Office of the Historian

250. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

Seoul, undated.

SUBJECT

  • Nicaragua

By the time you meet with Torrijos on Tuesday,2 we should have a firm idea of how we will proceed on Nicaragua. My own view is that we should use whatever leverage we have to attempt to moderate and expand the base of the Provisional Government which has been established outside the country. Torrijos can be helpful in this effort. I think the situation has deteriorated in Managua to the point where the moderates are unwilling and unable to assert themselves in the face of what they see as the predominate FSLN position.

I realize there are various views on this issue, however, and believe it would be very useful for you to meet briefly, some time before your meeting with Torrijos, with those in the Executive Branch who have been dealing directly with this problem. I consequently suggest that sometime on Monday you meet with Warren, Zbig, Bill Bowdler, Ambler Moss, Pete Vaky, and Bob Pastor to get an update on the situation on the ground and to have the benefit of their views on the best way to proceed.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 56, Nicaragua: 7/79–9/79. Secret. Carter initialed the top of the page. An unknown hand wrote at the bottom of the page: “[c7/2/79]” The Secretary of State’s delegation in Seoul sent the text of the memorandum for Christopher in Washington in telegram Secto 6081 from Seoul, June 30. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 35, Nicaragua: 6/29–30/79)↩
  2. July 3.↩