Office of the Historian

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

Washington, January 8, 1979

SUBJECT

  • Nicaragua

Over the weekend Bowdler succeeded in obtaining Obiols’ agreement to the Mediators’ response to Somoza’s counterproposal. Obiols suggested a few minor changes in the draft and asked that the paragraphs be rearranged. He further agreed to accompany Bowdler to Santo Domingo to present the new package to Jimenez, and consented, rather reluctantly, to travel on to Managua to deliver the proposal to the FAO and Somoza. During a luncheon meeting, President Lucas endorsed Obiols’ decision to return to Managua.2 (C)

While in Guatemala, Bowdler was able to discover what Somoza had discussed at the secret summit meeting with the presidents of El Salvador and Guatemala on December 27.3 Apparently Somoza raised the danger of an attack by Venezuelan forces using Costa Rica as a base. Somoza warned his colleagues that should this occur, he will invoke the CONDECA mutual defense obligations and will expect these to be honored. (C)

A further conversation between Somoza confidant Pallais and Ambassador Solaun in Managua last Saturday indicated that Somoza might be flexible on most of the points of his counterproposal, with the exception of the pre-plebiscite departure of his son and his brother and the prior registration of voters.4 Pallais agreed, however, to discuss the latter issue further with Somoza in order to discover whether any flexibility existed. (C)

In addition to the planned demonstration by the opposition in Managua on January 10 to commemorate the death of Chamorro, the Embassy has received an intelligence report that a demonstration might [Page 483] be launched against it on the same day.5 Apparently the protesters will charge that the U.S. “gave Somoza more time to arm against the people.” (C)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 56, Nicaragua: 12/78–6/79. Confidential.↩
  2. In telegram 110 from Guatemala City, January 7, Bowdler described his conversations with Obiols and Lucas. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 34, Nicaragua: 1/1–16/79)↩
  3. See footnote 4, Document 181.↩
  4. January 6. In telegram 99 from Managua, January 7, Solaun discussed this meeting. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790009–0382)↩
  5. Not found.↩