OFFER TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF U.S.G. ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTRAS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90B01370R000801110102-8
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 23, 2010
Sequence Number: 
102
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 3, 1984
Content Type: 
CABLE
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP90B01370R000801110102-8.pdf68.38 KB
Body: 
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801110102-8 ceroFisenr~ro~ PAGE 001 TOR: 031743Z DEC 84 OLL/LD INCOMING 00 RUEAIIB ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH STU6760 00 RUEHC DE RUFHFR #5795 3381640 ZNY CCCCC ZZH 0 031639Z DEC 84 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2794 BT CONF IDENT IALPARIS45795 E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR TAGS: PREL, PINS, NU, FR SUBJECT: OFFER TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF U.S.G. ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTRAS 2. SUMMARY: :I fRA t1S OEMIAU. A RESPECTED FRENCH OPPOSI1` Ml1ttylCIAN'M 1 GENTLY VISITED Impasm MtLLiM T O~fiAMpltr 45 lei ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTRAS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY; DENIAU WOULD BE A CREDIBLE WITNESS WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE AND VIEWS STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY. EMBASSY REQUESTS IMMEDIATE GUIDANCE. END SUMMARY 3. JEAN-FRANCOIS DENIAU, A RESPECTED OPPOSITION FIGURE WHO SERVED AS GISCARD'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, IS CURRENTLY DOING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE RIGHT-OF-CENTER FIGARO MAGAZINE. IN THIS CAPACITY HE SPENT TWELVE DAYS LATE THIS SUMMER WITH STEDMAN FAGOTH AND THE MISURA. HE DESCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCES AND THE STRUGGLE OF THE MISKITO INDIANS IN A LENGTHY COVER STORY WHICH APPEARED IN THE SEPTEMBER 8 EDITION OF THE FIGARO MAGAZINE. DENIAU CHARACTERIZED THE PLIGHT OF THE MISKITOS IN A MARXIST SOCIETY WITH NO PLACE FOR THEM AS SYMBOLICALLY EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF SAKHAROV, THE ERITREANS. OR THE CAMBODIANS. HE LAMENTED THE FAILURE OF THE WORLD TO RALLY SUFFICIENTLY TO THEIR DEFENSE. THE ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTED THE MARXIST-LENINIST NATURE OF THE SANDINISTA REGIME AND THE DISINFORMATION EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. NOTING THAT THE U.S. CONGRESS HAD RECENTLY CUT OFF USG FUNDING FOR THE CONTRA EFFORTS IN NICARAGUA, DENIAU POINTED ITT THAT"THE MISKITOS WERE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE THEIR 25X1 ~en~Fisero~+at Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801110102-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01: CIA-RDP90BO1370R000801110102-8 CONFIDENTIAL 84 5853231 SCO PAGE 002 NC 5853231 TOR: 031743Z DEC 84 STRUGGLE DESPITE CRITICAL SHORTAGES OF SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT. BUT HE WOULD CLEARLY PREFER TO SEE CONTINUED AID. 4. IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH ME, DENIAU EXPRESSED HIS WILLINGNESS TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE U.S. CONGRESS ON HIS EXPERIENCE IN NICARAGUA AND ON HIS VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RENEWING U.S.G. ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTRAS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. DENIAU IS A RESPECTED OPPOSITION FIGURE WHOSE VIEWS ON THIS ISSUE ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF USG POLICY. ARMED WITH HIS FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN NICARAGUA, YET COMING FROM FRANCE, WHICH HAS BEEN SKEPTICAL OF OUR CENTRAL AMERICAN POLICY, HE WOULD BE A VERY CREDIBLE AND PERSUASIVE WITNESS. 5. ACTION REQUESTED: EMBASSY WOULD APPRECIATE AT LEAST A PRELIMINARY REACTION TO THIS PROPOSAL ASAP FOR CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH DENIAU. GALBRAITH END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/03/01: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801110102-8