295. Editorial Note

Despite assurances from Paraguayan President Alfredo Stroessner’s advisors that they were pushing Stroessner to allow an IAHRC visit to be scheduled, by late 1978 Department officials became convinced that Stroessner would not allow the visit in defiance of the wishes of other Southern Cone governments. (Telegram 3213 from Asuncion, August 5, 1978; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780321-1223) (C) Even without an IAHRC visit scheduled, U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay Robert E. White assured Washington in April that the U.S. human rights policy had “caused a rift within the government of Paraguay” and that Paraguay’s human rights “record has already begun to show improvement,” although he believed that no “easing” of the U.S. policy was warranted since he was “skeptical that the release of prisoners arrested without cause and held without due process should be rewarded.” (Telegram 1359 from Asuncion, April 4, 1978; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780148-0149) (S)

The USG continued to press Asunción to improve particular problems in the Paraguayan human rights situation while also focusing on regional policy questions. In July 1979, White sought to preserve U.S. influence in Paraguay, particularly with the lower ranks in the Paraguayan military, by recommending approval of commercial sales of non-lethal military equipment. (Telegram 3298 from Asuncion, July 19, 1979; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790333-0838) (S) In their October 1979 meeting, Deputy Secretary Warren Christopher and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Alberto Nogues discussed at length the imprisonment of Paraguayan opposition politician Domingo Laino, but the IAHRC was not mentioned. (Telegram 262387 to Asuncion, October 6, 1979; National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790459-0026) (C) The IAHRC did not visit Paraguay during the Carter administration.