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

369. Telegram From the Embassy in Venezuela to the Department of State¹

Caracas, February 16, 1980, 1800Z

1594. Subject: El Salvador: Talk With Cardozo. Ref: A) Caracas 1520² B) Bowdler/Luers Secure Line Telecon³ C) San Salvador 1066.⁴

1. S–Entire Text.

2. Cardozo and I met for breakfast. I explained that since we have received the green light from the JRG on sending in our MTTs (ref C) and since Washington believes we must move soon (ref B), we have decided to send to Salvador a small group as an advance team to the MTTs. I said that four or five military officers would probably be going to Salvador on Sunday⁵ and their visit could be justified publicly as an exploration mission much like the one the Venezuelans now have in Salvador. I said that since the USG wants to continue to work closely with Venezuela we want them to be aware that we believe it necessary to take this step now.

3. Cardozo said fine. We both noted the cool handling in today’s Caracas press of the Venezuelan press release yesterday (Caracas 1554)⁶ and indications in the press that AD leaders seem less inclined to criticize COPEI. Cardozo said he would inform Acting President Montes de Oca of our decision at once.

4. We then talked again about our collaboration in this joint venture. Cardozo said that except for Calvani and perhaps Garcia Bustillos, there is agreement within the upper party and Government leadership that:

—Venezuela and the USG have common objectives in Salvador (support for democracy and defeat of the subversion).

—The US role is key to accomplishing these objectives.

—The two Governments should work together very closely but not give public evidence that we are doing so. He was grateful for the information and believed that in this difficult process there is a major need to keep up these detailed exchanges.

5. He said he expects the following to happen:

—President Herrera will return Sunday afternoon and receive Cardozo no earlier than Monday, February 18. At that point Cardozo expects to get final approval from Herrera.

—On Tuesday at noon, Betancourt and Gonzolo Barrios, will meet with ex-President Caldera, Cardozo, and possibly Calvani to discuss: AD/COPEI cooperation on Salvador; how to handle the congressional approval issue; what support should be given to Salvador.

—On Wednesday, assuming Cardozo carries the day, he will go to Salvador with a possible lay-over in Panama. (He alone might have to return to Caracas on February 25 to attend a major COPEI Party/Government conference, while leaving his team in Salvador).

6. Cardozo said, however, that there were still hesitations here. He thought the Salvador situation was improving and that maybe there is no rush. I said that is not the case. He asked for a briefing on our (and Majano’s) current evaluation of the situation. He said he would like to be able to brief the President on Monday.

7. I told Cardozo that:

—The situation is deteriorating and that we would probably go ahead by the middle of next week to move our MTTs to Salvador if the Venezuelan Government was still vacillating.

—Our commitment has been made, the JRG needs urgent help and we just cannot wait longer.

—We believe that the Venezuelan and other Latin presence at the policy level would still be far preferable to a U.S. presence alone but that we will have to take the less desirable alternative if Venezuela cannot make up its mind. He took the point and said he would be in touch during the next few days and give me regular progress reports. I repeated that by Tuesday if we do not have a definite word from Venezuela we will probably have to proceed on our own.

8. Action requested: The Department is requested to:

—Provide me with an overall briefing of the current situation in Salvador (military, economic, political, and subversion). Has the situation improved or worsened in the past two weeks? If so, how? Are Majano and the PDC working better together? Surely there must be a recent INR or CIA analysis that could be provided by cable.⁷

—Please send me relevant nodis traffic from Colombia and Peru and elsewhere on the status of our talks with others. I will not use unless authorized but I need the perspective in order to better read the inputs the Venezuelans are receiving from their Andean colleagues.

—I am still hoping to receive by cable detailed briefing paper (that must exist) on the various groups of the left in Salvador including their orientation and external support. (Ref A, para 8).⁸

9. Comment: This “Hamletismo” in Latin America is characteristic but no less maddening. We must do everything to stop it from becoming “Pontiuspilatismo”. It is clearly in our interest to keep them engaged directly and actively which is certainly the instinct of Hilarion Cardozo, and hopefully by his President.

10. Footnote: I received my instructions (State 042857)⁹ after drafting this cable. I have as reported here carried them out and believe we should proceed as contemplated. I will provide a recommendation on Monday, after Cardozo sees President Herrera, on whether an additional Presidential letter would be helpful. As of today, I think not.

Luers

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870058-0149. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis.
2. Dated February 14. Luers reported on his talks with Perez and Barrios about cooperation between the AD and COPEI parties regarding El Salvador. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870058-0139)
3. No record of the conversation was found.
4. Dated February 15. The Embassy reported that the JRG had accepted U.S. MTTs. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P880137-1759)
5. February 17.
6. Dated February 15. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800082-0387)
7. No response was found.
8. In telegram 42899 to Caracas, February 16, the Department noted that the response to this question was being provided [less than 1 line not declassified]. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P870058-0153)
9. Dated February 16. The Department instructed Luers to “inform appropriate Venezuelan officials of JRG favorable decision” regarding U.S. MTTs, and asked if a “further presidential letter would be helpful in overcoming any lingering hesitation to give Cardozo group green light to proceed.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, N800003-0458)