112. Editorial Note
In telegram 4943 from Managua, October 9, 1978, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research William Bowdler reported to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher and Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Viron Vaky about the “three-cornered shuttle diplomacy” conducted that day by the negotiating team between Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza, Archbisop Miguel Obando y Bravo, and the political committee of the Broad Opposition Front (FAO). Bowdler noted that the negotiating team “pressed hard for lifting of censorship, release of political prisoners and termination of state of siege.” (See footnote 2, Document 97) Somoza agreed to lift censorship of the opposition newspaper La Prensa the next day and remove all press censorship at the “end of present state of siege period, i.e. October 13.” However, he refused to let the state of siege lapse after October 12. Bowdler commented: “Our judgment is that Somoza cynically advanced limited concessions in the hope of producing a FAO split or rejection” and noted that, in that case, the negotiating team would face three options: 1) pressure Somoza to end the siege; 2) depart Nicaragua and assess circumstances; or 3) remain in Nicaragua and canvass elements of the FAO for willingness to continue negotiations with Somoza. (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Records of the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Warren Christopher, Lot 91D113, Box 21, Human Rights—Nicaragua V) In telegram 4950 from Managua, October 10, the Embassy reported that the FAO political committee “took hard position that without full restoration of rights it would be ‛impossible to continue the negotiations.’” The Embassy concluded: “This is slow, tedious work but inching the two sides to the point where compromise becomes acceptable is best way to handle the parties at this stage.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 38, Nicaragua Cables: 10/9–13/78)