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ACTION ARA-06
INFO OCT-01 SS-14 ISO-00 NSC-05 NSCE-00 PM-03 INR-05 PRS-01
CIAE-00 DODE-00 SSO-00 INRE-00 L-01 /036 W
--------------------- 126592
O 042314Z APR 75
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6630
INFO AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T MANAGUA 1291
LIMDIS
TEGUCIGALPA FOR AMB SANCHEZ ONLY
EO 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, HO, NU
SUBJECT: HONDURAN DEVELOPMENTS
FROM AMB SHELTON
1. GON PRESIDENT SOMOZA HAS TOLD ME IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE
THAT HIS LATEST ASSESSMENT REGARDING THE PRESENT POLITICAL
SITUATION IN HONDURAS LEADS HIM TO BELIEVE THAT CHIEF OF STATE
LOPEZ IS POWERLESS, AND THAT WHILE FOR PERSONAL AND OTHER REASONS
LOPEZ MAY ATTEMPT TO TEMPORIZE SUFFICIENTLY TO REMAIN IN OFFICE,
THAT THIS WILL BE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, AND THAT IT APPEARS
LIKELY THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR HIM TO RESIGN.
2. SOMOZA HAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT HE HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF
PHONE CALLS FROM WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS IN HONDURAS EXPRESSING
CONCERN. SOMOZA IS REPLYING BY STRONGLY STATING HIS COMPLETE
"HANDSOFF POLICY".
3. PRESIDENT SOMOZA HAS FURTHER ADVISED ME THAT HE HAS RECEIVED
WHAT HE CONSIDERS AS RELIABLE INFORMATION WHICH WOULD INDICATE
THE "LEFTIST" ORIENTATION OF SOME OF THE YOUNGER OFFICERS WHO
HAVE TAKEN OVER, EPITOMIZED BY THE COLONEL IN CHARGE OF AGRARIAN
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REFORM, WHO HE UNDERSTANDS STUDIED IN BULGARIA, OR OTHER
EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, SOMOZA SAYS THAT IT IS
HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT COLONEL MELGAR IS BASICALLY A "FIGURE-
HEAD" WITHOUT DOMINATE POWER. SOMOZA ADDS THAT THE SITUATION,
AS FAR AS HE IS CONCERNED, IS STILL SUBJECT TO FURTHER CLARIFICATION
WHICH HE IS ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN. SOMOZA IS OBVIOUSLY FOLLOWING
DEVELOPMENTS IN HONDURAS WITH CLOSE INTEREST, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
OF ITS LONG BORDER WITH NICARAGUA.
4. SOMOZA HAS ASSIGNED HIS MINISTER OF DEFENSE SPECIAL RESPONSI-
BILITY FOR KEEPING HIM FULLY INFORMED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HONDURAS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MEMBERS OF THE NICARAGUAN NATIONAL
GUARD ARE ACQUAINTED WITH A NUMBER OF THE OFFICERS APPARENTLY
COMING TO POWER AND THEY ARE ANALYZING THEIR BACKGROUND AND
ORIENTATION. SOMOZA HAS PROMISED TO INFORM ME FULLY AS SOON AS
HE DEVELOPS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
5. THE PAPAL NUNCIO, WHO IS JOINTLY RESIDENT IN BOTH HONDURAS AND
NICARAGUA RETURNED FROM HONDURAS ON APRIL 2. THE NUNCIO TOLD ME
ON APRIL 3 THAT HIS PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT WAS THAT THE NEW
OFFICERS WERE REASONABLY CENTERISTS, BUT THAT MUCH WOULD DEPEND
ON THE STRENGTH OF COLONEL MELGAR.
6. WILL SEND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SHELTON
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