146. Telegram From the Embassy in Nicaragua to the Department of State1
5995. For Deputy Secretary Christopher and Assistant Secretary Vaky from Bowdler. Subj: Nicaragua Mediation No. 149: Meeting with President Somoza.
1. Negotiating Group had a 45 minute meeting with President Somoza at the “bunker” this evening.2 Only other person present was FonMin Julio Quintana.
2. Jimenez opened the discussion by informing Somoza of the FAO negative to his formulation of the plebiscite. He then went on to give the reasons for the negative. He described these as:
—The issue to be put to the Nicaraguan people is not the proper one,
—The political climate is not appropriate,
—The system for conducting the plebiscite is not adequate.
3. Using the reasons of the FAO negative Jimenez sought to draw Somoza out on what he was prepared to do on this point. Somoza reiterated his intention to stay in power until 1981. With regard to the political climate he agreed to lift the curfew right away and stop forcing private radio stations to join the national network in order to carry government programs. Somoza also indicated that he was willing to lift the state of siege and grant a general amnesty as soon as the FAO agreed to a plebiscite. Our efforts to get him to lift the state of siege right away were unavailing.
[Page 393]4. We told Somoza that we were developing our ideas on a plebiscite and would probably be in touch with him rather frequently during the course of the week. Somoza said that he would be at our disposal.