Office of the Historian

384. Memorandum for the Record1

NFAC–5399–79
Washington, October 5, 1979

SUBJECT

  • Meeting on El Salvador Coup

1. On the afternoon of 5 October, at the request of the DDCI, a meeting was held at the White House Situation Room on the prospects for and implications of a military coup in El Salvador.2

2. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Pastor of the NSC Staff. In addition to the undersigned representing NFAC, the following were also in attendance: Don Gregg and one other NSC Staff member; [name not declassified] C/LAD/DDO/CIA; Ambassador Bowdler, D/INR/State; John Bushnell, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ARA, State; and a representative of DOD.

3. It was agreed that, though possible, a coup by moderate middle-grade army officers was unlikely over the weekend of 6–7 October.

4. It was agreed that more information was urgently needed about the coup plans of this group, the extent of its ties with other military and security groups and with civilian groups, and the likely nature of its political posture if it attained power.

5. Finally, it was agreed that either a smooth or a messy coup (i.e. one that led to clashes between military groups) would galvanize leftist extremists’ plans for major violence. While the US would have to move quickly in such circumstances, it was agreed that more information was needed for a productive intercession.

Comment: Mr. Pastor indicated that perhaps the meeting was called prematurely. Other participants, including Bowdler, thought the meeting valuable in getting ready for a quick response in a potentially critical situation.

Jack Davis3
National Intelligence Officer for Latin America
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00112R: Subject Files, Box 16, Folder 11: (SCC) Central America. Secret; Senstive. Drafted by Davis on October 9. No other substantive record of the October 5 meeting has been found.↩
  2. Turner sent an alert memorandum to the National Security Council, under an October 5 memorandum, reporting “strong indications that a group of middle-grade Army officers will attempt to oust President Romero during the next few days.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 20, El Salvador: 10/15–31/79)↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