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

93. Memorandum From Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron) and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, September 8, 1978

SUBJECT

• Nicaragua and Puerto Rico: Weekly Update

Nicaragua. The crisis is worsening. The Costa Ricans announced their mediation initiative, and their Foreign Minister traveled to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.² It is unclear what the outcome will be, but there are grounds for pessimism. The other Central American presidents are showing some reluctance to get involved in a mediation effort. This was best illustrated at the OAS meeting on Thursday³ where Venezuela did not receive that much support from the other countries. Mexico appears disinterested, in spite of what Roel told us. And the Costa Ricans never even bothered to explain their initiative. The Nicaraguans sensed that sentiment was either with them (i.e., opposed to interfering in their internal affairs) or apathetic, and they pushed for an early vote. We succeeded in getting the vote postponed until next Tuesday,⁴ but before then we may face some hard decisions.

Somoza is pulling out all the stops. Representative John Murphy, Somoza’s old West Point classmate, called me several times yesterday to try to get us to oppose Venezuela’s request for a meeting of foreign ministers. He said that there will be blood in the streets of Managua if we support Venezuela. He also said that he is trying to reschedule a luncheon with the President, and Frank Moore may get in touch with you on that. I strongly recommend that we continue postponing a decision on the luncheon until the situation cools.

Vaky and I held meetings on Thursday and Friday to discuss ways to improve the prospects of the Central American initiative and to discuss what we should do if that initiative fails, as Vaky thinks will happen. State and the CIA are preparing papers on these subjects, and I think we should seriously consider calling a meeting at your level next Monday to decide the next steps we should take. Vaky is pressing hard for us to take an aggressive, out-front role as the mediator in Nicaragua, but I have strong reservations about that. A high-level decision will be needed.

In the meantime, Vaky has agreed to inform Perez and Torrijos of the seriousness with which we view the Central American initiative. We have also sent a cable to all ARA posts⁵ to get a head-count on a possible vote on Tuesday, and also to sound out countries on the possibility of obtaining a further postponement. We believe a postponement will be possible.

Vaky met today with the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister and persuaded him to accept some form of mediation. We expect he will be carrying this message back to Somoza. (S)

[Omitted here is material unrelated to Nicaragua.]

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 33, Nicaragua: 9/1–12/78. Secret.
2. In telegram 3832 from San José, September 8, the Embassy reported on Calderon’s meetings in Tegucigalpa, San Salvador, and Guatemala City noting that “Romero and Lucas and less clearly, Paz, Calderon reports, are seized with the need to collaborate to hasten some viable solution, but insist on a non-interventionist approach, a need to avoid casting the initiative as a ‛dump Somoza’ one, and a common lack of desire to meet as chiefs of state before a workable solution has been agreed to with Somoza.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780367–0076)
3. September 7.
4. September 12.
5. Telegram 227414 to Guatemala City, September 8; (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780365–0447) telegram 227730 to multiple posts, September 8; (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780366–0672) telegram 227780 to Bogotá, September 8; (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780366–0711) and telegram 228502 to all American Republic posts, September 8. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780367–0167)