department was extremely confidential, had not been discussed with other GOV officials, and that FinMin Oberto, then in Washington, did not know why Aguilar had been recalled for consultation.
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Summary: Crimmins and Aguilar discussed anti-Americanism in Venezuela and United States-Venezuelan relations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential; Limdis. Drafted by Forrester; cleared by Edward Little and Stockman; approved by Crimmins. According to a memorandum of an April 5 conversation between Calvani and Rogers in Washington, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister expressed surprise at U.S. inquiries about changes in Venezuelan policy towards the United States, as reflected in some of Caldera’s speeches. Rogers replied that the U.S. Government had simply asked for a clarification of Venezuelan policy, just as it was frequently asked for clarifications of its own policy. (Ibid., Central Files, 1970–1973, POL VEN–US)
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