Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980 Volume XXIV, South America; Latin America Region

91. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron) to Vice President Mondale¹

Washington, September 15, 1978

SUBJECT

• US-Argentine Relations: A Status Report Since your Meeting with Videla

Following up your meeting with President Videla,² we asked our Ambassador to speak to Videla’s assistant, Ricardo Jofre, to obtain a timetable for Vaky’s visit.³ We learned that the deadline for the submission of the bid by Allis-Chalmers was put off one month to October 15.⁴ We were also informed that the Argentines plan to announce in early October an agreement with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for a visit and that they expect a visit from Pete Vaky by the second or third week of October.

Christopher and Henry Owen met with John Moore and decided that a letter of interest could be issued to Allis-Chalmers about October 1, which is satisfactory to the Argentines and to Allis-Chalmers. The Argentine Government will be taking a number of steps, including releasing prisoners, before then, and that will make it easy for us to explain to the American public why we have altered our X-M decision.

Dave Newsom will be chairing a meeting next week to discuss an overall strategy for US policy to Argentina.⁵

We have noticed in our conversations with the Argentines a new receptiveness and interest in discussing a wide range of issues, and we believe this was made possible by your conversation with Videla. Still, there is a long way to go. We have learned, for example, that the Argentines are playing games with us on ratifying the Treaty of Tlatelolco primarily because they feel we are playing games with them on human rights.

1. Source: Carter Library, Donated Material, Papers of Walter F. Mondale, Box 57, Foreign Countries—Latin America I, [2 1978]. Confidential.
2. See Document 90.
3. In telegram 7065 from Buenos Aires, September 8, the Embassy reported on an initial meeting with Yofre. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850101–2501) In telegram 7075 from Buenos Aires, September 9, Castro reported on his September 8 meeting with Yofre. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850101–2504)
4. See Document 83.
5. See Document 92.