139. Telegram 648 From the Embassy in Costa Rica to the Department of State1
648. Subject: Secretary’s Visit: Subjects for Discussion.
1. Following is list in priority order of topics most likely to be raised in discussions by Costa Ricans during Secretary’s visit. A list of press questions and answers being sent septel.
A. Panama Canal Negotiations. Both President Oduber and FonMin Facio follow developments affecting Panama with particular interest and are in regular contact with Torrijos. They would welcome Secretary’s latest appraisal of progress, will proffer insights on Panamanian objectives, and will have valuable opinions to express.
B. Cuba/Angola. Facio has spoken out forcefully against Cuban intervention in Angola. Oduber has expressed concern as well. Visit would provide opportunity to reinforce this attitude.
C. U.S./Latin American Relations. Visit offers opportunity to allay Costa Rica’s concerns about possible adverse effects of current U.S. executive/legislative confrontation on our ability to act in timely and decisive manner on matters of concern to Latin America. In light of Angola, Costa Ricans are most concerned.
D. OAS Reform and Location of Headquarters. GOCR has offered to be helpful in moderating OAS reform efforts along lines advocated by U.S. GOCR has also offered to have OAS headquarters site in San Jose and may seek U.S. support for this move.
E. Inter-Caribbean Cooperation. Oduber cherishes hope of joining forces with Colombia and Venezuela to exercise influence within a grouping of all countries bordering on the Caribbean, including the islands. He is likely to present this idea and seek USG understanding and support.
F. Broad International Issues. Oduber and Facio have taken considerable interest in major world issues such as status of détente, [Page 411] Middle East, Korea, and Cyprus, and would welcome Secretary’s insights on them.
G. Communist Inroads. GOCR is increasingly concerned over leftist inroads in local labor and universities. A program is being developed with AIFLD [AFL–CIO?] to strengthen the democratic labor movement. The Costa Ricans may request USG to resume a university student scholarship program.
H. Inter-American Foundation grants to leftist newspaper Pueblo and social promotion school at National University. President Oduber and Vice President Castillo continue to be very concerned about this matter. Oduber recently raised it with visiting Congressmen Wolff and Gilman.
I. GSP. GOCR may voice ritualistic opposition to exclusion of Venezuela and Ecuador from GSP. More seriously, it may criticize failure to include many items requested by Costa Rica as well as the competitive need formula which excludes Costa Rican sugar and chayotes.
J. Bilateral Commodity Items: Meat, Textiles and Mushrooms. GOCR is concerned about U.S. protectionism. It has requested higher restraint level for meat and may raise the issue again on this occasion.
K. State of Central American Integration. President and FonMin will probably offer their views on status and prospects which they consider to be less than brilliant.
L. Preoccupation Over Costa Rican Image in U.S. GOCR believes it has been unfairly presented in U.S. press largely because of the Vesco issue. It believes the SEC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Wall Street Journal are involved in this negative presentation.
2. Topics which we might raise.
A. We should express appreciation for GOCR support on major international problems such as Zionism, Korean, and Puerto Rican resolutions in UN and generally constructive posture in UN and OAS.
B. We might praise GOCR posture on human rights.
C. We might ask about prospects for Central American integration if Costa Rica does not raise it.
D. Assurances of sympathetic treatment on meat would be welcome even if Costa Rica does not raise the issue.
E. Vesco. To avoid misreading of our seriousness about Vesco, it is important that this issue be raised. The seriousness of USG resolve should be emphasized. Specifically, we should express our concern about the present extradition law as an obstacle.
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Summary: The Embassy reviewed key issues in U.S.-Costa Rican relations and other topics of mutual interest that were expected to arise during Kissinger’s late-February visit to the country.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760049–0286. Confidential; Immediate. All brackets are in the original except “[AFL–CIO?]”, added for clarity. A memorandum of conversation records Kissinger’s February 23 discussions with Oduber, which focused primarily on regional and trade issues. (Ibid., P820117–0768) In telegram 1368 from San José, March 17, the Embassy reported on the consequences of Kissinger’s talks with Costa Rican officials, noting that local reaction to the Secretary’s stop in the country was generally favorable and would be helpful in maintaining healthy bilateral ties. (Ibid., D760101–0042)
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