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

372. Telegram From the Embassy in El Salvador to the Department of State¹

San Salvador, March 8, 1979, 1800Z

1259. For Assistant Secretary Vaky from Ambassador Devine. Subj: (S) Bilateral Dialogue and the Repeal of the Public Order Law. Ref State 049592.²

1. (Secret-Entire text)

2. In accordance reftel, I met with President Romero on March 7 to present new Deputy Chief of Mission Richard B. Howard and to carry out Department’s most recent instruction pertinent to our high-level dialogue.

3. Following guidance in para 4 reftel, I told President Romero that after hearing directly from Assistant Secretary Vaky I wished make following points:

A. Congratulations on action taken to repeal law for defense of public order;

B. We consider it a correct and wise decision which can contribute to better understanding and goodwill among the people of El Salvador;

C. We recognize the potential significance of repeal of the law;

D. In my press conference here, we have tried to make public such recognition and our approval of the action taken;

E. In Washington, the press spokesman for Department of State took exactly same line and thereby inparted greater domestic and international resonance to such statements;

F. Because of this action by GOES we were successful in resisting pressures for a negative vote on the IDB livestock development loan;³

G. We were also, for the same reason, instrumental in moving the British from a “no” to a positive vote on that loan;

H. We hope very strongly that this positive measure will be promptly followed by others;

I. Our ability to maintain this more cooperative atmosphere is at best tenuous and could be strengthened by GOES action of a follow-up nature which would help reinforce the positive response to repeal of the law for defense of public order.

4. Turning from the public order law to the high-level dialogue, I told the President that:

A. Due in large measure to the repeal of the law, Embassy officers and I are available immediately—whenever President Romero is ready—to begin conversation with the GOES five-person commission named to carry on the high-level dialogue;

B. Ambassador Vaky, personally, cannot at the moment plan an early visit to San Salvador; but

C. He will follow the course of our dialogue closely and will hope personally to come here and “join” the dialogue later if its progress so warrants.

5. President Romero heard me out and then reminded me that he had from the outset defined repeal of the public order law as only the first of various steps to be taken. It is important, he said, to wait and observe the reaction before future steps are taken, not everything can be done at once. The process must be spread over time.

6. With respect to our high-level dialogue, President indicated agreement to idea of moving ahead and said he would so inform Vice President Astacio who is to head the five-person commission. At same time, he noted that Astacio is now preparing to depart for Caracas to head El Salvador’s delegation to inauguration of new President Luis Herrera Compins. For this reason, he said, our dialogue with the commission will have to await the Vice President’s return to San Salvador. Parenthetically he noted that this would ipso facto allow time to observe results and reaction growing out of repeal of law for defense of public order. The President did not clarify what results or reaction would facilitate further government steps toward normalization or promotion of the intended dialogue with regard to USG–GOES, however, he assured me that Vice President Astacio would communicate with me upon his return to San Salvador (our other info indicates that this may well mean the week of March 19).

7. Seeming to imply that it might be another in the series of positive steps contemplated, President Romero said that Vice President Astacio would definitely be talking with this country’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC) Leader Napoleon Durante while in Caracas (San Salvador 1187).⁴ He also indicated that there are currently some tentative but hopeful signs with respect to a possible new dialogue or meeting between himself and Archbishop Romero.

Devine

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 20, El Salvador: 1–9/79. Secret.
2. In telegram 49592 to San Salvador, March 1, Vaky noted the “positive step” of the repeal of the defense of public order law and instructed Devine to “begin conversation with the GOES dialogue commission.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790093–0820)
3. In telegram 47705 to multiple posts, February 28, the Department reported that the U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank was planning to abstain “on a $15.3 million (ordinary capital) livestock development and animal health program for El Salvador” because of “human rights concerns.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790090–0847)
4. This information was transmitted in telegram 1187 from San Salvador, March 2. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790100–0342)