66. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance1
SUBJECT
- Recognition of Improvements in Human Rights
The following is based on a conversation I had with the President this morning:2
1. As you know, the Argentine Government has stated its intention to release 342 political prisoners. The President would like you to acknowledge this and express his gratification to the Argentine Government when they have released the prisoners.
2. At the same time, the President would like the State Department, on background to the press, to acknowledge this action by the Argentine Government and express the President’s gratification.
3. The President would like it to be a matter of policy to acknowledge and express gratification for improvements in human rights once it has been determined that these improvements are real rather than cosmetic. This should be done not only with the Government concerned but, on background, with the press.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P770131–1346. Confidential.↩
- The President met with Brzezinski from 9 to 9:15 a.m. in Carter’s private office in the White House. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) No record of this conversation has been found.↩