214. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Vance in Vienna1
Tosec 50048/156042. To Jack Perry for Secretary Vance. Subject: Nicaragua.
1. I met today with Vaky, Bowdler and others to review Nicaragua developments. The situation is evolving rapidly and dramatically and I believe that you should know the following.
2. Fighting continues, at least sporadically, in many, perhaps most, of the major cities, including Managua. None of the violence seems to be directed deliberately at Americans or U.S. installations. Food and water are in short supply. Looting increases. The National Guard remains loyal, but intercepts give some indication of anguish and supply problems. Doubts grow in my mind whether Somoza can ride out even the current round.
3. C–130s will evacuate 140 more persons today, 100 Americans, 40 third country nationals. 46 official Americans remain, including Marine guards. Estimates of unofficial Americans vary widely, perhaps 300–400. I have asked the Pentagon to let us know urgently how we can improve our evacuation capacity with Panama assets without creating a front-page story. The best non-Panama option might be to pre-position three jolly green giants from New Mexico to Panama (32 hours). They would have the range to evacuate from Managua without refueling; the Chinooks in Panama would not. This option is complicated however by the need for tankers and 170 support personnel to accompany the helicopters from the U.S. to Panama. If the threats to remaining U.S. personnel increase, I will consult with you on my recommendation concerning further evacuation measures.
4. We intend to ask for an OAS Foreign Ministers meeting for next Thursday, June 21. Although you appear before the Fascell Committee that same day, we might want to consider recommending to you that you deliver our statement at the OAS meeting as well. This meeting might involve almost all the hemisphere’s Foreign Ministers and it is likely to be the critical moment in the OAS effort to promote a peaceful transition in Nicaragua. Responses to our telegram to all OAS members indicate that we will have nearly unanimous support for the call.2 [Page 549] We will be preparing a speech and proposed resolution along lines approved by President following June 11 PRC meeting.3
5. We have just learned from the Mexicans that a provisional government of Nicaragua is being formed. Composition is unclear but it will contain elements of FAO as well as Sandanistas. Mexicans and the Andean group may promptly recognize and declare a state of belligerency.4 We are getting in touch with these governments immediately and Bowdler will leave for Mexico City tomorrow to urge Mexicans to await OAS Foreign Ministers meeting before recognizing a provisional government although we do not want to exclude the possibility that the provisional government could play a role in a transition period in Nicaragua.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840167–2147. Secret; Niact Immediate; Cherokee; Nodis. Drafted and approved by Tarnoff. Vance accompanied Carter in Vienna June 14–18 for the U.S.-Soviet Summit and the signing of the SALT II Treaty.↩
- See Document 212.↩
- See Document 212.↩
- The Andean Pact Foreign Ministers’ declaration of a state of belligerency in Nicaragua was released in Lima on June 16. (Telegram 5106 from Lima, June 16; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790273–0683)↩