108. Editorial Note
In telegram 4659 from Managua, September 26, 1978, William Jorden, the former Ambassador to Panama, reported to Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Viron Vaky that “Somoza has accepted our proposal in toto, that is mediation team composed of the U.S., Dominican Republic, Colombia, El Salvador, and Guatemala.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780393–1111) In telegram 9330 from Bogotá, September 28, the Embassy reported that Colombian Foreign Minister Diego Uribe Vargas said that the Colombian Government respected “Carter’s leadership on human rights issue but would also like to blow their own horn in this field” by requesting a United Nations intervention in Nicaragua on the basis of human rights. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780396–0843) In telegram 9331 from Bogotá, the Embassy remarked that Colombia’s request in effect “removed them as a possible participant in the mediation effort.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780396–0841) Following instructions given by the Department in telegram 247880 to Panama City, September 29, Jorden proposed to Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza that the mediation team be reduced to three members: the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Guatemala. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780397–0564; Telegram 7155 from Panama City, September 29; National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Records of the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Warren Christopher, Lot 81D113, Box 21, Human Rights—Nicaragua V) In telegram 248860 to the White House, September 29, the Department repeated the text of telegram 4756 from Managua, September 29, which reported that Somoza had accepted the three-party mediation. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 38, Nicaragua Cables: 9/21–30/78)