209. Editorial Note
On September 21, 1976, the former Chilean Ambassador to the United States, Orlando Letelier, and his colleague, Veronica “Ronni” Karpen Moffitt, a U.S. citizen, were killed in a car bomb explosion in Washington, D.C. (See Foreign Relations, 1973–76, vol. E-11, Part 2, Documents on South America, Document 246.) Eugene M. Propper, an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia, was in charge of the prosecution of those responsible.
By February 1978, the investigation had led Propper to want to interview two Chilean military officers about their possible knowledge of and involvement in the crime. In a February 17 memorandum to Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs John Bushnell wrote that the two “possibly may have ‘contracted’ with Cuban exiles for the murders. Letters rogatory are being sent to Chile in an effort to take testimony from these officers.” The letters rogatory, issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, requested “the cooperation of the Chilean courts in taking testimony from the two Chilean military officers.” (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Deputy Secretary: Records of Warren Christopher, 1977–1980, Lot 81D113, Box 31, Human Rights—Chile I) (S)
The two officers, named as “Juan Williams Rose” and “Alejandro Romeral Jara” in the letters rogatory, had used those false names and fraudulent Paraguayan passports to acquire U.S. visas in Asuncion, Paraguay in July 1976. Paraguayan presidential advisor Conrado Pappalardo had contacted then-U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay George W. Landau, saying that Chilean President Augusto Pinochet had personally asked Paraguayan President Alfredo Stroessner to issue the Paraguayan passports. Pappalardo claimed that the two would be investigating businesses in the U.S. for possible ties with “anti-Chilean, possibly terrorist, activities,” and that they would contact then-U.S. Deputy Director of Central Intelligence General Vernon Walters upon their arrival in the United States. (Telegram 3233 from Asuncion, August 5, 1976, Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Box 16, Asuncion) (S) After getting word from then-Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Harry Shlaudeman that “this harebrained scheme” should be halted, Landau alerted Pappalardo that the two Chilean agents should not travel to the United States using fraudulent passports and visas. (Telegram 194941 to Asuncion, August 5, 1976, Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Box 16, Asuncion; Telegram 3276 from Asuncion, August 6, 1976, Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Box 16, Asuncion) (S) The unused visas were cancelled at the Embassy in [Page 627] Asuncion on October 29, 1976. (Telegram 4492 from Asuncion, October 29, 1976, Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Box 16, Asuncion) (S)
In March 1978, the two officials were identified as Chilean Directorate of National Intelligence (DINA) agents Michael Vernon Townley, a U.S. citizen, and Armando Fernandez Larios, a Chilean citizen. (“A Chilean Paper Says Suspect in Killing of Ex-Allende Aide is North American,” New York Times, March 6, 1978, p. A10; Juan de Onis, “Chile Orders Inquiry in the Letelier Case,” New York Times, March 7, 1978, p. 6; “Chilean In Letelier Probe Linked to Secret Police,” Washington Post, March 8, 1978, p. A20)