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

283. Subject: (S) Follow-up With Carazo on Cuban Activities. Ref: State 005249.2

1. (S-Entire text)

2. After having enlisted Foreign Minister Niehaus in the cause, I saw President and Niehaus per instructions reftel on Nicaragua and Cuba.

3. He is sending Niehaus to see D’Escoto tomorrow (Niehaus will follow the Venezuelan Calderon Berti, who concerted his approach to Nicaragua with Carazo). Niehaus was instructed in my presence to tell D’Escoto to stop intervention or face consequences, isolation and loss of financial support from West, plus danger from other CA nations (i.e. Guatemala and Honduras). Calderon Berti will have told Nicaraguans that Venezuela will continue oil support ($30 million, according to Carazo) for Nicaragua only so long as it behaves.

4. I then made presentation on Cuba, saying that Cuban sponsored intervention in El Salvador now offered perfect opportunity to throw them out. Carazo said he would not say yes or no now, but would [Page 852] consider it in the light of public evidence developed on Cuban intervention.

5. I will continue the effort.

McNeil
  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.
  2. In telegram 5249 to San José, January 9, the Department instructed McNeil to meet with Carazo in order to convince him to halt Cuban clandestine activities in Costa Rica. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 12, Costa Rica: 6/80–1/81)