433. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1
SUBJECT
- Helicopters for El Salvador (S)
In the memorandum at Tab A, Ambassador White and Warren Christopher recommend a strategy for encouraging the Salvadoran government to improve its human rights performance. According to their strategy, with which I concur, we will begin training Salvadoran helicopter pilots, and inform the GOES that if certain steps are taken to reduce the excessive use of force by the military by the time the pilots complete their training, we will lease six helicopters on a no-cost basis. (S)
Warren also recommends that in view of Congressional sensitivities, we inform interested Congressmen of our plan. These notifications will be strictly limited to those who have a sincere interest in being helpful and will hold the information in strict confidence. (S)
RECOMMENDATION:
That you approve the strategy outlined by Christopher and Ambassador White for using helicopters to encourage the Government of El Salvador to undertake necessary steps to reduce the violence.2 (S)
[Page 1105]- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Freedom of Information/Legal, Kimmitt, Arms Transfers/Country File, Box 18, El Salvador, 4–12/80. Secret. Sent for action. Carter initialed the top of the page and wrote: “Zbig.”↩
- The President neither approved or disapproved of this recommendation.↩
- Secret; Sensitive. Christopher was Acting Secretary while Muskie met with ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Kuala Lumpur June 27–29.↩
- Carter underlined the portion of this sentence beginning with the word “specific” and ending with “period” and wrote at the bottom of the page: “What kind of measures? By whom & how can they be quantified & assured?”↩
- White sent his recommendations in telegram 4165 from San Salvador, June 16. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800293–0940)↩
- See footnote 5, Document 428.↩