Office of the Historian

426. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

Washington, March 13, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Security Assistance for El Salvador

We are faced with the need to give the Salvadoran military some encouragement for opposing the rightist coup two weeks ago and firmly supporting the reform program of the Revolutionary Junta of Government (JRG).

We had planned to do this by sending MTT’s and providing FMS equipment. You asked that the MTT’s not be sent unless the necessary multinational effort can be assembled. You did authorize us to proceed with the FMS equipment except for lethal items.

We are preparing an FMS loan agreement to be offered to the JRG, enabling them to finance the transport, communications, and other non-lethal equipment. DOD now estimates the value of this package at $5.7 million. Since the Long Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee has indicated a desire to hold public hearings on security assistance to El Salvador and Honduras, we will not proceed to signa [Page 1078] ture of the FMS loan agreement and delivery until these hearings are completed.

To determine the precise type and quantities of communications equipment and motor transport needed by El Salvador, our Military Group has asked for two two-man survey teams, one in each of these key areas. The teams would be in El Salvador for about two weeks. Such teams are common practice in our security assistance programs all over the world. They will have very low public visibility but will serve to convey the message to the Salvadoran military that we support them in their cooperation with the JRG. This is important to maintain our credibility and leverage with the military.

Recommendation

That you approve two temporary two-man survey teams for communications and motor transport.2

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 20, El Salvador: 3/80. Secret.↩
  2. Brzezinski indicated approval and wrote: “for the President ZB (breakfast 3/14).” Carter’s March 14 breakfast meeting, which took place in the Cabinet Room from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., included Mondale, Vance, Brown, Brzezinski, Cutler, and Donovan. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) In a March 14 memorandum to Aaron and Denend, Brzezinski reported on Carter’s decisions at the breakfast, writing: “El Salvador Okay to send two 2-man survey teams; wait to hear from White on MTT. (Pastor).” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor Files, Country Files, Box 21, El Salvador: 3/1–15/80) See Documents 423 and 425.↩