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Reconocimiento Optico de Caracteres (OCR)
Current Class:
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978BUENOS05534
<<<<. >>>>
PAGE 01 BUENOS 05534 2 0 0144Z
ACTION ARA-14
Page: 1
Channel.- n/a
yyjo^
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 HA-05 AID-05
CA-OX CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05
NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 SP-02
TRSE-00 10-13 SCS-06
H-01 INR-10 L-03
SS-1S ICA-11 /098 W
-105942 201420Z /45
R 191559Z JUL 78
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6560
^^^^^ BUENOS AIRES 5534
E.O. 11652 XGDS 1
TAGS SHUM, AR
SUBJECT INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL VIOLA
ARGENTINA PROJBCT (S200000044)
U.S. DEPT. OF STATE, A/RPS/IPS
Margaret P. Grafeld, Director
(^Release ( )Excise { )Deny
Exemption(s):_________________________________
Declassify^ ) In Part (XlnFu]]
( ) Classify as__( ) Extend as__( ) Downgrade to.
Date__________Declassify on__________Reason___
1. THE EVENING OF JULY 18 I HAD A MEETING WITH GENERAL
VIOLA AT MY REQUEST TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF MY TRIP TO
WASHINGTON. AS USUAL, HE RECEIVED ME ALONE AT HIS OFFICE
AT ARMY HQ. HE APPEARED AT EASE AND PLEASED AT THE
PROSPECT OF SEVEN DAYS VACATION WHICH HE WILL BEGIN TODAY.
2. I BEGAN BY CONGRATULATING THE GENERAL ON HIS PROMOTION
TO COMMANDER OF THE ARMY AND HIS PLEASURE AT THIS EVENT
WAS OBVIOUS. OBSERVING THAT I HAD RECEIVED REPEATED
TELEPHONE CALLS FROM COMMANDER I CORPS GENERAL SUAREZ
MASON TO INVITE ME AND MEMBERS OF MY STAFF TO LUNCHEON,
I INQUIRED IF HE COULD PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATION FOR THE
GENERAL'S SUDDEN INTENSE INTEREST IN THE AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR. VIOLA INDICATED CURIOSITY ABOUT SUAREZ MASON'S
INTENTIONS AND SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE
BEHIND IT ALL. HE HAD A FEW NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT
SUAREZ MASON BUT DID NOT VOLUNTEER ANY INFORMATION ABOUT
THE LATTER'S RETIREMENT WHICH IS VIRTUALLY TAKEN FOR
GRANTED IN BUENOS AIRES. WHEN I MENTIONED HAVING RECEIVED
A GRACIOUS LETTER FROM GENERAL MENENDEZ, COMMANDER III
CORP, WHICH STATED THAT LILIANA DEUTSCH SHOULD BE RELEASED
PAGE 02
BUENOS 05534 200144Z
SOON, VIOLA REACTED WITH SURPRISE AND SOME INDIGNATION
SAYING, "SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED LOOSE SOME TIME
Current Class:
Page: 1
¦OB)
fftJISSIB
Current Class :WH^^^^^^ft wnvbnwwii iku Page: 2
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978BUENOS0S534 Channel: n/a
AGO."
3. PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS. I AGAIN REASSURED VIOLA
THAT THE USG WAS NOT DEDICATED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
GOA, WE SIMPLY WANTED SOME SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OF
PROGRESS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD WHICH WOULD PROVIDE US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR APPREACIATION OF THAT
PROGRESS. I REITERATED THAT AN INVITATION TO THE IAHRC
WAS STRICTLY A BILTERAL MATTER BETWEEN THE GOA AND THE
COMMISSION AND WE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN ARRANGEMENTS
FOR A POSSIBLE VISIT. I ASKED VIOLA HOW HE SEES PROSPECTS
FOR A VISIT BY THE IAHRC. VIOLA SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE
THAT A VISIT.WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. THERE WERE TWO OR
THREE OBJECTIONABLE ASPECTS OF THE COMMISSION'S CONDITIONS
WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE CLARIFIED OR WORKED OUT. HE
THOUGHT THE GUARANTEE TO PROVIDE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION
REQUESTED WAS SIMPLY TO SWEEPING AND WOULD HAVE TO BE
CLARIFIED. HE WAS CLEARLY OFFENDED THAT THE GOA WOULD
BE ASKED TO MAKE A GUARANTEE OF NO REPRAISALS AGAINST
THOSE INTERVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION. HE SAID THIS WOULD
CERTAINLY BE OFFENSIVE TO ANY SELF-RESPECTING SOVEREIGN
GOVERNMENT BUT THEN ADDED THAT THE OBJECTIVE SOUGHT SHOULD NOT
BE A DETERRENT TO THE VISIT. COMMENTING ON THE REQUEST
TO VISIT MILITARY PRISONS, VIOLA SAID HE THOUGHT THIS
WAS A FOLISH REQUEST SINCE IF ANY MILITARY UNIT HAD
PRISONERS IT WISHED TO HIDE IT COULD DO SO WITHOUT THE
SLIGHTEST DIFFICULTY. REFERRING TO THE GENERAL TOPIC OF AN IAHRC
VISIT HE SAID THAT AS AN OFFICIAL OF A
SOVEREIGN COUNTRY HE COULD HARDLY WELCOME AN INVESTIGATION
FOR A FOREIGN AGENCY, BUT THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRED PARTICULAR FLEXIBILITY AND HE
PAGE 03 BUENOS 05534 200144Z
THOUGHT THE COMMISSION'S BASIC REQUIREMENTS COULD BE
MET --AT LEAST HE AND PRESIDENT VIDELA WERE GOING TO .
MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DO SO. HE SAID THAT THE
SUBJECT WAS TOO URGENT TO AWAIT HIS RETURN AND THAT
GENERAL BIGONE OF HIS STAFF WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
4. RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN OFFICE. I TOLD VIOLA I
WOULD BE MEETING WITH ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER ALLARA
ON JULY 19 AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY GUIDANCE ON HOS
THAT CONVERSATION SHOULD BE HANDLED. HE SAID I SHOULD
BE COMPLETELY FRANK WITH ALLARA BUT NOT TO EXPECT TO MAKE
Current Class: flMHMflH^ Page: 2
Current Class ?,
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 197 8BUENOS05534
IMSItl)
ANY PROGRESS. HE ADDED THAT IF ALLARA PROCEEDS TO GIVE
ME A HARDLINE LECTURE, I SHOULD SIMPLY IGNORE IT.
5. JUNTA MEMBERS VISIT TO US. I EXPLAINED TO VIOLA
THAT ADMIRAL MASSERA WOULD BE VISITING WASHINGTON LATER
THIS MONTH AND THAT GENERAL AGOSTI WAS SEEKING A VISIT
WITH HIS US COUNTERPARTS AND THAT THESE VISITS BY
JUNTA MEMBERS RAISED SOME QUESTIONS IN THE USG AS TO
WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. VIOLA SAID HE
WOULD REFER THIS QUESTION TO PRESIDENT VIDELA AND GET
BACK TO ME.
6- RIGHT OF OPTION PROGRAM. REFERRING TO OUR PREVIOUS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RIGHT OF OPTION PROGRAM I SAID
THAT IT WAS MOVING TO SLOWLY AND SOUGHT HIS HELP ON
LOOSENING UP THE PROCESS. HE COMPLAINED THAT THE PROCESS
WAS UNMANAGEABLELY COMPLICATED, REQUIRING ALMOST A DOZEN
FORMAL APPROVALS FOR EACH CASE. HE SUGGESTED I SEE
COLONEL SAN ROMAN OF THE MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT.
7. PRISONER RELEASES. WHEN I RAISED THIS TOPIC HE
SAID THE GOA WAS STUDYING THE STATUS OF 1500 PRISONERS
WHO WERE PICKED UP BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. HE GAVE
NO INDICATION OF HOW MANY OF THESE PRISONERS MIGHT BE
Page: 3
Channel: n/a
PAGE 04
BUENOS 05534 2 00144Z
RELEASED. I OBSERVED THAT WE HAD YET TO SEE ANYTHING
DEVELOP IN THE WAY OF RELEASED OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
OF PRISONERS. HE INDICATED THEY WERE WORKING ON IT.
8. COMMENT. VIOLA WAS UNEQUIVOCAL IN HIS POSITION THAT
HE AND THE PRESIDENT WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO
WORK OUT AND AGREED BASIS FOR THE IAHRC VISIT. HE
INDICATED THAT FOREIGN OFFICE DISAPPROVAL COULD BE
ASSUMED BUT WOULD NOT PREVAIL. IT WAS NOT CLEAR HOW
ANY NEGOTIATION WITH THE COMMISSION IS BEING CARRIED
OUT.
