Office of the Historian

220. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1

Washington, June 30, 1978

[Omitted here are portions of the document unrelated to Chile]

2. Chile: Since Ambassador Landau’s return for consultation a week ago, we have been pressing the Chileans on the Justice Department’s outstanding requests for cooperation in the Letelier/Moffitt assassination investigation. They will now provide the assistance we were seeking.2 We are sending Landau back to Santiago this weekend and making a press statement that “mutual cooperation has been reestablished.”3

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 20, Evening Reports (State), 6/78. At the top right of the memorandum, Carter wrote: “Cy J.”↩
  2. In a June 27 memorandum to Christopher, Oxman wrote: “According to Nogues, Cubillos has told him that Chile would have no objection to Paraguay’s cooperating with our investigation. This, it seems to me, comes quite close to meeting our principal request of the Chileans.” Oxman continued: “George Landau also informed me of his three-hour dinner last night with the Chilean ambassador (Barros). Among other things, Barros seemed to indicate that the Chileans might permit the FBI to take Iturriaga’s deposition. This would be acceptable to Propper.” (National Archives, RG 59, Office of the Deputy Secretary: Records of Warren Christopher, 1977–1980, Lot 81D113, Box 31, Human Rights—Chile I) Nogues and Cubillos were both in Washington for the OAS General Assembly meeting.↩
  3. In telegram 168070 to Santiago, July 3, the Department transmitted the press statement. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780274-0133) On July 10, Guanes gave written testimony and an interview to FBI agent Calvin Clegg in Asuncion “regarding Contreras’ request to issue Paraguayan passports.” (Telegram 2753 from Asuncion, July 10, Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, Roger Channel, Asuncion 1969–79) (S) Clegg interviewed Iturriaga in Santiago on July 5, and according to Clegg, “Iturriaga answered all questions except one which related to who had final authority for authorizing DINA foreign missions and issuing false passports.” Clegg also noted that Iturriaga “limited his answers almost entirely to what he himself did and was not willing to talk about the roles of others.” (Telegram 5009 from Santiago, July 5, National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780276-0306)↩