274. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Nicaragua1
183243. For Ambassador Pezzullo; San Jose for Ambassador Bowdler. Subject: Somoza’s Departure.
1. (S-Entire text)
2. Please deliver ASAP the following letter to Somoza from Secretary Vance on behalf of the President. You may do it in writing.
Begin text:
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of President Carter, I wish to convey to you the following message with respect to the tragic circumstances in your country.
[Page 680]Just over a year ago, the President wrote you to register our hope that you would succeed in implementing a series of internal reforms you had yourself announced to remedy what was already a highly disturbing situation.2 It was our hope that in moving toward amnesty and electoral reform, you were laying the foundation for a peaceful and democratic evolution in your country.
After the bloody outbreak of violence and insurrection in September, we decided to join with other friendly governments to lend our good offices to help achieve such a peaceful evolution. The suffering endured by Nicaraguans and the abuses documented by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission made clear that the alternative to a negotiated settlement could only be further violence.3
The international mediating group worked indefatigably to enable you and all Nicaraguans to settle the crisis amicably. The mediators succeeded in engaging your moderate opponents in a way that left those prone to violence with no choice but to go along with the mediation.
After two months, the mediators obtained the agreement of your opponents to a proposal you yourself had initially advanced—to place your differences before the citizens of your country through an internationally guaranteed election. As I am sure you remember, the U.S. representative urged you to agree, and told you it was our judgment that if you did not, you could soon face a situation beyond your complete control. You rejected the proposed plebiscite which had been carefully designed by the mediators for the unique situation in Nicaragua.
Mr. President, events since then have been unkind to all. The polarization and violence we feared has reached a point that calls for the most courageous and far-reaching response. It is absolutely clear that the situation cannot be resolved militarily in a satisfactory manner. Prolonged conflict will only result in further suffering and loss of life, and in deeper radicalization of the situation.
The only chance that remains to achieve an enduring and democratic solution is to establish a transition process that follows the precepts of the OAS resolution. The U.S. and several other nations have been working hard to obtain commitments and to create conditions which will permit moderate elements to survive and compete with extremists, which will avoid reprisals, and which will provide a chance for an eventual freely elected regime to emerge. There has, in fact, been progress on these matters. We and other Latin American nations believe [Page 681] there is an opportunity to protect moderate elements, to prevent reprisals against the guard, and to establish a political process in which a democratic system can prevail. However, that opportunity will exist only if we move quickly to end the war and begin to effect the transition. With each day that passes, our capacity to influence the situation and the transition diminishes.
A continuation of the status quo beyond the next day or two will radicalize the situation even further, and is likely to result in the renewal of the offensive. The best chance for preservation of the moderate sectors of your society lies in commencing the transition through your prompt departure, and the designation of a successor and a new Guard Commander. The hemisphere is virtually unanimous that such a transition process is absolutely essential. The OAS members will be attendant on this process, and the hemisphere’s attention will focus in ways which I believe will reduce the possibility of reprisals and vengeance.
I therefore urge you to arrange your departure without delay. We will receive you in the U.S., as Ambassador Pezzullo has indicated. Your continued delay will only prolong the conflict and bloodshed and compromise our ability to try to achieve a moderate outcome.
Sincerely,
Cyrus Vance
End text.
3. (FYI. There is still a possibility for a telcon. End FYI.)
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P850036–1926. Secret; Flash; Nodis. Sent for information to San José. Drafted by Vaky; cleared in S/S–O and by Brzezinski in substance; approved by Christopher.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 76.↩
- See footnote 8, Document 137.↩