SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Primarily routine, but occasionally substantive materials on U.S. foreign relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, bilaterally and on a regional basis. Materials are the reference and working files of Senior Staff Members for Latin America Stephen Low and David Lazar, and research assistant Mary Brownell.

QUANTITY
6 linear feet (12,000 pages)

DONOR
Gerald R. Ford (accession number 77-118)

ACCESS
Open, but some materials continue to be national security classified and restricted. Access is governed by the donor's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, and National Archives and Records Administration regulations (36 CFR 1256).

COPYRIGHT
Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

Prepared by Helmi Raaska, November 2002
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Provenance of the National Security Adviser Files

INTRODUCTION

The NSC Latin America Staff Files is one of many subcollections that comprise the National Security Adviser Files. In general, materials in Staff Files tend to be more routine in nature than those found in Presidential Files. They are non-record working and reference files maintained by staff members in their offices.

The Latin American Affairs staff, composed of a senior staff member, research assistant, and one or two secretaries, had an office in Room 380 of the Old Executive Office Building. Stephen Low became senior staff member during the Nixon administration in 1974. Mr. Low, a foreign service officer, served with the State Department in various locations from 1956-68. He was a counselor at the U.S. embassy in Brazil from 1968-71, and then director of the Office of Brazilian Affairs at the State Department until he joined the NSC staff. In August 1976 Stephen Low was appointed ambassador to Zambia and David Lazar was hired as senior staff member. Mr. Lazar began his career in the late 1950s in the general counsel’s office of the International Cooperation Administration, predecessor to the Agency for International Development (AID). He later served with AID in Peru, Bolivia, Panama, and South Vietnam. In the 1970s Mr. Lazar was general counsel of the Inter-American Foundation, director of the office of Central American affairs at the State Department, deputy to the secretary for economic and social development affairs at the Organization of American States (OAS), and senior adviser to the permanent representative to OAS. At the end of the Ford administration Mr. Lazar returned to AID to be deputy assistant administrator of the Latin American bureau. Mary Brownell was the research assistant, and she was on the staff when President Ford came to office in August 1974.

Much of what the staff did involved responding to comments and inquiries received directly from members of Congress or their constituents. They were a contact point for the Legislative branch, American businesses, inter-American organizations, and the general public, and were often called upon to assist in providing constituent services. The staff was frequently asked for help on behalf of American citizens who had family members either missing or detained in Latin American jails or American companies that were experiencing problems in their various host countries. The Latin American Affairs staff regularly updated briefing materials and Qs and As for the President and Vice President. They prepared talking papers, schedule proposals, and courtesy messages.

Scope and Content of the Materials
Latin American Affairs Staff Files are in two series, a Country File and a General Subject File. In both of these series, the most substantive materials relate to U.S. relations with Panama, Mexico, Cuba, and Chile. Some of the issues concerning relations with each of these countries are described in the following paragraphs.

The strongest materials in this collection pertain to Panama, particularly to negotiations for a new Panama Canal treaty. The materials contain information on the background and history of the Canal, negotiating history, current negotiating instructions, disagreements between the State and Defense Departments over the negotiation process, and the impact of the 1976 presidential campaign on the negotiations. A large volume of correspondence from members of Congress and the general public on the negotiations and future status of the Canal is included in the files. Information is also available on toll increases at the Canal, military aid, and the disestablishment of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Panama.

Among the issues in U.S.- Mexican relations are undocumented Mexican workers in the U.S., control of drug traffic, fishing rights, Mexico’s oil resources, and the treatment of Americans held in Mexican jails. The materials also provide information on a Mexican proposal in the United Nations for a Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. Briefing materials and memoranda of conversations for President Ford’s meetings with Mexican leaders are included in the files.

Materials concerning Cuba are found throughout the collection. These materials concern U.S.-Cuban relations, relations between Cuba and other countries in the hemisphere, trade sanctions, and the position of the Organization of American States regarding Cuba. Information is also available on Cubana Airlines overflights of U.S. territory, political prisoner Lawrence Lunt, and Angola. The files include correspondence from members of Congress and the general public regarding these issues.

Materials on Chile primarily address U.S. economic and military assistance to the country and allegations of human rights abuses there.

In terms of other countries, the files contain information on fishing rights in Brazil and Ecuador, Venezuelan oil, narcotics control in Colombia, and earthquake disaster relief for Guatemala. Materials are also available on Puerto Rico and consideration of its future status. General issues within the hemisphere include U.S. trade policy, assistance to developing countries, human rights, terrorism, Law of the Sea negotiations, and the Organization of American States.

