355. Presidential Finding1
Finding Pursuant to Section 662 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, As Amended, Concerning Operations Undertaken by the Central Intelligence Agency in Foreign Countries, Other Than Those Intended Solely for the Purpose of Intelligence Collection
I hereby find that the following operation in a foreign country (including all support necessary to such operation) is important to the national security of the United States, and direct the Director of Central Intelligence, or his designee, to report this Finding to the concerned [Page 880] committees of the Congress pursuant to Section 662, and to provide such briefings as necessary.
| SCOPE | DESCRIPTION |
| Honduras | Either unilaterally or jointly with other countries encourage, support and train appropriate elements for the purpose of resisting Cuban supported and other foreign sponsored subversive and terrorist activities in Honduras, simultaneously encouraging needed political, economic and social reforms, and improvements in human rights. Also, disseminate all forms of propaganda worldwide in opposition to these subversive and terrorist efforts in the region. Encourage other governments to take actions consistent with these activities.2 |
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Congressional Affairs, Job 97M00733R: Policy Files, Box 1, Folder 16: Honduras—Presidential Finding/Memorandum of Notification. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. A notation in an unknown hand reads: “rec’d 18 Apr.” For information about the proposal and approval of the finding, see Documents 489 and 490. In a handwritten note to Carter, dated April 14, Christopher indicated his approval of the finding on Honduras. (National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box I020, SSC Minutes, 1980)↩
- In an April 23 memorandum for the record, drafted by Gary Miller, Assistant Legislative Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency, Miller noted that that Morton Palmer (SCC/PRC) had briefed Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Director Bill Bader about the covert action in Honduras. The program carried a “price tag” of $500,000 and had a dual objective: first, “to support the country’s counter insurgency program” including “training the civilian intelligence service, provision of VIP protection training, and provision of training in how to collect intelligence of illegal arms transfers,” and, second, to “press the Honduran government to make reforms” by “providing monetary support and counsel to select groups such as women’s groups and labor unions.” The Honduran Government was not to be made aware of this second objective. (Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Congressional Affairs, Job 82B00035R: Committee Files, Box 2, Folder 16: Presidential Finding—Guatemala, 16 Apr 80.) For more on the ongoing covert action in Honduras, see Document 492.↩