40. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter1
Beagle Channel. The meetings in Buenos Aires between the Foreign Ministers of Argentina and Chile on the Beagle Channel dispute were not successful. The Argentines rejected a Chilean compromise package, including Papal mediation, by insisting that the two countries first resolve the issue of sovereignty over the islands. The Chilean Foreign Minister returned to Santiago this afternoon. Senior Argentine military commanders are expected to meet tomorrow morning to consider further steps. Chile put its military forces on full alert early this morning, matching actions taken by Argentina several weeks ago.
Yesterday I called in the Argentine and Chilean Ambassadors to warn them against using force to resolve the dispute.2 Both recognize that it is a dangerous situation, but I am not at all confident that their countries will show the restraint I urged on them. Right now, the risk of armed conflict seems high.
[Omitted here are items unrelated to Latin America]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 21, Evening Reports (State), 12/78. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum. Christopher was acting for Vance, who was in London, Cairo, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem December 9–15.↩
- In telegram 313794 to Buenos Aires and Santiago, December 13, the Department summarized Christopher’s December 12 meetings with Aja Espil and Barros. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780513–1040)↩