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

398. Presidential Finding¹

Washington, November 2, 1979

Findings Pursuant to Section 662 of the Foreign Assistant Act of 1961, As Amended Concerning an Operation Abroad to Assist the Government of El Salvador

I find the following operations in a foreign country are 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 committees of the Congress pursuant to Section 662, and provide briefings as necessary.

SCOPE	DESCRIPTION
El Salvador	Assist moderate elements in El Salvador by providing them with resources and training. Utilize agents of influence in key sectors to assist the people of El Salvador to resist the efforts of Cuban-supported and other guerrilla groups to subvert or overthrow the regime, while simultaneously encouraging movement toward needed political, economic and social reforms.
	Provide training and assistance to the intelligence and security forces of El Salvador to enable them to deal effectively with terrorism.2

Jimmy Carter

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Congressional Affairs, Job 81M01032R: Subject Committee Files (1943–1980), Box 9, Folder 19: Covert Action Pres Find El Salvador. Secret; Sensitive.
2. In Aaron’s November 1 memorandum to Carter, he indicated that Carter signed a Presidential Finding for El Salvador on October 30. Aaron commented that the updated version of the finding included revised language: “You have already signed a Presidential Finding on El Salvador but, on reflection, the State Department was concerned not about its substance but about appearances in the way the last Finding was formulated. State and CIA have now gotten together on a new version which is substantively the same as the last one but which would have presentational advantages.” (National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box I025, El Salvador, 15 October 1979–11 February 1980) The version of the finding Carter signed on October 30 is in the National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files Box I020, Minutes—SCC 1978. Notations on it indicate that it was not sent and was scheduled to be destroyed per Henze’s instructions. For more information regarding the ongoing covert action in El Salvador, see Documents 454, 489, and Document 492.