ALLEGED VIDELA LETTER TO PRESIDENT CARTER - 1978/06/12

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: ARGENTINA
• Keywords: PRESIDENT CARTER
• Keywords: VIDELA LETTER
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01125095
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 12, 1978

Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 CO1125095 .
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978BUEN0S04518
CONFIDENTIAL,
PAGE 01 BUENOS 04518 122046Z
ACTION ARA-14
Page: 1
Channel: n/a
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10
L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 ICA-11
HA-05 TRSE-00 /073 W
R 122024Z JUN 78
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6085
035177 130210Z /63
CONFIDENTIALBUENOS AIRES 4518
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PEPR, SHUM, AR, US
SUBJECT: ALLEGED VIDELA LETTER TO PRESIDENT CARTER
1. ACCORDING TO SOURCES IN THE POPULAR CONSERVATIVE
PARTY, PARTY MEMBER JUAN ESPIL, WHO IS A NEPHEW OF
ARGENTINE AMBASSADOR TO US AJA ESPIL AND ALSO A
CONFIDANT OF PRESIDENT VIDELA, VIDELA IS UPSET
OVER AJA ESPIL'S RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN THE
US BLAMING CERTAIN UNIDENTIFIED SECTORS OF THE
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR US HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES
VIS-A-VIS ARGENTINA. ACCORDING TO THESE POLITICAL
SOURCES, VIDELA DID NOT AUTHORIZE AJA ESPIL TO
TAKE THIS INITIATIVE AND FOREIGN MINISTER MONTES
HAS ANSWERED A PRESIDENTIAL INQUIRY STATING THAT
THE AMBASSADOR'S ACTION WAS NOT THE RESULT OF
ANY INSTRUCTION FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTRY EITHER.
3.3(b)(1)
2. OUR POLITICAL SOURCES ASSERT FURTHER THAT
PRESIDENT VIDELA, UPON LEARNING THAT AMBASSADOR
AJA ESPIL HAD ALLEGEDLY ACTED ON HIS OWN,
DESPATCHED A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CARTER IN
EFFECT DEAUTHORIZING AJA ESPIL'S INITIATIVE
AND PERHAPS EVEN PLACING IN JEOPARDY HIS
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 BUENOS 04518 122046Z
CONTINUING AS AMBASSADOR TO THE US.
3. THE ASSERTION CONCERNING A PRESIDENTIAL LETTER
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
pproved for Release: 2018/09/17 CO1125095
Page: 1
EO 13526
3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
E5-
Approved for Release: 2018/09/17 CO1125095
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978B0EN0S04518
MAY BE A GARBLE ON THE PART OF THE POLITICIANS
HERE. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION DEPART-
MENT MAY HAVE.
CASTRO
CONFIDENTIAL
NNN
Page: 2
Channel: n/a
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL Page: 2
pproved for Release: 2018/09/17 CO1125095