Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XIII, Conflict in the South Atlantic, 1981–1984

134. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Burt) to Acting Secretary of State Eagleburger¹

Washington, April 16, 1982

SUBJECT

• Exports to Argentina

Derek Thomas called Bob Blackwill this afternoon to say that the Embassy had heard there was a Bolivian cargo aircraft in Miami scheduled to fly on Tuesday, April 20th to Rio Gallegos, Argentina carrying communications gear. The British think they smell something fishy.

We have checked quietly and discovered that:

1. There is indeed a Bolivian plane in Miami, scheduled for a Tuesday flight to Rio Gallegos, due West of the Falklands.

2. It needs U.S. authorization to take off, which is issued by the CAB.

3. The cargo is “telephonic equipment.”

4. We have issued no export licenses for any kind of military communications equipment to either country, but if it is civilian equipment, no licenses are required.²

5. The CAB (and FAA) who deal with the take-off clearances are mildly interested because of the destination, but have no plans to do anything at least until Monday.³

If we want to stop the plane or alternatively insure that it goes we should so inform the CAB. We will continue to check the facts in order to avoid another LANDSAT screwup. But if the information above does not change, I see no basis for stopping the Bolivian flight.

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Special Handling Restrictions Memos 1979–1983, Lot 96D262, ES Sensitive April 10–19 1982. Secret; Sensitive. Cleared by Blackwill.
2. Burt drew an asterisk at the end of this sentence and wrote at the end of the memorandum: “Here we go again!”
3. April 19.