The files show a pattern of communication between the Latin American Affairs staff and Jon Howe of Vice President Rockefeller’s staff. These materials reflect the Vice President’s long-standing and continuing interest in the region and the personal relationships he had with Latin American leaders.

Related Materials (November 2002)
The most closely related materials are in the Presidential Country Files for Latin America. Several categories of White House Central Files Subject File, especially country files, contain related materials. Researchers can identify the file locations of additional materials relating to Latin America or to specific countries from PRESNET search reports, which are available upon request.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Country File, 1974-1977.  (Boxes 1‑8, 3.0 linear feet)
Memoranda, telegrams, briefing papers, Qs and As, routine courtesy messages, and correspondence concerning U.S. bilateral relations with countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. The materials are particularly relevant to issues concerning Panama and Panama Canal treaty negotiations, Mexico, Cuba and Chile. Issues concerning U.S. relations with Latin American countries include fishing rights, human rights, economic assistance, disaster relief, narcotics control, illegal aliens, trade, and economic development.

Arranged alphabetically by country

View container list for this series

General Subject File, 1972-77. (Boxes 8‑15, 3.0 linear feet)
Memoranda, correspondence, briefing papers, memoranda of conversations, press guidance, Qs and As, and drafts of speeches and messages concerning U.S.-Latin American relations on a regional basis and with individual countries. Also manuals and procedures for operation of the office and guidelines for dealing with various contingencies. Issues of note include relations with Cuba, Panama Canal Treaty negotiations, the status of Puerto Rico, fishing rights, Law of the Sea negotiations, human rights, trade policy, and relationships within the United Nations and Organization of American States. The files contain good materials on President Ford’s meetings with President Echeverria, President-Elect Lopez Portillo, and Secretary of Foreign Relations Emilio Rabasa of Mexico, and President Lopez of Colombia. Materials are also available on the appointments of ambassadors and envoys and Bicentennial gifts and visits to the U.S.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

View container list for this series

CONTAINER LIST

Box 1 - Country File

• Antilles/West Indies
• Argentina - Economic, Social
• Argentina - Political, Military
• Argentina - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Bahamas
• Bahamas - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Barbados
• Barbados - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Belize - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Bermuda - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Bolivia - Economic, Social
• Bolivia - Political, Military
• Bolivia - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Brazil - Economic, Social
• Brazil - Fisheries Problem
• Brazil - Political, Military (1)-(4)
• Brazil - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Chile - Economic, Social
• Chile - Political, Military (1)-(3)
• Chile - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Colombia - Economic, Social
• Colombia - Political, Military
• Colombia - Routine Courtesy Messages

Box 2 - Country File.

• Costa Rica - Political, Military
• Costa Rica - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Cuba - Congressional (1)-(2)
• Cuba - Correspondence on (1)-(7)
• Cuba - Cubana Airlines Crash
• Cuba - Cubana Airlines Overflights (1)-(2)
• Cuba - Economic, Social
• Cuba - Economic, Social - Sanctions (1)-(3)
• Cuba - Hijacking
• Cuba - Political, Military (1)-(3)

Box 3 - Country File

• Cuba - Political Prisoners (Lunt, etc.), (1)-(4)
• Cuba - President's Qs and As
• Cuba - Scientists' Problems (open entry policy, etc.), (1)-(2)
• Curacao - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Dominican Republic - Economic, Social
• Dominican Republic - Political, Military
• Dominican Republic - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Ecuador - Economic, Social
• Ecuador - Political, Military (1)-(3)
• Ecuador - Routine Courtesy Messages
• El Salvador - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Grenada
• Grenada - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Guatemala - Earthquake (1)-(4)
• Guatemala - Political Courtesy Messages
• Guatemala - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Guyana - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Haiti - Economic, Development, Social
• Haiti - Political, Military
• Haiti - Routine Courtesy Messages

Box 4 - Country File

• Honduras - Political, Military
• Honduras - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Jamaica - Economic, Development, Social (1)-(2)
• Jamaica - Political, Military
• Jamaica - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Mexico - Economic, Social (1)-(2)
• Mexico - Fisheries Agreement (1)-(4)
• Mexico - Fronczak Case (1)-(3)
• Mexico - Mexico-US Interparliamentary Conference
• Mexico - Narcotics Problem (Operation Intercept), (1)-(2)
• Mexico - Political, Military (1)-(2)

Box 5 - Country File

• Mexico - Political, Military (3)-(5)
• Mexico - Prisoners in (1)-(4)
• Mexico - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Nicaragua - Political, Military
• Nicaragua - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Panama - Capture of Sea Wolf
• Panama - Correspondence - Harman, Philip (1)-(2)
• Panama - Correspondence Relating To (1)-(7)

