THE TOP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL FOR LATIN AMERICA SAID SATURDAY HE BELIEVES THE SALVADORAN MILITARY WILL ACCEPT THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS DESPITE CONCERNS ABOUT TWO MAJOR CANDIDATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404420003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 24, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000404420003-6
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
24 March 1984
SALVADOR - MOTLEY
WASHINGTON
The top administration official for Latin America said Saturday he believes
the Salvadoran military will accept the outcome of the presidential elections
despite concerns about two major candidates.
'They may as individuals like one candidate better than another but I think
they're going to stand by the election results,'' Langhorne Motley of the State
Department said.
Motley said there was a theory that if Roberto d'Aubuisson, the candidate of
the far-right National Republican Alliance, wins the army will stage a coup
because of concern Congress will cut off military aid.
D'Aubuisson is identified with rightist death squads and opposes many of the
economic and political reforms Congress has made conditions of continued U.S.
aid.
Motley, speaking on Cable News Network's ''Saturday Newsmaker" program, said
another theory is that the army would not permit Jose Napoleon Duarte, the
candidate of the Christian Democrats, to serve because of "philosophical
differences."
Duarte is a strong proponent of land redistribution and other reforms opposed
by the wealthy business interests that have major influence on the Army.
'You can posture different possibilities of COUPS-,'' Motley said. ''All I am
saying to you, in my assessment of the situation, I think the military there has
come to the position they're out to protect the election process.''
Motley, assistant secretary for Inter-American Affairs, avoided a direct
answer to ouestions on aid to CIA -backed rebels fighting the leftist
government of Nicaragua.
A mine outside a Nicaraguan port on Tuesday damaged a Soviet oil tanker,
prompting a strong protest by the kremlin.
But Motley, commenting?on the incident, noted that Salvadoran guerrillas
planted a mine on a runway at El Orajuelo last week, damaging a cargo plane
hauling ballot boxes for Sunday's election.
'If it's within the capability of Salvadoran guerrillas to mine an airfield,
then it is within the capability of Nicaraguan anti -Sandinista guerrillas to
mine parts,'' Motley said.
''I don't know if they are American mines or r1b.t, " he said.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000404420003-6