Office of the Historian

174. Memorandum From Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) and the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)1

Washington, December 22, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Nicaragua SCC Meeting Today (S)

The McAuliffe/Bowdler meeting with Somoza yesterday was a fiasco. Apparently, Somoza has stopped taking our concerns seriously. The recommendations of Bowdler and McAuliffe, however, strike me as wrong. Pulling out our MIL Group, our AID mission, our Ambassador, Peace Corps, ICA., etc., is a bankrupt approach, which will not only deprive us of any leverage on Somoza, it could also put us in a position where we will be blamed by everyone for abandoning our responsibilities. (S)

I have just learned from Vaky that Somoza’s party has responded to the Negotiator Group’s (NG) proposal with a counter-proposal, which reflects Somoza’s intention to draw out the process indefinitely. (S)

I believe that we need to demonstrate to Somoza our seriousness. We should proceed with carefully measured steps. I recommend that you seek agreement at the SCC meeting on the following:

(1). Analysis of the situation: That Somoza is trying to draw out the process, and if he succeeds, the opposition will either fragment or become more extreme. We need to try to bring the negotiations on a plebiscite to a head and to a conclusion by next week.

(2). To accomplish that objective, Bowdler should be instructed to go in to see Somoza Saturday morning,2 and inform him that the United States Government is very concerned with his dilatory tactics, and that he, Ambassador Solaun, and General McAuliffe have all been recalled to Washington for consultations early next week. Bowdler should inform Somoza that the United States Government will be exploring the option of withdrawing some or all of our MIL Group, AID mission, Peace Corps, and reducing our Embassy staff. We would hope that Somoza will adopt a more flexible approach which will permit him [Page 446] and the opposition to reach agreement early next week on a plebiscite and the nature of a government that will be following such a plebiscite. (S)3

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 34, Nicaragua: 12/21–22/78. Secret.↩
  2. December 23.↩
  3. Brzezinski wrote in the left-hand margin next to this paragraph: “Agree. ZB.”↩