94. Memorandum From the Vice President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clift) to Vice President Mondale1
Memo No. 999–78
Washington, October 19, 1978
SUBJECT
- Argentina to Accept Human Rights Commission Delegation
Argentina announced October 17 its willingness to permit a visit by a delegation from the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC), preferably between March and May of next year. An official in the Argentine president’s office told Embassy Buenos Aires that the IAHRC delegation will have access to prisons, political leaders and the relatives of missing persons—but not to military bases. Even so, he added, the decision to accept the delegation was controversial in Argentine military and government circles.2
- Source: Carter Library, Donated Material, Papers of Walter F. Mondale, Box 57, Foreign Countries—Latin America I, [2 1978]. Confidential. Sent for information.↩
- In telegram 8248 from Argentina, October 18, the Embassy discussed the IAHRC decision and reported: “GOA retains an interest in having a visit by Assistant Secretary Vaky, but our source recognizes that the timing of such a visit may be dependent upon the proposed cabinet change and Beagle Channel developments.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780427–0264) For the Beagle Channel dispute, see Documents 37.↩