53. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Argentina1
48062. Subject: Call on Deputy Secretary by Argentine Ambassador
1. Deputy Secretary Christopher received Argentine Ambassador Aja Espil March 3.
2. The Deputy Secretary opened by noting he had earlier talked with the Argentine charge.2 He said he was pleased the Ambassador had come in as the USG is anxious that the channels of communication be kept open.
3. Aja Espil referred to the long history of good relations between Argentina and the U.S. based on mutual understanding and respect. Argentina assumed that the new US administration would take the same view. But the Government of Argentina was notified of the decision of the new administration to reduce FMS credits through the press which quoted the Secretary’s testimony and Inouye’s remarks during the hearing of the Sub-committee on Foreign Operations of Senate Appropriations Committee.3 That is not, he said, the real problem, however. The problem is that by this decision Argentina is accused of perpetrating gross violations of human rights—a charge the GOA rejects. Therefore he had been instructed by his government to present a note stating the decision of the GOA not to use 1978 FMS credits.4
4. Aja Espil then presented the following first person note: Begin text: Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to inform you, according to instructions received from my government, that the Argentine republic will not make use of the Foreign Military Sales Credit for Fiscal Year 1978.
Accept Mr. Secretary the assurances of my highest consideration. End text.
5. Deputy Secretary accepted the note on behalf of the Secretary. He said that the US recognizes that the decision not to make use of [Page 200] FY 78 military credits was entirely the province of the GOA, just as the decision to reduce the figure was appropriately a decision for the U.S. He expressed the hope that relations would continue on the basis of mutual understanding and respect as in the past. The U.S. is fully conscious of the security problems facing the GOA but it would seem that the point had been reached in reestablishing control where it should be possible to combine firmness with restraint.
6. Christopher noted that he had personal experience with situations similar to that facing Argentina, although clearly not as serious. It is essential in these conditions to combine firmness with restraint. Otherwise stability will not be achieved.
7. Saying he liked the Ambassador’s use of the words mutual understanding, Christopher affirmed the US desire to continue good relations. He emphasized, however, the US belief that the future depends on respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights. We are anxious to maintain communications and improve our relations, Christopher said, and it is in that spirit that he was receiving the Ambassador.
8. Aja Espil responded that his government fully agreed with that portion of the Secretary’s testimony regarding the need to foster a climate of cooperation between North and South. Christopher said the U.S. would do its best to improve the consultative process between North and South and between Argentina and the U.S. We would also, he said, seek to maintain consistency of standards in our approach to problems. Aja Espil replied that the last point was very important.
9. Atmosphere was relaxed and friendly throughout. The Ambassador and the Deputy Secretary said they hoped to see one another soon under different circumstances.5
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770074–0443. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Zimmerman; cleared by Luers and in S/S; approved by Christopher. Repeated to Santiago, Brasília, and Montevideo.↩
- See Document 51.↩
- Vance testified before the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Senate Committee on Appropriations on February 24. The prepared statement is printed in part as Foreign Relations, 1977–1981, vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, Document 22.↩
- In telegram 1574 from Buenos Aires, February 28, Hill reported that Guzzetti noted that “now the USG has taken a step against the GOA and has publicly attributed that step to human rights situation in Argentina. The GOA must decide whether and/or how it should respond to this development.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770068–1202)↩
- In a March 4 memorandum to Carter, Vance noted the substance of Christopher’s conversation with Aja Espil. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 3/77) In a memorandum of his March 18 conversation with Aja Espil and others, Robert Pastor discussed similar themes. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country Files, Box 1, Argentina, 2–12/77)↩