Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980; Volume XV; Central America, 1977–1980

337. Telegram From the Embassy in Costa Rica to the Department of State¹

San José, June 30, 1980, 1840Z

3706. Subj: Meeting with President Carazo: San Jose II and His Predicament Over Clandestine Arms Shipments. Ref: San Jose 3705.²

1. (S-Entire text)

2. I met with President Carazo last night at his home. For this part of our conversation only Charge Binns was present. The most significant aspect of our visit was that that atmospherics have changed markedly. Carazo was courteous but he was tense and the old cordiality was not there. The enthusiasm he had displayed over San Jose I was also lacking. The obvious strain he is under has subordinated San Jose II to other preoccupations. Unlike previous sessions he showed no eagerness to discuss the Central American scene. Behind this change of attitude is clearly the pressure generated by Costa Rica’s role in clandestine shipment of arms to El Salvador. He may also believe that we are somehow behind the relentless campaign of the local media to find out the extent of Costa Rica’s role in the recent incident in El Salvador. All of this complicates our task with San Jose II.

3. We reviewed all the principal elements of the meeting. Attendance by other countries and organizations looks good. While perhaps not as strong as for San Jose I, the differences do not appear to be that great. I noted reports that he was not planning to participate in the meeting and expressed the hope this was not so since his presence is important and failure to open the session would lead to invidious comparisons. He bowed to this nudge and will inaugurate the conference. We went over the agenda, the revised objectives paper and the draft communique. He expressed agreement on how things are planned but it was clear from this part of the discussion that his mind was more on other things. The sense of involvement—of exploring the issues and assessing the tactics—was not there.

4. Given this frame of mind and his failure to take the initiative in making the customary review of Central American problems, I decided this was not the moment to bell him on the issue of Costa Rica’s role in facilitating clandestine arms shipments to the far left in El Salvador. Fearing that to do so might push him into non-cooperation in achieving a successful outcome to San Jose II, I arranged to meet with him on Wednesday, July 2.³

5. Following the meeting with Carazo we met briefly with Foreign Minister-designate Niehaus. Principal point to emerge from this exchange was his desire to have communique signed by all the participants, another indicator of Costa Rican reluctance. We agreed this was theoretically desirable, but pointed out serious problems that pressing this point could raise. Niehaus did not pursue the matter.

6. We meet again with Niehaus morning June 30 to make final review of arrangements.⁴

Binns

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870047–0110. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
2. In telegram 3705 from San José, Bowdler reported on his June 29 meeting with Carazo during which they discussed issues unrelated to the San José II conference. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800315–0724)
3. For Bowdler’s report on his July 2 meeting with Carazo, see Document 338.
4. Telegram 3728 from San José, July 1, relayed Bowdler’s comments at the June 30 opening session of the San José II Conference. Bowdler raised five points that required further attention: arrangements, with preconditions, for safe and orderly migration; clarification of the resettlement offers made during San José I to ensure they included refugees in the United States in addition to those in the Peruvian Embassy in Havana; ceasing the export of criminals by the Government of Cuba; further engaging international organizations on the problem; and addressing the Cuban refugees confined in the U.S. Interest Section in Havana. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800316–0169) In telegram 3764 from San José, July 2, the Embassy provided a concluding assessment of the San José II conference, noting that the conference “ended with consensus” on a communiqué issued by the Government of Costa Rica. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800318–0036) In telegram 3784 from San José, July 2, the Embassy transmitted the Spanish text of the communiqué released by the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry that morning. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800319–0192)