288. Editorial Note
According to a July 17, 1979, memorandum for the files, Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher telephoned Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Julio Quintana the evening of July 17 to express concern that interim Nicaraguan President Francisco Urcuyo was not following the transition plan. Quintana replied that he had told Urcuyo to “enter into discussions for the transition” and that he would call former Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza. (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Secretariat Staff, Records of the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Warren Christopher, Lot 81D113, Box 1, Cuba)
Christopher telephoned Somoza the next morning at 9:55 a.m. According to Christopher’s prepared notes, he planned to inform Somoza that he was “calling at the direction of the highest levels of the USG;” that “we arranged for your arrival and we received you here in the United States as part of a Transitional Plan that you agreed to;” now “that Plan is being grossly violated;” and “because the Plan is not being followed, bloodshed is likely to continue and increase” and the Nicaraguan National Guard was “collapsing.” The notes also [Page 705] stated: “Unless you promptly move to carry out the arrangement, in full, I have to tell you on the highest authority that you will not be welcome here.” Christopher’s handwritten comments on the notes read: “Reached Somoza at 9:55 a.m.; He says he will call Urcuyo immediately; Do not pretend to argue with you; resigned from Nicaragua; brought Urcuyo to discussion w/ Pezzullo; can’t control him; when will his/my responsibility finish?” Christopher’s notes made at 10:35 a.m. indicate: “Somoza says he will call Urcuyo and urge (1) military to military talks (2) political level talks; military might turn over to PG military; Urcuyo not willing to turn over to Communists.” (Ibid.)