Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

507. Letter From President Nixon to Nicaraguan President Somoza¹ ²

Washington, September 7, 1971

Dear Mr. President:

I recall with pleasure our conversation of early June, in the course of which you described several of the commodity trade problems your country is now confronting.

As you know I am particularly concerned with such problems—in part because they represent restrictions on worldwide free trade—restrictions which I should like to see abolished; in part because they do some measure of damage to our good friends abroad; and in part because my own country confronts similar problems. Yet, as you and I discussed, the resolution of trading problems these days is an exceedingly complex process, delicate in terms of both domestic and international implications, and often requiring years of patient effort.

I am delighted to be able to advise you, however, that we can be helpful to Nicaragua on certain counts. To begin with, I have arranged for the restraint on imports of one category of Nicaraguan cotton textiles to be doubled to one million square yards.

It is also our desire to expand, insofar as possible, the export of Nicaraguan fruits and vegetables to this country. I have been informed, however, that our quarantine regulations preclude the import of many fruits and vegetables from Nicaragua as a result of infestation by the Mediterranean Fruit Fly. I have, therefore instructed our Department of Agriculture to send a representative to Nicaragua to discuss with officials of your government means of complying with our requirements. Following these discussions we should be able to determine what further actions are needed to facilitate such exports to the United States.

As you undoubtedly have noted, we have also urged the United States Senate to approve legislation in the matter of sugar import allocations which differs substantially from the legislation approved by the House of Representatives. To the degree we are successful in this effort, Nicaragua will benefit from its implications.

I hope that these actions will serve in some measure as a stimulus to the economic development of your country and as a further indication of the ties of friendship between our two republics.

With deep respect and warm regards,

Sincerely,

Richard Nixon

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 790, Country Files, Latin America, Nicaragua Vol. I (1969–1974). No classification marking.
2. President Nixon informed President Somoza that he had doubled Nicaragua’s cotton textile allocation. Nixon indicated that he would send a Department of Agriculture representative to Nicaragua to discuss fruit and vegetables and was working to benefit Nicaragua in the area of sugar import allocations.