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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PDF icon CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1.pdf237.3 KB
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Sanitized - A oved For Release ? IA-RDP7J1617A000300110002-1 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 S ~ ~~SE ~'QR DE '~3"EGKE CxASSZEr~A 'IO Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA78-01617A00030011000YA0Z1o - -.-.#~rk1 rq~SL Sanitized - Appr d For Release : CIA-RDP78-0 17A000300110002-1 'D0umez~t -" NC CHANGE in Class. ^ DECLASSIFIED Class, CHANGFD~,Ti). TS DDA Memo 4 Auth: AD R 'G. 3. 7.7 Apr 77 Date: '~ ~~ By. O1o Sanitized - Approved For Release CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1 Sanitized - Awoved For Release : CIA-RDP7 1617A000300110002-1 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 -2 S&SOMM Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1 Sanitized - Ap ved For Release : CIA-RDP7 617A000300110002-1 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 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP78-01617A000300110002-1