Box 6 - Country File

• Panama - Correspondence Relating To (8)-(11)
• Panama - Economic, Social
• Panama - Political, Military (1)-(2)
• Panama - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Panama - SOUTHCOM (US Southern Command) (1)-(2)
• Panama Canal - Background and Briefing Material (1)-(5)
• Panama Canal - Congress (1)-(4)

Box 7 - Country File

• Panama Canal - Congress (5)-(10)
• Panama Canal - President's Qs and As (1)-(3)
• Panama Canal - Toll Increase (1)-(4)
• Panama Canal - Treaty Negotiations (1)-(8)

Box 8 - Country File

• Panama Canal - Treaty Negotiations - Congress: Snyder Amendment
• Paraguay - Political, Military
• Paraguay - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Peru - Economic, Social
• Peru - Political, Military (1)-(3)
• Peru - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Surinam - Political, Military
• Surinam - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Trinidad-Tobago - Political, Military
• Trinidad-Tobago - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Uruguay - Routine Courtesy Messages
• Venezuela - Economic, Social
• Venezuela - Political, Military (1)-(2)
• Venezuela - Routine Courtesy Messages

Box 8 (Continued) - General Subject File

• Administrative - General (1)-(2)
• AID - General
• Bicentennial (1)-(4)
• Caribbean - General

Box 9 - General Subject File

• CIA
• Coffee - General
• Commission on US-Latin American Affairs (1)-(3)
• Congressional - General (1)-(2)
• Congressional - Mexico (1)-(2)
• Credentials/Agreements (1)-(5)

Box 10 - General Subject File

• Economics - General
• Fisheries
• Human Rights (1)-(2)
• Inter-American Defense College
• Inter-American Development Bank - Replenishment
• Inter-American Social Development Institute - Inter-American Foundation
• Issues and Accomplishments in Latin America (1)-(3)
• Kidnapping/Terrorism
• Kissinger - Appointments, Talkers
• Latin America
• Law of the Sea (1)-(2)
• Messages from the President - Routine Courtesy
• Messages to the President - After the Election
• Messages to the President - Upon the Assassination of Ambassador Meloy and Counselor Waring
• Military Assistance (1)-(2)
• Military Exercises (1)-(3)

Box 11 - General Subject File

• Military Exercises (4)-(5)
• Miscellaneous - Post-January 1, 1975 (1)-(4)
• Organization of American States - Routine Courtesy Messages
• President Ford - Appointments (1)-(10)
• President Ford - Briefings, August-September 1974
• President Ford - General (1)-(4)

Box 12 - General Subject File

• President Ford - Memcon - August 9, 1974 - Latin American Ambassadors
• President Ford - Memcon - August 29, 1974 - Emilio Rabasa, Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mexico
• President Ford - Memcon - September 21, 1974 - Alberto Juan Vicente Vignes, Foreign Minister, Argentina
• President Ford - Memcon - September 29, 1974 - Antonio Azeredo da Silveira, Foreign Minister, Brazil
• President Ford - Photograph Requests
• President Ford - Qs and As (1)-(9)
• President Ford - Speech Draft - April 1975 - Foreign Policy Address to Congress
• President Ford - Speech Draft - January 1976 - State of the Union
• President Ford - Speech Draft - March 1976 - State of the World (1)-(4)
• President Ford - Speech Draft - May 1976 - Portland Speech [Foreign Policy]
• President Ford - Speech Draft - May 1976 - Naval Academy Commencement
• President Ford - Speech Draft - June 1976 - Puerto Rico Arrival Statement

Box 13 - General Subject File

• Press (1)-(3)
• Puerto Rico (1)-(7)
• San Jose Conference - July 1975
• Security/Subversion - State Department Guidelines for Dealing with Terrorism
• Surplus Disposal - Tin
• Trade Policy (1)-(2)
• Trip - President's Meeting with President Echeverria of Mexico, October 21, 1974 (1)-(5)
• Trips - US Officials

Box 14 - General Subject File

• United Nations
• Vice President (1)-(12)
• Vice President - Qs and As (1)-(8)

Box 15 - General Subject File

• Visit - September 25-26, 1975 - President Lopez of Colombia (1)-(8)
• Visit - September 7, 1976 - President Echeverria of Mexico [meeting of Presidents not held]
• Visit - September 14, 1976 - President Geisel of Brazil [canceled]
• Visit - September 24, 1976 - President-Elect Lopez Portillo of Mexico (1)-(3)
• Visit - October 5, 1976 - President Perez of Venezuela [canceled]
• Visits - General (1)-(2)