Office of the Historian

303. Letter From President Carter to Peruvian President Morales Bermudez1

Washington, June 24, 1977
Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for making Rosalynn’s visit to Lima one of the most pleasant and productive stops on her trip. Your letter of June 72 reinforced my impression of how beneficial the talks were. Your talks with her covered the most important issues in our relations. You and your people were most hospitable while she was in Lima, and, as I am sure you know, she returned to Washington with a very warm feeling for Peru.

Rosalynn has, of course, reported to me in depth on the substance of your talks. I was most pleased to note that you dealt with the question of restraining arms purchases at some length. She conveyed to me your most welcome message that your country’s intentions are purely peaceful. The concerns of your neighbors, however, illustrate the importance of considering concrete measures to demonstrate these benign intentions. I am confident that your interest in arms restraint will soon become clearer to others. Certainly, your suggestions for generating further interest in the Declaration of Ayacucho and other initiatives are most welcome.

I know of the severe economic difficulties which Peru is facing at the moment and of your determination to overcome them. I hope that the measures announced June 10 to correct the situation will be successful.3 We will try to do what we can to help.

For the longer term, I hope that the dialogue between the industrialized and the developing countries, which began in Paris at the Conference on International Economic Cooperation, will continue.

I was especially glad to hear Rosalynn’s report of her conversations with you about human rights. We agree on the importance of this subject, and on the fact that it has two aspects—civil rights and economic rights. I look forward with great pleasure to your government’s [Page 860] ratifying the American Convention on Human Rights.4 Rosalynn has shown me a copy of the Plan Tupac Amaru, which you generously gave her.5 Your proposals for expanding the participation of your people in the political and economic life of your country are very encouraging.

Rosalynn has also reported your very kind invitation for me to visit Peru. I hope that before long I will be able to visit your beautiful country, all the more so because of what she has told me about the warm Peruvian hospitality and your impressive efforts to build a prosperous, peaceful nation.6

Sincerely,

Jimmy Carter
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders, Box 16, Peru: President Francisco Morales Bermudez Cerutti, 5/77-6/80. No classification marking.↩
  2. The Spanish text of the letter is in telegram 149128 to Lima, June 27. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770229-0546)↩
  3. In telegram 4852 from Lima, June 11, the Embassy reported on the Peruvian “emergency economic program,” which included “a reduction in Peru’s public sector deficit, a reduction in Peru’s balance of payments deficit, and legally-specified wage increases to offset the impact of higher transportation and foodstuff costs.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770209-0702)↩
  4. In a July 26 evening report to Carter, Vance notified the president that Peru would sign the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights the next day. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports [State], 7/77)↩
  5. Not found.↩
  6. Below his signature, Carter wrote: “Rosalynn sends her personal regards. J.C.”↩