Office of the Historian

230. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Panama1

Washington, June 27, 1979, 0211Z

Tosec 60061/165653. Subject: Pallais’ Report on Conversation with Somoza.

1. (S-Entire text)

2. As agreed during discussions in the Department June 25,2 Luis Pallais called Grove in ARA on the evening of June 26 to report on his conversation with Somoza.

3. Pallais said “everything is accepted.” He said that the Nicaraguan Congress was being convened for a 2:00 pm session on Thursday (June 28), and urged that Ambassador Pezzullo arrive in Nicaragua Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. Grove replied that Pezzullo planned to arrive Wednesday afternoon and would seek an immediate appointment with President Somoza.

4. In response to a question, Pallais said that no public statement was contemplated on the Nicaraguan side. “We are keeping this very tight.” He offered the comment that President Somoza “has questions, not on procedure, but concerning the National Guard.” He also stated that he would be in Miami for the next couple of days to contact Nicaraguan Congressmen now in the United States in order to secure their attendance at the Thursday session in Managua.

5. Comment: The reference to everything being “accepted” relates to discussions yesterday by the Acting Secretary with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Quintana and Ambassador Pezzullo with Pallais. Pallais’ comment on Somoza’s concern about the National Guard may reflect the line of thinking expressed by Congressman Murphy to Christopher this afternoon (Septel).3

6. FYI for Secretary: Bowdler and Pezzullo are leaving by military aircraft for Panama to meet on the morning of June 27 with members of the Nicaraguan “provisional government,” as well as with Royo, Torrijos and others. Ambassador Luers will be joining this group.

Christopher
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 35, Nicaragua: 6/26–28/79. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Sent for information Immediate to Secretary Vance in Tokyo and to the White House. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Grove (ARA); cleared in substance by Vaky; approved by Christopher. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840130–1937)↩
  2. See Document 226.↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 229.↩