394. Editorial Note
In an October 17, 1979, memorandum to Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Viron Vaky, the Director of the Inter-American Region, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Admiral Gordon Schuller, recommended an immediate package of military training and equipment for the new Salvadoran Government. (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC 330–82–0205, El Salvador 1979) U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Frank Devine also endorsed the approval of commercial tear gas exports to El Salvador in telegram 6076 from San Salvador, October 22. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790484–0513) Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Zbigniew Brzezinski discussed the issue during an October 25 luncheon. According to an unsigned October 26 memorandum for the files about the luncheon: “All agreed that we will await the El Salvadoran approach to us before offering assistance. In the meantime, will review the DOD proposed list.” (Department of State, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State, 1977–1980, Lot 84D241, 1979 Brown/Brzezinski Lunches Oct./Nov./Dec.)
In an October 25 memorandum to National Security Council Staff member Robert Pastor and Legal Counsel of the National Security Council Robert Kimmitt, Special Assistant to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Robert Gates referenced the October 25 luncheon, noting that “Vance talked to Salvadoran Foreign Minister and they will come to us when they know what they need.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Freedom of Information/Legal, Kimmitt, Arms Transfers/Country File, Box 18, El Salvador, 7/79–12/79)
In telegram 282178 to San Salvador, October 29, the Department noted that the Salvadoran Ministry of Defense requested tear gas and related equipment “to meet challenge of current disorders,” but there were “no formal license applications currently pending for the export of tear gas and related equipment to El Salvador.” However, “tear gas grenades, gas masks, bulletproof vests, and steel helmets are available from US military stocks and DOD assures us they could be on plane to El Salvador within 72 hours of receipt” of a Salvadoran request for a foreign military supply (FMS) cash sale. (Department of State, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Nicaragua/El Salvador Working Files, Lot 81D64, El Salvador Telegrams, 10/79)
In telegram 6359 from San Salvador, November 5, the Embassy relayed the Salvadoran request for an FMS cash sale of riot control items. (Department of State, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, Nicaragua/El Salvador Working Files, Lot 81D64, El Salvador Telegrams, [Page 981] 11/79) In telegram 6664 from San Salvador, November 20, Devine noted that the “initial shipment of non-lethal riot control equipment” arrived on November 9 and that the military training team gave instruction in using the equipment and surveyed the Salvadoran need for counter-insurgency training. Devine recommended that the U.S. military group be augmented and that the Salvadoran armed forces be strengthened. (Ibid.)