232. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter1
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Chile.]
2. Chile. We issued a statement today strongly criticizing yesterday’s Chilean Supreme Court decision, which denied our request for extradition of the three Chileans indicted here in the Letelier murder and refused even to recommend further action within Chile on the murder charges.2 The Court’s decision is long and complex; we will need to study it carefully before deciding on further steps. We have asked Ambassador Landau to return to Washington shortly to participate in our deliberations.3
[Omitted here is material unrelated to Chile.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 22, Evening Reports (State), 10/79. Secret. Carter wrote “Cy J” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. In the left-hand margin next to this paragraph, Carter wrote: “I do not wish to break relations.”↩
- The statement made at the Department’s noon briefing noted that the USG was “deeply disappointed and gravely concerned” by the decision, “that the three terrorists have been released from custody and are now free on the streets of Chile,” and that Landau was being recalled “to join in our deliberations on this matter.” (Telegram 260217 to Santiago, October 4; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790455-0637)↩
- Landau departed Santiago on October 8. (Telegram 7024 from Santiago, October 9; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790463-1200)↩