Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980; Volume XV; Central America, 1977–1980

307. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter¹

Washington, September 23, 1979

SUBJECT

• Your Meeting with the Nicaraguan Junta (U)

There are people in the Sandinista movement who want Nicaragua to become a Marxist state; there are those who want it to become a pluralist democracy; and there are those who are focusing on immediate problems and haven’t yet made up their mind about Nicaragua’s political future. I believe the people you will meet on Monday² all fall into this third category, and a major factor influencing their decision on Nicaragua’s future will be how they sort out Nicaragua’s relationship with the U.S. At this time, their attitudes toward the U.S. are complex—a mixture of resentment, suspicion, fear, but also admiration. (S)

The basic message you will want to convey is that we are sympathetic and we want to be helpful, but mutual respect means that they must be sensitive to our concerns if they expect us to be sensitive to theirs. It will be difficult to be helpful if they are criticizing us or exporting their revolution. You should seek a firm statement from them that they will concentrate on their internal problems and not aid revolutionaries in other countries. They may think that the U.S. can be blackmailed into giving more aid if they lean to the left; they should be disabused of that idea. (S)

You should not hesitate to point out that we withdrew support from Somoza because of our concern for human rights, and we are still committed to that ideal. Their statements on human rights and pluralist democracy reflect our own commitment, and on that basis, we can develop a close friendship. Finally, you may wish to point out that because of our “complex” history, misunderstandings and misperceptions are likely to occur, and for that reason, we will need to make an extra effort to be patient and work together to overcome temporary problems. (S)

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 56, Nicaragua: 7/79–9/79. Secret. Sent for information. For the memorandum of conversation of Carter’s meeting with the Junta, see Document 308.
2. September 24.