Uruguay
357. Telegram 2941 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa described his conversation with Army Chief of Staff Queirolo and Army Commander in Chief Vadora regarding human rights.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760305–0958. Confidential. Repeated for information to Buenos Aires.
358. Telegram 3123 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa discussed potential problems with the démarche regarding Operation Condor.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P860084–1950. Secret; Niact; Immediate; Roger Channel. Repeated Immediate for information to Asuncion, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, La Paz, and Santiago. For State 209192, see Document 241. Operation Condor, an intelligence-sharing apparatus among Southern Cone governments, had evolved into an organization that identified, located, and assassinated suspected guerrilla leaders and regime critics. See Documents 137, 238, 240–242, 245, 249, 253, 359, 367, and 368.
359. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Shlaudeman) to Secretary of State Kissinger
Summary: Shlaudeman discussed the questions raised by Siracusa regarding the Condor démarche and recommended that Siracusa approach both Blanco and Vadora, while a parallel approach was made by Shlaudeman to the Uruguayan Ambassador in Washington.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P860084–1945. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Shlaudeman; cleared by O’Donohue. The proposed cable from Shlaudeman to Siracusa is attached but not printed. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P860084–1948) No decision is recorded on the memorandum, but in telegram Secto 27128 from the Secretary’s Delegation in Lusaka, September 16, Kissinger “declined to approve message to Montevideo and has instructed that no further action be taken on this matter.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760350–0102) Tab 2 is Document 358; Tab 3 is Document 241.
360. Telegram 3388 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa and Blanco discussed Uruguayan politics, human rights, the Koch and Harkin amendments, and the reasons behind the ouster of Bordaberry.
Source: National Archives, Central Foreign Policy File, D760343–1179. Confidential. The Harkin amendment to the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act forbade U.S. economic aid to any government that engaged “in a consistent pattern of gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.” (75 Stat. 424) MVD 2941 is Document 357.
361. Telegram 3451 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa recounted his September 14 discussion with President Aparicio Mendez, who took office on September 1, regarding subversion, democracy, human rights, and prisoner releases.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760348–0690. Confidential. Telegram 3388 from the Embassy in Uruguay is Document 360.
362. Telegram 3462 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa stressed to Shlaudeman his belief that passage of the Koch amendment would damage U.S.-Uruguayan relations and would have a detrimental effect on human rights in Uruguay.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760350–1185. Confidential. In telegram 3537 to the Department, September 21, the Embassy reported on negative Uruguayan reaction to the Koch amendment. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760358–0246) In telegram 238199 to Montevideo, September 25, the Department notified the Embassy that the House-Senate conference committee had included the Koch amendment in the final version of the appropriations bill. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760362–1100) In telegram 3955 to the Department, October 19, the Embassy reported that Uruguayan criticism of the Koch amendment “has abated” and that “the prevailing mood, for the most part, remains one of ambivalence.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760392–1250) Telegrams 3388 and 3451 from the Embassy in Uruguay are published as Documents 360 and 361, respectively.
363. Memorandum of Conversation
Summary: Robinson, Shlaudeman and Siracusa discussed Uruguayan politics, human rights, the IAHRC, and the Harkin amendment with Blanco and Perez Caldas.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P760167–2864. Confidential. Drafted on October 13 by Zimmerman; cleared in D and by Shlaudeman and Siracusa; and approved in D. The meeting took place in the Deputy Secretary’s Office. An October 6 memorandum from Zimmerman to Shlaudeman regarding preparation for the meeting is in the National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840051–0493, and an October 8 Briefing Memorandum from Shlaudeman to Robinson is National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P760161–2360.
364. Telegram 292202 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Uruguay
Summary: The Department informed the Embassy that an Uruguayan military official had made a threat against Congressman Koch in July 1976, and asked for the Embassy’s recommendations regarding the threat.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Montevideo 1962–79. Confidential; Roger Channel. Drafted by R. C. Graham of ARA/ECA; cleared in ARA and S/S; and approved in INR. Koch’s letter to Attorney General Levi and Levi’s letter to Secretary of State Kissinger are in National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840121–2166.
365. Telegram 4652 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Ambassador Siracusa summarized the Embassy’s information regarding the threat against Congressman Koch, noting that this was the first time he had been informed of it. He recommended against a dé;marche to the GOU on the subject, but proposed that the USG should oppose the appointments to positions in Washington of two Uruguayan military officials linked to the threat.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Montevideo 1962–79. Secret; Roger Channel; Stadis; Eyes Only. An attached note indicated that this cable was distributed to DDC, S/S, P, ARA, and INR on December 4. The telegram was forwarded to Habib under a covering memorandum from Shlaudeman on December 13, discussing the threat and the potential appointments of Fons and Gavazzo. (Department of State, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P84121–2164) In a December 29 memorandum to Saunders, DeTarr summarized the case and gave the date of the threat against Koch as June [text not declassified]. (Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Africa, Latin America, Inter-Agency Intelligence Committees, Uruguay 1973–80) Telegram 292202 to the Embassy in Uruguay is Document 364.
366. Memorandum for the Record
Summary: Participants in the ARA/CIA weekly meeting discussed the threat against Congressman Koch and whether or not to make a dé;marche to the GOU.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Africa, Latin America, Inter-Agency Intelligence Committees, ARA–CIA Weekly Meetings 1976–77. Secret; Sensitive.
367. Telegram 4755 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State
Summary: Siracusa, noting that he now had reason to believe that the Condor countries continued to direct assassination operations in foreign countries, reiterated that the appointments of Col. Fons and Maj. Gavazzo to positions in Washington should be blocked. He ruminated on the broader responsibility of the USG regarding knowledge of assassination plots and requested further information on “what the Washington intelligence community thinks of Condor.”
Source: Department of State, INR–IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Montevideo 1962–79. Secret; Roger Channel; Eyes Only. A handwritten notation indicates that this cable was distributed to ARA, P, S/S and OD. Telegram 4652 from the Embassy in Uruguay is Document 365.
368. Telegram 306332 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Uruguay
Summary: Shlaudeman wrote that he would tell Perez Caldas that the appointments of Fons and Gavazzo to positions in Washington were not satisfactory due to the potential for “unfavorable publicity” if their appointments became public.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Defense Attaché Files 1960–81, Lot 94D501, Uruguay. Secret; Priority; Roger Channel. Drafted by Shlaudeman and approved in INR. In telegram 307586 to Montevideo, December 20, Shlaudeman described his meeting with Perez Caldas and noted that the ambassador appeared to be “sympathetic to the request.” (Department of State, INR–IL Files, Vol. 17: Roger Channel, Montevideo 1962–79) In telegram 4888 from Montevideo, December 21, Siracusa agreed to use the same line of reasoning if the GOU approached him on the matter. (Ibid.) In telegram 4936 from Montevideo, December 23, Siracusa reported to Shlaudeman on his meeting with Defense Minister Ravenna, who “said he would inform the president promptly of what had been told to him.” (Ibid.) Telegrams 4652 and 4755 from the Embassy in Uruguay are published as Documents 365 and 367, respectively.
369. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Inter-American Affairs (Shlaudeman) to the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs (Habib)
Summary: Shlaudeman reported on the results of the démarche to the GOU regarding the appointments of Fons and Gavazzo to positions in Washington.
Source: Department of State, INR–IL Historical Files, Africa, Latin America, Inter-Agency Intelligence Committees, Uruguay 1973–1980. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by C. W. Bray of ARA on December 30. The memorandum was copied to INR. Tabs 1 and 2 are attached but not published. There is no indication of approval or disapproval of the recommendation.