422. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in El Salvador1
65128. Rome for the Vatican office. Subject: Letter to Archbishop Romero from Secretary Vance. Refs: A) San Salvador 1122 (Reftel);2 B) San Salvador 1556.3
1. (C-Entire text)
2. Below follows the text of the Secretary’s reply to Archbishop Romero’s letter to the President of February 17.
3. We agree with the suggestion contained reftel that we inform the Archbishop that we intend to make the letter public but that we offer him the opportunity to do so himself. Please inform the Department what he chooses.
4. Begin quote: Dear Archbishop:
The President has asked that I respond to your letter of February 17 regarding the situation in El Salvador and expressing your frank views on United States assistance to the Revolutionary Junta of Government. We are pleased to see confirmed that you and the President have many goals and concerns in common. As you note, the advancement [Page 1068] of human rights has been and remains one of the principal foreign policy goals of our government and I assure you that it underlies every aspect of United States policy toward El Salvador.
The Revolutionary Junta of Government has shown itself to be moderate and reformist. The United States, dedicated by tradition and long practice to democratic principles, is concerned about El Salvador’s grave political crisis and stands ready to contribute to peaceful and progressive solutions. We believe the reform program of the Revolutionary Junta of Government offers the best prospect for peaceful change toward a more just society. We therefore have responded to the Junta’s request for our assistance to help achieve its goals.
The vast bulk of our contemplated assistance in support of the Junta’s reform program is economic. We plan to make available to the Junta this year approximately $50 million of urgently needed economic assistance that will be directed toward the most needy to create public works employment, to feed the hungry, to improve health, education and housing, and to support the agrarian and other reforms.
We understand your concerns about the dangers of providing military assistance, given the unfortunate role which some elements of the security forces occasionally have played in the past. As we consider any request for such assistance, I can assure you that whatever military assistance may be provided will be directed at helping the government to defend and carry forward its announced program of reform and development. We are as concerned as you that any assistance we provide not be used in a repressive manner. Therefore, any equipment and training which we might provide would be designed to enhance the professionalism of the armed forces so that they can fulfill their essential role of maintaining order with a minimum of lethal force.
I believe there is no real contradiction between proper law enforcement and respect for human rights. We will use our influence to avert any misuse of our assistance in ways that injure human rights of the people of El Salvador and will promptly reassess our assistance should evidence of such misuse develop, however, we hope that you will agree that a less confrontational environment is necessary to implement the kind of meaningful reform program you have long advocated.
I thank you for sharing your concerns with us. Your views have been carefully considered by the President and me and will continue to be. I believe we are all committed to the advancement of human rights and democratic principles. We share a repugnance for the violence provoked by both extremes that is taking the lives of innocent people. We deplore the efforts of those seeking to silence the voices of reason and moderation with explosives, intimidation and murder. The great moral authority of the church, and your uncompromising defense of human rights and dedication to nonviolence, place you in a unique [Page 1069] position to use your influence with other people of goodwill in a cooperative effort to quiet passions and find peaceful solutions.
The United States will not interfere in the internal affairs of El Salvador. Nevertheless, we are gravely concerned that the threat of civil war in your country could endanger the security and well-being of the whole Central American region. We shall continue to do what we can to respond to the legitimate requests of the governments of the area in their efforts to correct economic and social injustice and promote respect for democratic procedures and the rights of the individual.
I wish you every success in carrying out your heavy pastoral responsibilities and the new demands that the threat of civil war has imposed upon you. You have a major role to play in helping your fellow countrymen find peaceful solutions to their problems. May God give you wisdom and strength in this difficult task.
Sincerely,
Cyrus Vance
End quote.4
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800126–0329. Confidential; Immediate; Exdis. Sent for information Immediate to Managua, Caracas, Bogotá, San José, Guatemala City, and Rome. Drafted by Wilson; cleared in ARA, ARA/CEN, S/P, HA, NSC, and S/S–O; approved by Vance.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 416.↩
- In telegram 1556 from San Salvador, March 1, the Embassy included revisions to the text of the reply to Romero’s letter to Carter. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800108–0455) A signed copy of Vance’s letter to Romero, dated March 11, is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 20, El Salvador: 3/80.↩
- In telegram 1949 from San Salvador, March 15, the Embassy confirmed delivery of Vance’s letter to Romero and reported that Romero “said it represented advance in U.S. thinking.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800133–0438) In telegram 1953 from San Salvador, March 17, the Embassy reported, however, that in his March 16 homily Romero summarized the text of Vance’s letter: “Archbishop’s limited comment on the letter was somewhat negative.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 21, El Salvador: 3/16–31/80)↩