Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980 Volume XXIV, South America; Latin America Region

222. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Vaky) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Christopher)¹

Washington, undated

SUBJECT

• Letelier/Moffitt Investigation

I have approved George Landau’s request by secure phone to return here for a few days’ consultations on Friday, August 18. The Chilean lawyer for the USG comes here Sunday, August 20, for conferences with Justice on the final preparations for submission of the extradition request, and both Justice and we believe it is necessary for George to be present at these final strategy sessions in which, among other things, we must prepare our lawyer against what Contreras will try to do to beat the rap.²

Contreras’ defense lawyer has begun the expected effort to paint the assassination as a CIA plot, claiming Townley, the Cubans, and perhaps even George himself were CIA agents (Tab 1 for latest CIA report).³ As you know, Townley approached the agency in 1973. [less than 1 line not declassified] but they told us the contact was never pursued [2 lines not declassified]

Contreras’ lawyer, now in the States, has dropped dark hints to the press about the involvement of a foreign ambassador in the matter of the issuance of visas to Townley and Fernandez (as “Williams” and “Romeral”). George ordered the visas issued after Stroessner’s private secretary called to say that two Chileans had an appointment with General Walters and asked George to have visas issued to them.⁴ General Walters had visited Paraguay just two weeks before [2½ lines not declassified] Simultaneously, George sent a message to General Walters, who replied that he had just retired and knew nothing of the Chileans. George informed State and the eventually successful effort to get the visas back began. In the event Townley and Fernandez used other identities when they came up to the U.S., the “Williams” and “Romerol” identities, however, were subsequently used by other DINA agents travelling on Chilean passports to the U.S.⁵

General Walters’ statement, taken by the FBI at the request of the Chilean Government, is at Tab 2.⁶ He points out he had retired, knew nothing of the Chileans [less than 1 line not declassified] 1975 or from his 1976 trip to Paraguay. To back that conclusively, it may be necessary to declassify the exchange of cables between George and General Walters.⁷ We informed Propper and Barcela who agreed that State should inform the CIA. We have done so, and asked for copies of the Landau/Walters cable exchange.⁸ Justice contemplates a meeting with CIA and State (including Landau) early next week and plans on having George make a statement to be used as evidence before the Chilean Supreme Court giving the details about the visa issuance not dealt with in Walters’ deposition.⁹

So far as press guidance is concerned, we would plan to say on an “if asked” basis that Landau is coming up for routine consultations (including his annual physical) and that among other things he will consult on the diplomatic preparations for submission of the extradition requests.¹⁰

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Deputy Secretary: Records of Warren Christopher, 1977–1980, Lot 81D113, Box 15, Human Rights—Chile II. Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by McNeil on August 15; cleared by Propper. A notation by Oxman on the first page of the memorandum indicates that Oxman and Christopher saw the memorandum.
2. No record of the telephone call was found. Etcheberry was the USG attorney in Chile. On August 1, an indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, charging five Cuban-Americans and three Chileans with a number of counts related to the murders of Letelier and Moffitt. Three of the Cuban-Americans had already been arrested in the United States and the two others were fugitives. The Chileans were Contreras, Espinoza and Fernandez Larios, all of whom resided in Chile. (Telegram 193668 to Santiago, August 1; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780315-0120) (U) In a memorandum to Carter, August 1, Vance wrote: “We will be requesting extradition in the near future. We have little hope the Chileans will grant it but have somewhat more hope they will try the DINA representatives for murder in their own courts. We will make every effort to dissuade the Chileans from attempting a cover-up, which sensitive intelligence suggests they will do.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 20, Evening Reports (State), 10/78)
3. Tab 1, CIA cable [telegram indicator not declassified] to the FBI and the Department of State, dated August 11, is attached but not printed.
4. An unknown hand underlined the phrases “ordered the visas issued” and “two Chileans.” See Document 209.
5. An unknown hand highlighted this paragraph, beginning with the phrase “and asked George to have visas issued.”
6. Tab 2, dated June 14, is attached but not printed.
7. An unknown hand underlined the phrase “the exchange of cables between George and General Walters.”
8. An unknown hand underlined the phrase “we have done so.”
9. An unknown hand highlighted this paragraph. No record of a meeting was found.
10. An unknown hand highlighted this paragraph.