402. Telegram 180174 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Venezuela1
180174. Subject: Follow-up to the Secretary’s February and June Latin American Trips.
1. ARA bureau tasked with updating status on Venezuelan positions taken by the Secretary during his February (Items A through F) and June (Items G through I) Latin American trips. Department understands the current status of these items as follows:
(A) Closer cooperation in energy research. Team of Venezuelan energy experts made CU-sponsored May visit to US to survey non-petroleum energy research. An additional visit is programmed for late July for the Director of the Venezuelan Council for Nuclear Industry.
(B) Bilateral narcotics agreement. Signing has been delayed by recent Caracas press publicity of an alleged CIA–DEA link.
(C) Latin American Food Research Center. A Department telegram, now being cleared, would inform the Venezuelan Government that there may be merit in the concept of converting the San Felipe Agricultural Center into a Latin American Center and would offer our support for a GOV proposal to have the International Group for Agricultural Development (IGAD/LA) establish a working group to study the idea in depth.
(D) Educational development and planning. The US and GOV signed in May a statement of understanding establishing a new program of high level scholarly exchanges. Embassy Caracas and the Venezuelan education ministry are to identify topics within the general field of educational development suitable for cooperation between the two governments. The education ministry and the Department will then select a small number of experts to meet in Caracas to develop one or two projects for implementation under the agreement. This program replaces all Department of State funded educational programs in Venezuela. No additional programs are contemplated.
[Page 1091](E) FMS credits. The Secretary authorized a $10 million FY 1976 direct credit to Venezuela on a one-time basis in June, thus complying with his promise to President Perez to look into the issue.
(F) Science and Technology Agreement. The Department (OES), after a complete review of US capabilities and other US aspects of the proposed agreement, will instruct Embassy Caracas to explore with the GOV the nature of such an agreement.
(G) State visit. Embassy Caracas is ascertaining the dates which President Perez wishes for the visit.
(H) African letter. ARA has submitted for the Secretary’s signature a proposed letter to Perez on our African policies.
(I) Reported US note on Owens-Illinois. You agreed to look into a “US note delivered on June 4” on the subject. We cannot identify this note. Embassy Caracas, at Department instruction, made an oral démarche on June 2, reminding the GOV that we look to it to assure the safe return of kidnapped US citizen William Niehous. This was done because of indications then that the GOV might be moving toward more forceful action. The GOV reacted “sharply and negatively,” considering this “interference” in internal Venezuelan affairs. We, of course, disagree. However, we seriously doubt that anything is to be gained by pursuing the matter further.
2. Action requested: Please cable concurrence or any appropriate comment by COB Thursday, July 22. Has the May energy team visit generated any follow-up developments? Can you estimate date for narcotics agreement signing? Have embassy and education ministry talks begun on educational development?
-
Summary: The Department summarized for the Embassy the current status of the positions taken by the Secretary in his February and June meetings with Venezuelan leaders.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760280–0928 Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Sonandres; cleared by Fry, Berry, Boughton, Quigg, Brown, Offenberg, Chaij, and Mahoney; approved by Devine. On July 22, the Embassy informed the Department of progress on the issues taken up by Kissinger in his February and June meetings. (Telegram 8895 from Caracas, July 22; ibid., D760282–0940)
↩