Page 305 - Argentina - Carter, Regan, and Bush VP

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MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

July 29, 1980

INFORMATION □OS REVIEWED 01-Jun-2010: DECLASSIFIED FOR RELEASE IN FULL]

MEMORANDUM FOR: ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI
FROM: LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN (Pastor)

SUBJECT: Evening Report (U)
Argentina/Bolivia. This morning's press carried the news that the Argentine Government
•had 'resumed normal relations" with Bolivia, thus becoming the first country to extend
recognition to the new regime. We had already take! the decision to postpone Bowdler's
visit to Buenos Aires, and had instructed the Embassy to so inform Argentine officials.
Judging from the strongly negative reactions of Argentine officials yesterday when postpone­
ment was still only a possibility, we are probably in for another severe chill in our
relations. While the degree of damage limitation, which will be required is not clear,
much of the slow improvement since the Gaodpaster visit may be in jeopardy. Similar
decisions on recognition can now probably also be expected shortly from Bolivia's other
neighbors (Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay). (S)

Bolivia. La Paz appears to have returned to normal, with the exception of certain areas
such as the university which remain dosed and guarded. The Embassy has picked up unconf i.r: '
reports from several sources that Hernan Slles, who won a plurality in the June 29 voting,
is setting up an underground government and intends to announce on August 6 (the scheduled
Inauguration day for the new President) that he is the legitimate President of Bolivia.
The Papal Nuncio has made representations to the new authorities in favor of humane
treatment for detainees, but has received no response. It is reliably reported that the
regime is shaking down businessmen for contributions. (C)

At the OAS the Nicaraguans withdrew their request for a Permanent Council meeting to
decide whether to convoke a Meeting of Foreign Ministers on Bolivia. They were apparently
responding to advice from those who backed last week's resolution that the time was not
propitious for another session on the Bolivian situation at this time.(C)
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Cuban Refugees. A personal sweep by USINT personnel of the Mariel Harbor area yesterday
failed to turn up any evidence of large numbers of US boats or detect any unusual movement
of people into the area. Meanwhile, in San Jose, statements by Evelio Estrella to the
effect that "all" refugees remaining in Costa Rica would be permitted to enter the US
legally have raised expectations in the Cuban community and greatly increased crowds at
the Consulate. (C)

El Salvador. Senior officers of the IMF, IBRD and IDB have told State in confidence that
they were visited by an FDR delegation recently and advised not to continue operations
with the current GOES. All'three institutions took the approach as a direct threat to
their personnel. State has suggested that the Embassy talk privately with trhsted GOES
officials to pass on above information and suggest that quiet and inconspicuous security
measures be instituted for IFI personnel. (S)
Cuba. Castro's three hour speech to the faithful on July 26 is characterized by USINT as
a curious mixture of revolutionary fire and cool pragmatism. On the one hand, Castro
praised pluralism in Nicaragua, including private sector participation and aid from capitalis1
countries. Yet at the same time he returned to themes from the sixties by citing armed
revolution as the only way open to oppressed peoples. From available reports it appears
that Castro did not mention the refugee situation, but did lambast the Republican platform
and candidates. I am getting the full text and will reserve further comment until I've had
a chance to study it in detail. (C)
footer Family business (a delayed arrival) kept me out of the office most of the day. (U)

SECRET No Objection To Declassification in -ull 2013/02/04 : NLC-24-55-1-52-6