Office of the Historian

256. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Shlaudeman) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Habib)1

Washington, December 29, 1976.

Investigating the Horman Case

As you may recall, two American citizens, Charles Horman and Frank Teruggi, were killed in the aftermath of the Chilean Coup. We [Page 686] have not been able to establish responsibility in either case, although the reasonable assumption is that both were murdered by Chilean security forces or irregulars connected in some way to those forces.

The death of Charles Horman in particular has been the subject of extensive congressional and press attention. Senator Javits has continued over these past three years to demand a better accounting than the Department is so far able to give him. In my confirmation hearings last June I promised him that we would do everything possible to clear up the case.

Behind much of the agitation over this affair is the allegation that Horman was fingered by the CIA. We have no evidence in support of that contention, but a Chilean—one Rafael Gonzalez Verdugo—has made statements to the press and to a consular officer directed at implicating the Agency. Gonzalez, a permanent resident alien of the United States with an American citizen wife, is currently in asylum in the Italian Embassy in Santiago.

Some time ago I asked Fred Smith, recently our Consul General in Mexico City, to examine the record of the Horman case and give me recommendations on what further action we might take. He has produced a comprehensive report (Tab 2). Smith has recommended that Gonzalez be reinterviewed and has drafted a set of very precise questions for the purpose (draft telegram at Tab 1).

The Italians have been trying once again to persuade the Chilean Government to let Gonzalez leave the country. I have been holding off pending the results. It now appears that the Chileans are not about to relent.

I believe we must now pursue the matter, although it is my own view that the CIA was not involved in the Horman tragedy. I have cleared the attached cable with the CIA and have made a few minor changes in the questions it contains at that Agency’s suggestion.

Recommendation:

That you approve the telegram at Tab 1.

  1. Summary: Shlaudeman reviewed the investigation into the disappearance and death of Charles Horman and recommended sending a telegram instructing the Embassy to re-interview Rafael Gonzalez.

    Source: Department of State, Virtual Reading Room, Chile Declassification Project. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Shlaudeman on January 15, 1977; cleared by McAfee and Aldrich. Tabs 1 and 2 were not attached.

    ↩