65. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Argentina1
262832. Subject: Letter to President Videla from President Carter
1. Please pass following text to President Videla ASAP.
Begin quote: Dear Mr. President: Let me say again how pleased I was to meet with you during your visit to Washington for the signing of the new Panama Canal treaties.2 Our conversation gave me a better understanding of your concerns and those of the Argentine people, with whom we wish to have the best of relations.
2. I was particularly impressed by your comment that we both had the same items on our agenda—Human Rights and nuclear proliferation—and that you saw opportunity for progress on both. I share the same hopes.
3. We both recognize that Argentina is frequently charged with serious violations of Human Rights. You were certainly correct in stating that terrorists have sought to isolate Argentina in their propaganda. However, I am confident that such propaganda will lose its force in the court of international opinion as your government demonstrates progress in Human Rights. And I can assure you that the United States will always be ready to acknowledge such improvements.
4. I was also pleased to hear that you would not object to visits by Human Rights specialists from respected international organizations. Such visits will be an important means of educating international public opinion on improvements in Human Rights in Argentina.
5. In this regard, let me mention the very important role played by non-governmental human rights organizations, and my hope that they will continue to contribute to the advancement of Human Rights and my firm belief that they should retain their consultative status at the United Nations.
6. I welcome your expression of hope that the detainee problem might be resolved by Christmas this year. As I told you, there is great interest and concern in the United States over the fate of people detained in Argentina under the national executive power. The clarification of their status would be well received, I believe, throughout the international community. Like your government’s recent announcement of [Page 234] the restoration of the right of option and a parole for detainees, such a clarification would be another important step in demonstrating Argentina’s commitment to the protection of Human Rights.
7. I was most gratified and pleased to learn that your government intends to ratify the Treaty of Tlatelolco.3 I realize that the timing of your government’s ratification is dependent upon political considerations, but I hope that you will find it possible to ratify the treaty in the near future. Argentina’s full adherence to the treaty would have great importance. It would not only demonstrate Argentina’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy; it would also, I am convinced, give a significant impetus to world-wide acceptance of the treaty as an important means of avoiding war.
8. I was very pleased that your government participated in the nuclear fuel cycle evaluation conference in Washington.4 I believe it will provide a great opportunity for our nations to work with others in making nuclear energy an important and safe means of meeting our energy requirements.
9. Mr. President, the personal relationship which we established in Washington provided me this opportunity to write you. I very much hope that we continue to exchange views with frankness and candor so as to strengthen relations between our two great peoples.
10. In this regard, I particularly appreciate your letters of September 28 and October 11, 1977, and the information which you related in the second letter concerning the Deutsch family.5 As I am sure you are aware, there is considerable and continuing congressional and public concern on this matter in my country.
11. In his meeting with you in November, Secretary Vance will have the opportunity to continue our dialogue.
12. I want to thank you and Mrs. Videla for the very kind invitation to attend your son’s wedding, and regret that we were unable to attend. Please give our congratulations and best wishes to your son and his bride. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter. End Quote.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770405–0653. Limited Official Use; Immediate. Drafted in the White House, cleared by Bumpus and in S/S-O, and approved by Zimmermann.↩
- See Document 63.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XXVI, Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Document 422.↩
- See Document 63, footnote 3.↩
- In an undated memorandum to Carter, Brzezinski attached the October 11 letter from Videla and noted that Videla had written that two members of the Deutsch family were still being held because of their involvement with the Communist Revolutionary Party but that three others had been released. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron, Box 3, Argentina, 1977–78) The September 28 letter from Videla to Carter has not been found.↩