CASTRO
NNN
Current Class
Page: 3
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978BUENOS05534
<<<<. >>>>
PAGE 01 BUENOS 05534 2 0 0144Z
ACTION ARA-14
Page: 1
Channel.- n/a
yyjo^
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 HA-05 AID-05
CA-OX CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05
NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 SP-02
TRSE-00 10-13 SCS-06
H-01 INR-10 L-03
SS-1S ICA-11 /098 W
-105942 201420Z /45
R 191559Z JUL 78
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6560
^^^^^ BUENOS AIRES 5534
E.O. 11652 XGDS 1
TAGS SHUM, AR
SUBJECT INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL VIOLA
ARGENTINA PROJBCT (S200000044)
U.S. DEPT. OF STATE, A/RPS/IPS
Margaret P. Grafeld, Director
(^Release ( )Excise { )Deny
Exemption(s):_________________________________
Declassify^ ) In Part (XlnFu]]
( ) Classify as__( ) Extend as__( ) Downgrade to.
Date__________Declassify on__________Reason___
1. THE EVENING OF JULY 18 I HAD A MEETING WITH GENERAL
VIOLA AT MY REQUEST TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF MY TRIP TO
WASHINGTON. AS USUAL, HE RECEIVED ME ALONE AT HIS OFFICE
AT ARMY HQ. HE APPEARED AT EASE AND PLEASED AT THE
PROSPECT OF SEVEN DAYS VACATION WHICH HE WILL BEGIN TODAY.
2. I BEGAN BY CONGRATULATING THE GENERAL ON HIS PROMOTION
TO COMMANDER OF THE ARMY AND HIS PLEASURE AT THIS EVENT
WAS OBVIOUS. OBSERVING THAT I HAD RECEIVED REPEATED
TELEPHONE CALLS FROM COMMANDER I CORPS GENERAL SUAREZ
MASON TO INVITE ME AND MEMBERS OF MY STAFF TO LUNCHEON,
I INQUIRED IF HE COULD PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATION FOR THE
GENERAL'S SUDDEN INTENSE INTEREST IN THE AMERICAN
AMBASSADOR. VIOLA INDICATED CURIOSITY ABOUT SUAREZ MASON'S
INTENTIONS AND SAID HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE
BEHIND IT ALL. HE HAD A FEW NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT
SUAREZ MASON BUT DID NOT VOLUNTEER ANY INFORMATION ABOUT
THE LATTER'S RETIREMENT WHICH IS VIRTUALLY TAKEN FOR
GRANTED IN BUENOS AIRES. WHEN I MENTIONED HAVING RECEIVED
A GRACIOUS LETTER FROM GENERAL MENENDEZ, COMMANDER III
CORP, WHICH STATED THAT LILIANA DEUTSCH SHOULD BE RELEASED
PAGE 02
BUENOS 05534 200144Z
SOON, VIOLA REACTED WITH SURPRISE AND SOME INDIGNATION
SAYING, "SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED LOOSE SOME TIME
Current Class:
Page: 1
¦OB)
fftJISSIB
Current Class :WH^^^^^^ft wnvbnwwii iku Page: 2
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 1978BUENOS0S534 Channel: n/a
AGO."
3. PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS. I AGAIN REASSURED VIOLA
THAT THE USG WAS NOT DEDICATED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
GOA, WE SIMPLY WANTED SOME SPECIFIC EVIDENCE OF
PROGRESS IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD WHICH WOULD PROVIDE US
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR APPREACIATION OF THAT
PROGRESS. I REITERATED THAT AN INVITATION TO THE IAHRC
WAS STRICTLY A BILTERAL MATTER BETWEEN THE GOA AND THE
COMMISSION AND WE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN ARRANGEMENTS
FOR A POSSIBLE VISIT. I ASKED VIOLA HOW HE SEES PROSPECTS
FOR A VISIT BY THE IAHRC. VIOLA SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE
THAT A VISIT.WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. THERE WERE TWO OR
THREE OBJECTIONABLE ASPECTS OF THE COMMISSION'S CONDITIONS
WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE CLARIFIED OR WORKED OUT. HE
THOUGHT THE GUARANTEE TO PROVIDE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION
REQUESTED WAS SIMPLY TO SWEEPING AND WOULD HAVE TO BE
CLARIFIED. HE WAS CLEARLY OFFENDED THAT THE GOA WOULD
BE ASKED TO MAKE A GUARANTEE OF NO REPRAISALS AGAINST
THOSE INTERVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION. HE SAID THIS WOULD
CERTAINLY BE OFFENSIVE TO ANY SELF-RESPECTING SOVEREIGN
GOVERNMENT BUT THEN ADDED THAT THE OBJECTIVE SOUGHT SHOULD NOT
BE A DETERRENT TO THE VISIT. COMMENTING ON THE REQUEST
TO VISIT MILITARY PRISONS, VIOLA SAID HE THOUGHT THIS
WAS A FOLISH REQUEST SINCE IF ANY MILITARY UNIT HAD
PRISONERS IT WISHED TO HIDE IT COULD DO SO WITHOUT THE
SLIGHTEST DIFFICULTY. REFERRING TO THE GENERAL TOPIC OF AN IAHRC
VISIT HE SAID THAT AS AN OFFICIAL OF A
SOVEREIGN COUNTRY HE COULD HARDLY WELCOME AN INVESTIGATION
FOR A FOREIGN AGENCY, BUT THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THAT SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRED PARTICULAR FLEXIBILITY AND HE
PAGE 03 BUENOS 05534 200144Z
THOUGHT THE COMMISSION'S BASIC REQUIREMENTS COULD BE
MET --AT LEAST HE AND PRESIDENT VIDELA WERE GOING TO .
MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO DO SO. HE SAID THAT THE
SUBJECT WAS TOO URGENT TO AWAIT HIS RETURN AND THAT
GENERAL BIGONE OF HIS STAFF WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME
IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
4. RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN OFFICE. I TOLD VIOLA I
WOULD BE MEETING WITH ACTING FOREIGN MINISTER ALLARA
ON JULY 19 AND ASKED IF HE HAD ANY GUIDANCE ON HOS
THAT CONVERSATION SHOULD BE HANDLED. HE SAID I SHOULD
BE COMPLETELY FRANK WITH ALLARA BUT NOT TO EXPECT TO MAKE
Current Class: flMHMflH^ Page: 2
Current Class ?,
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 197 8BUENOS05534
IMSItl)
ANY PROGRESS. HE ADDED THAT IF ALLARA PROCEEDS TO GIVE
ME A HARDLINE LECTURE, I SHOULD SIMPLY IGNORE IT.
5. JUNTA MEMBERS VISIT TO US. I EXPLAINED TO VIOLA
THAT ADMIRAL MASSERA WOULD BE VISITING WASHINGTON LATER
THIS MONTH AND THAT GENERAL AGOSTI WAS SEEKING A VISIT
WITH HIS US COUNTERPARTS AND THAT THESE VISITS BY
JUNTA MEMBERS RAISED SOME QUESTIONS IN THE USG AS TO
WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. VIOLA SAID HE
WOULD REFER THIS QUESTION TO PRESIDENT VIDELA AND GET
BACK TO ME.
6- RIGHT OF OPTION PROGRAM. REFERRING TO OUR PREVIOUS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RIGHT OF OPTION PROGRAM I SAID
THAT IT WAS MOVING TO SLOWLY AND SOUGHT HIS HELP ON
LOOSENING UP THE PROCESS. HE COMPLAINED THAT THE PROCESS
WAS UNMANAGEABLELY COMPLICATED, REQUIRING ALMOST A DOZEN
FORMAL APPROVALS FOR EACH CASE. HE SUGGESTED I SEE
COLONEL SAN ROMAN OF THE MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT.
7. PRISONER RELEASES. WHEN I RAISED THIS TOPIC HE
SAID THE GOA WAS STUDYING THE STATUS OF 1500 PRISONERS
WHO WERE PICKED UP BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT. HE GAVE
NO INDICATION OF HOW MANY OF THESE PRISONERS MIGHT BE
Page: 3
Channel: n/a
PAGE 04
BUENOS 05534 2 00144Z
RELEASED. I OBSERVED THAT WE HAD YET TO SEE ANYTHING
DEVELOP IN THE WAY OF RELEASED OF SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
OF PRISONERS. HE INDICATED THEY WERE WORKING ON IT.
8. COMMENT. VIOLA WAS UNEQUIVOCAL IN HIS POSITION THAT
HE AND THE PRESIDENT WERE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO
WORK OUT AND AGREED BASIS FOR THE IAHRC VISIT. HE
INDICATED THAT FOREIGN OFFICE DISAPPROVAL COULD BE
ASSUMED BUT WOULD NOT PREVAIL. IT WAS NOT CLEAR HOW
ANY NEGOTIATION WITH THE COMMISSION IS BEING CARRIED
OUT.
CASTRO
NNN
Current Class
Page: 3