STAFF NOTES: LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS SEPTEMBER 10, 1975[SANITIZED] - 1975/09/10

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02691653
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
21
Document Creation Date: 
April 3, 2019
Document Release Date: 
April 12, 2019
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 10, 1975
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon STAFF NOTES LATIN AMERICA[15524938].pdf528.55 KB
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 g'l TP Kir - Secret- Latin American Trends pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 sficrtr 132 September 10, 1975 No. 0526/75 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 3.5(c) NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com- munity by the Western Hemisphere Divisio-i, Office of Current Intelligence, with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to the authors of the individual articles. CONTENTS September 10, 1975 Argentina: Civilians Encourage Military Intervention Argentina: Major Scandal Unlikely 9 r,pcyv pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR � . 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 5.Beit6 Argentina: Civilians Encourage Military Intervention A group of conservative businessmen, dismayed by Argentina's unchecked economic disintegration, has re- portedly been encouraging some military officers to overthrow President Peron's government. 3.5(c) 3.3(b)(1) that during July the businessmen were sounding out the willingness of a number of generals to make such a move. The army joint staff has since received an anonymous document arguing the economic justification for a coup in terms similar to those attributed to the civilian plotters. According to the 27-page document, Peronist eco- nomic programs have produced a large fiscal deficit, discouraged investment, caused productivity to drop, and raised the cost of essential imports through fre- quent devaluations. The document also attacks the re- establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba and warns that, unless current policies are abandoned, the government will soon be dominated by leftists. The paper asserts that continuing political turmoil has weakened defense capabilities and that Argentina's in- fluence in Latin America has declined in comparison to that of its longtime rival, Brazil. The identity of the document's authors apparently is not known to the military, but the members of the army joint staff reportedly consider the document an accurate assessment of the present situation and a good rationale for military intervention. Some high-ranking officers would probably back a move to oust President Peron now, but most are apparently waiting until they feel assured of massive popular support. They hesitate to repeat the military's past mistake of attempting to govern without substantial civilian backing. -1 - September 10, 1975 si Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 3.5(c) Argentina: Major Scandal Unlikely Peronist legislators have side-tracked Radical Party efforts to investigate the financial dealings of President Peron and former social welfare minister Jose Lopez Rega. The controversy was touched off by press reports in mid-August that President Peron had diverted about $800,000 from Peronist welfare funds to her late husband's estate. Spokesmen for Mrs. Peron blame the improper transfer on her lawyer--former Interior Min- ister Benitez--and claim that she is taking steps to correct the mistake. Other Peronists, however, have attempted to defend the action by noting that the check was intended to cover a portion of the inheritance due the sisters of Peron's former wife Evita. They also argue that only a fraction of the amount congress ap- propriated to Juan Peron two years ago in restitution for property confiscated during his overthrow in 1955 had been put into his account. The Radicals claim that their repeated requests for a full accounting of the amount budgeted for restitution have not been answered by the government. The Radicals have been fairly low-key in their ef- forts to launch an inquiry. Their proposal, which would set up a special investigatory commission, suggests a calculated effort to gain favorable publicity for the party while avoiding an uncontrolled escalation of the debate on political corruption. The Peronists have nevertheless responded to the disclosures with great apprehension, probably out of fear that a thorough in- vestigation would reveal extensive misuse of government funds by Mrs. Peron's administration. September 10, 1975 -9 - gACR'E Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 3.5(c) Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 sERr Because the problem of graft is endemic throughout the Argentine political system, it is rarely a topic of public debate. The surfacing of this issue is an obvious attempt by President Peron's opponents to force her from office. The aanger of such an action, however, is that a scandal of major proportions would discredit civilian politics in general in the eyes of military leaders and orob7bly much of the general population. -10- Septembei 10, 1975 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691653 NR