274. Editorial Note
On November 18, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a letter responding to an October 10 letter from President Alfredo Poveda Burbano of Ecuador. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Box 17, Country File, Ecuador, 1/77-1/81; Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Box 5, Ecuador: President Alfredo Poveda Burbano, 4/77-5/79) (No classification markings on either letter) In telegram 280231 to Quito, November 23, the Department transmitted the text of Carter’s letter for delivery. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770434-0741) (C)
In telegram 7981 from Quito, November 23, Ambassador Richard J. Bloomfield recommended that before delivery to Poveda, the letter “could be profitably amended to support certain human rights initiatives underway by the Embassy.” He suggested the addition of one paragraph, which read: “I was saddened to hear of the unfortunate incident at the Aztra sugar mill October 18 which resulted in a number of tragic deaths. I am confident, however, that in the aftermath your Government will continue to maintain its excellent international reputation as a protector of human rights, whatever the provocation.” Bloomfield also recommended the revision of another paragraph “concerning the return to civilian government to reflect and react to recent developments in that field as well.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770435-0944.) (C) In telegram 7854 from Quito, November 17, the Embassy summarized its previous demarches on human rights and the Aztra incident. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770425-0154) (S)
In a November 29 memorandum, Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff forwarded Bloomfield’s suggestions to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Zbigniew Brzezinski and recommended that the letter be revised, noting: “Our Embassy in Quito took the initiative in the incident, and, to my knowledge, it is the first [Page 799] time that our Embassy in any country in Latin America suggested a human rights initiative. For that reason, it should be recognized by the President in his letter.” On the last page of this memorandum, Rick Inderfurth of the National Security Council Staff wrote: “I think the letter should be delivered as is.” The President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs David Aaron disagreed, writing: “that ARA is finally acting on our human rights policy is very important and should not be discouraged because we are afraid to ask Susan [Clough] to sign the letter again.” On the first page of the memorandum, Brzezinski wrote: “R.P. Have the letter delivered as is; add oral comment on the recommended item. ZB.” No indication of whether the letter was delivered to Poveda has been found. A note written by Pastor and attached to his memorandum to Brzezinski reads: “Called in Ambassador directly on Dec 1.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Box 17, Country File, Ecuador, 1/77-1/81) (no classification marking)