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

68. Telegram From Secretary of State Vance to the White House¹

Buenos Aires, November 22, 1977, 0025Z

Secto 11012. Subject: Meetings in Buenos Aires

1. During a series of long and frank discussions with President Videla,² the other two members of the Junta,³ and Foreign Minister Montes,⁴ we reached breakthroughs in two areas of principal interest. The Argenintes agreed to a public announcement of their intention to ratify the Treaty of Tlatelolco. This will be contained in a communique being issued this evening. They also agreed in the communique to language stating that all governments which adhered to Universal Declaration on Human Rights have a major responsibility to protect and enhance human rights of their people, to respect integrity of persons and the rule of the law.⁵

2. In completely private meetings, Videla reaffirmed his commitment to you,⁶ which he said he has also made to the Church, to release significant number (well over 500) prisoners and to publish a list of all detainees before Christmas, if at all possible. In addition, the Argentines have agreed to permit the International Commission of Red Cross (ICRC) to resume visits to places of detention. The latter cannot be publicly stated. I urged Videla to get the ICRC’s permission to make this public. I also urged him to invite in the ICRC or other independent agency in cases where torture is charged to make an independent investigation. They will take this under consideration.

3. The joint communique also repudiates international terrorism and agrees on the necessity for mulitlateral cooperation in this area. We also agreed to reactive the mixed commission to discuss economic subjects.

4. On specific case of Jacob Timerman, Argentines told me privately that they had evidence he was linked with handling of funds from terrorist sources and is subject to civil charges. They showed me a confidential file indicating Deutsch assisted in the escape of his son, who was head of intelligence of Communist operations, and that his daughter is also involved in Communist activities here. They expect the father will be released by the courts, but not his daughter. I am not sanguine that either Mr. Timerman or Miss Deutsch will be released despite our urging.⁷

5. In meeting with Jewish leaders later, they stressed that government is not officially anti-semitic, but that there are a number of anti-semites in government over whom government is unable to exercise full control.⁸

6. During our meetings, I stressed that the major impediment to an improvement of our relations is the Human Rights situation in Argentina, and that unless that situation improves our relations will worsen, particularly after a congressional amendment imposes an arms embargo beginning in October.⁹ My sense is that Videla and some others around him are trying to improve situation, but there still remains much for them to do to ameliorate the situation.

7. Our views generally coincided with regard to the Middle East, on which they expressed willingness to help in any way possible, and on various North/South issues, where we agreed Argentina could be especially helpful falling as it does between the developed and lesser-developed countries.¹⁰

8. Argentines were demonstrably, extremely pleased with the fact of the visit and the nature of our conversations, which they hope will lead to better understanding.

[Omitted here is the draft text of the joint communiqué].

Vance

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840076–0545. Secret; Cherokee; Immediate; Nodis. Sent Immediate for information to the Department of State. Vance was in Argentina November 20–22.
2. A November 21 memorandum of conversation for Vance’s courtesy call on Videla is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country Files, Box 1, Argentina, 2–12/77.
3. Memoranda of conversation for Vance’s November 21 courtesy calls on Massera and Agosti are Ibid.
4. A memorandum of conversation for Vance’s November 21 meeting with Montes is in the National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Human Rights Country Files, 1977, Lot 81D208, Box 3, Argentina.
5. The text of the joint communiqué is attached but not printed. U.S. and Argentine officials discussed the joint communiqué, as well as human rights, at a working session on November 21. (Telegram 9289 from Buenos Aires, December 7, National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770455–0301)
6. See Document 63.
7. See footnote 4 above.
8. A memorandum of conversation for the November 21 meeting between Vance and Argentine Jewish leaders is in the National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Human Rights Country Files, 1977, Lot 81D208, Box 3, Argentina.
9. Reference is to the Kennedy-Humphrey amendment. See footnote 5, Document 60. A memorandum of conversation for a November 21 meeting among Vance, R. Castro, Todman, Derian, Harris, and representatives of the Argentine Permanent Assembly for Human Rights is in the National Archives, RG 59, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Human Rights Country Files, 1977, Lot 81D208, Box 3, Argentina.
10. Vance discussed the Middle East with Videla; see footnote 2. Vance, Smith, Castro, Todman, Videla, Montes, Madero, Allara, and Aja Espil discussed North-South issues during a November 21 luncheon conversation. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Pastor, Country Files, Box 1, Argentina, 2–12/77)