ALLEGED ARGENTINE PARTICIPATION IN RECENT LATIN AMERICAN MILITARY COUPS
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
4
Document Creation Date:
November 9, 2016
Document Release Date:
July 21, 1998
Sequence Number:
2
Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 30, 1948
Content Type:
IM
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CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1.pdf | 237.3 KB |
Body:
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S ET
CEN
Uk AGENCY
30 December 1948
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM NO. 110
SUBJECT: Alleged Argentine Participation in Recent Latin American
Military Coultas.
CIA has no credible evidence to ubsteatlate, and sees no reason
to place credence In allegations that: (1) Argentina participated in favor
of the military in recent revolts and attempted revolts against several
Latin American governments; or (2) Argentina Is now engaged in a
planned campaign of intervention in the affairs of other countries with
the Intention of assisting in setting up Latin American governments
favorably disposed to Argentina.
Concerning the first point, it can only be said that there Ia. no evidence
that the Argentine government has actually engaged in activities to assist
the revolts and attempted revolts that have so far taken place.
Support for the sec and point is alleged to be found in the fact that
Argentina promptly recognized the military governments in both Peru
and Venezuela., Such prompt recognition is, however, consistent with
general Argentine policy of continuing diplomatic relations despite changes
in governments, and needs no special eaplaaatIan in the cane of Pern and
Venezuela. Another example of charges made is that by a Chilean radio
station: namely, that Bogota Resolution XXXV an continuance of diplo is
relations was introduced by Argentina to facilitate military revolts.
Actually, this proposal was first brought forward by Mexico. It was sup-
ported by Argentina, the DondMcan Rs iig1 and Ecuador; and was opposed
initially by Chile and Peru.
The Argentine government is ungoestionably carrying out a long-range
program designed to extend Argentine influence throughput Latin America
through propaganda and economic penetration. There is reason to believe
that Argentina considers mtfary-dominated governments favorable to that
end. Argentina military representatives abroad, and their civilian colleagues
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as well, consistently engage in vigorous propaganda efforts in favor of
Peron-type governments der military control t:t ba-scd o is or sap-
port. They also agitate is favor of close association of the other A r-
ican republics with Argentina. The activities of these repregenta Ives
furthermore occastonally pass the bounds of discretion and inter-
national good-taste. ("Deere is also a report that might indicate
%rgentine promise of some support for a planned revolt in Ecuador.)
There is, however, no evidence that the Argentine government has
undertaken 'a concerted.politicael drive against the other coin tries,
gall assistance
or that it has furnished or promised to furnish any act
in carrying out the revolts that have occurred. The situation in the
countries more frequently mentioned in these charges is as follows:
Peru - I%e neareatt approach to evidence that the Argentine gevern-
mencwas connected with M9330 October ousting of President Bustamante
25X1 X4 is a=report that the Ecuadoran Ambass>>dor to Peru held cancelled
checks drawn by high Argentine officials in favor of Peruvian army officers
and dated prior to the coup. It is hardly probable that Argentine officials
would leave so plain a trail, 25X1 X4
25X 1X4 =it has been impossible to verify this report. All field sources agree
with US Embassy Lima that there. is no confirmation of the many rumors
that Argentina was implicated in the revolt.
Venezuela - Former President Betancourt has given no proof of his
allegatlt Argentina.. had ' collaborated in the Venezuelan army's late-
November overthrow of the Gallegos government, nor have other charges
of Argentine particlpatibn been substantiated.
Chile -'The Chilean government requested the recall of the first
secretary of the Argentine Em iaesy in SantiM an the ''me that he
had urged a Chilean general to partidlpate in a conspiracy against the
government. In addition,. glean President Gonzalez has referred to
undisclosed evidence of Argentine complicity in this unsuccessful effort
of disaffected army elements to overthrow his government early in
November. It Is conceivable that President Ooaazdlez may have been
referring to photostatic copies of checks allegedly sent from Argentina
to finance a revolt in Chile.
It is, however, unlikely that, if the President actually had
such evidence, he would have withheld it throughout the controversy
with Argentina relative to the recall of the Embassy secretary. Although
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the Chilean Government continues to assert its charge of Argentine
intervention and has eves intimated that it might be a matter for a
rulfng by an International court, there has recently appeared a dis-
position an the part at the Chilean Government not to press the issue.
revealed.
No clear evidence of Argentine complicity has been
Ecuador - Argentine representatives in Quito are reliably reported
to be cam, oseTy aeaociated with a military-led opposition group that seeks
the overthrow of the Gal* Plana government The Argentine cultural
attache is reported by one -source to have offered financial assistance
to this group, but the report has not been confirmed. The Ecuadoran
defense minister has charged that Argentine agents have smuggled
arms to support a military coup in Ecuador. He has, however, given
no proof of this. In support of his further allegation that Argentina is
generally fomenting Lathe American revolutions, he cited only unveri-
fied reports of the ice of cashed Argentine checks to favor of
Peruvian army officem
El Salvador - There Is no evidence of Argentine participation in
the recen revolt
t
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