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

57. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of State Vance¹

Washington, July 9, 1977

SUBJECT

• Recognition of Improvements in Human Rights

The following is based on a conversation I had with the President this morning:²

1. As you know, the Argentine Government has stated its intention to release 342 political prisoners. The President would like you to acknowledge this and express his gratification to the Argentine Government when they have released the prisoners.³

2. At the same time, the President would like the State Department, on background to the press, to acknowledge this action by the Argentine Government and express the President’s gratification.

3. The President would like it to be a matter of policy to acknowledge and express gratification for improvements in human rights once it has been determined that these improvements are real rather than cosmetic. This should be done not only with the Government concerned but, on background, with the press.

Zbigniew Brzezinski

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 4, Argentina, 1/77–12/78. Confidential. This memorandum is also printed as Document 66 in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. II, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.
2. The President met with Brzezinski from 9 to 9:15 a.m. in Carter’s private office in the White House. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) No record of this conversation has been found.
3. In telegram 162292 to Buenos Aires, July 12, the Department instructed the Embassy “to approach the GOA at an appropriately senior level and note the considerable interest which the United States has in recently announced GOA steps and inquire whether further information could be provided concerning these steps.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770248–0245) In telegram 5303 from Buenos Aires, July 18, the Embassy responded that it had concluded “that an initiative invoking the President’s name would not be advisable at this time. This course is, however, one we may want to take in the very near future.” The Embassy explained that although there were “encouraging signs,” there was also “much that disturbs us,” which “leads us to hesitate in using a presidential acknowledgment of an improving situation, lest subsequently we discover that human rights gains here were illusory.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770256–0445) See Document 59.