NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001100060006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 1999
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 16, 1959
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2001/08/14: CIA-RDP79R0089OA001100060006-3
AU T H: Hrs 70-2 NICARAGUA
4 4
DATE, R'EVI VER: 372044
Collapse of rebellion temporarily bolsters Somoza regime, but
threats to government, both external and internal, will continue.
A. Rebel leaders captured on 13 June, ending'invasion effort" begun
31 May. About 20 rebels still wandering aimlessly in hills,
and their capture expected soon.
1. Very little bloodshed, due restraint Nicaraguan forces.
Rebel leaders, mostly from prominent, wealthy families,
can expect prison terms, not firing squads,
Business leaders appear chastened after failure their
strike first week of June,
13. Exiles reported plotting new invasions and may receive support
from Venezuela and Cuba. Failure of recent rebellion, led by
moderates, may lead opposition to accept Communist support.
1. We have reports from that arms
25X1X6
C.
San Jose 10 June that Castro had, in fact, promised aid to
Nicaraguan revolt and that "all is lost to Communist in
Nicaragua" unless Somoza brothers leave now.
and men from Venezuela arriving on Cuban Isle of Pines for
transfer to Nicaragua.
There is some Cuban army buildup on Isle of Pines possibly
to support action against Nicaragua (or the Dominican
Republic), but more likely in response to rumors of
counterrevolutionary plotting against Cuba.
told US Ambassador in
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1. Soviet lecturer in Moscow on 17 May said "among ourselves,"
Raul Castro is a Communist,
2. Nicaraguan exiles in Cuba, Venezuela and some in other
places are Communist-led.
3. We have reports that Nicaraguan exiles in El Salvador and
Guatemala moving to Honduras for new invasion effort.
II, Over the long run, Somoza regime is bucking climate of opinion in
Caribbean area that its days are numbered--that it is dictatorship
and all dictators on way out.
A. This line, nurtured by persons like Figueres and Betancourt as
well as by Communists, probably in part responsible for decided
coolness to Nicaraguan position in OAS,
1. OAS finally sent investigating team to area 15 June two
weeks after Nicaraguans asked for help,
B. In fact, President Luis Somoza, who succeeded his father in
1956 and was subsequently elected in own right, has tried to
liberalize his regime.
1. Until 30 May, when civil rights were suspended in anticipa-
tion of revolt, there was complete freedom of press and
assembly.
2. Businessmen's hostility to regime due largely to current
economic downturn and to government's tax program which
favored lower classes.
3. Somoza has promised free election at end of his term in
1963 and that his successor will not be family member; in
effort counteract opposition line that "Somoza dynasty"
will continue after 1963 under General Anastasio Somoza,
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president's brother and military chief,
4. Whatever Somoza does, however, he still handicapped by
Somoza name--a symbol of dictatorship--and by wide resent-
ment over tremendous xealth built up by family over past
25 years.
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