160. Editorial Note
On June 21, 1983, President Ronald Reagan met with Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez in the Cabinet Room at the White House at 11:45 a.m. According to the memorandum of conversation, in addition to the President, Vice President George H.W. Bush, Secretary of State George Shultz, Secretary of the Treasury Donald Regan, Secretary of Commerce Malcom Baldrige, President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs William Clark, President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Robert McFarlane, Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth Dam, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Thayer, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard Burt, and National Security Council staff members Charles Tyson and Peter Sommer attended the meeting.
After Reagan’s opening remarks, Gonzalez made a statement in which, among other things, he noted the desirability of close Spanish-U.S. ties, and underscored “Spain’s historic and cultural links” to the countries of Latin America. According to the memorandum of conversation: “The President praised Gonzalez’ remarks, noting he found no areas of disagreement. He said he had long held a dream of improving our relations with our southern neighbors. Past Presidents had proposed the Good Neighbor policy and the Alliance for Progress, but Americans on a whole had remained insensitive to the weight of our size and past history in the region. Early in his Administration, added the President, he had traveled to South and Central America to hear their ideas first hand. There is much common ground. We worship the same God, share the same heritage, and both our forebearers largely came from Europe to these great unexplored continents. The President underlined that he has introduced in Congress the CBI legislation, which is aimed at opening investment opportunities, economic growth, and most importantly job opportunities for the Central American countries and the Caribbean Island nations. We acknowledge, he continued, that there is a wide disparity in the region between those enmeshed in poverty and the more fortunate. This, we recognize, makes many countries vulnerable to revolution.
“Turning to El Salvador the President noted that this small country recently overthrew 50 years of military rule. It now has a democratically elected government, chosen by the people. Guerrilla forces intent on challenging the elected government tried to prevent the election. These non-democratic forces, guided and supplied by the Soviet Union—by way of Cuba and Nicaragua—are seeking a communist dictatorship. The President recalled that the stories he heard from some election observers were astounding and heart rendering. Many of the El Salvadoran people walked many miles to vote. Some waited in lines [Page 641] for 10 hours. There was even a woman—wounded by guerrillas—who refused to seek medical treatment until she voted. People chanted at the visiting press: ‘tell the truth!’ There was an 80 percent voter turn-out. It has been a long time, added the President, since the U.S. has had such a large turn-out. The El Salvador government plans on holding another election before this year is out. We support a political solution. Three-quarters of our aid is economic. El Salvador, continued the President, has made great strides in land distribution. But their efforts also require a security shield. We only have 55 military advisors in country. In emphasizing that he had no plans to send combat troops, he emphasized that our advisors are helping to train the El Salvadoran military to protect a democratic government.
“The President then turned to Nicaragua and what he called its failed revolution. Immediately following the revolution, my predecessor, he said, provided aid to the new government. But the Junta quickly began abusing individual rights, restricted freedoms, and refused to hold early elections. Then Soviet and Cuban equipment came pouring in. Its purpose, the President underlined, was to overthrow the elected government of El Salvador. The Contras are loyal Nicaraguans who participated in the original revolution, but were ousted by the communist elements. Now they strive, he added, to return Nicaragua to the origins of the revolution, i.e., democracy. He said many in Europe do not have a true understanding of the situation in Central America. The Soviet aim is to spread communism throughout Central America and undermine developing democracies in such countries as Costa Rica—which does not even have an army—and Honduras. We recognize Spain’s historic interest—these links can help all of us overcome the problems. As I have repeatedly said, continued the President, the U.S. has no intention of sending troops. Nor, he added, had the Salvadoran government asked for them. President Magana confirmed this to the press in Washington last week. Gunboat diplomacy is not the answer, but we do, he underscored, need to help the El Salvadoran government provide the shield to protect their emerging democratic institutions and reforms.
“In concluding, the President apologized for making a speech and said that discussions could continue over lunch.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Subject File, Memorandums of Conversation—President Reagan (06/23/1983–07/25/1983))
In his personal diary entry for June 21, the President described Gonzalez as “sharp, a bright, personable, young moderate & pragmatic socialist. I think we hit it off pretty good which was what he wanted. I did lecture him a little on Central Am.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, volume I, January 1981–October 1985, page 239)