228. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter 1
[Omitted here is information unrelated to Panama.]
(2) Panama—Gabriel Lewis told us last night that Torrijos believed Somoza was on his last legs and wanted to deliver the coup de grace. Torrijos is apparently supplying arms deliveries daily to the Sandinistas in southern Nicaragua. Lewis intimated that Torrijos now wants to recognize a “Sandinista government.” Lewis asked for someone to come to Panama to calm Torrijos down, and Ambassador Moss and Bob Pastor flew to Panama today to try to do that.2
(3) Murphy—Congressman Murphy is voicing concern over Panama’s involvement with the Sandinistas and the charges that Panama is equipping the guerrillas.3 He says he will hold hearings on the subject later in the week, which will further complicate the problems facing the Treaty implementation legislation. We ought to try and get the leadership to turn it off or postpone it.4
[Omitted here is information unrelated to Panama.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 21, Evening Reports (State), 6/79. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote: “Cy.”↩
- See Document 230.↩
- Carter wrote in the left margin: “I’ll call Murphy.” See Document 229.↩
- Carter placed an arrow in the left margin and wrote: “Do so.”↩