MARCH ELECTIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730009-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: November 11, 1998
• Content Type: IR

Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730009-8
25X1
C(ZIDE9ZL.I.
CENTRAL HI TELUUGENCE GROUP
INTELLIGENCE REPORT
SUE.IECT March Elections
LI
.
DATE:
DIST. 30 April 1947
PACES 2
SUPPLEMENT
The following information, reportedly foreign broadcast from Bogota, in
Spanish W.irseto North and South America 23 April 1947, concerns the March
elections in Colombia:
"The Cabinet named today by President Ospina Perez follows the policy
of national unity that has been preached by the present chief executive
since he took office, with equal representation for both parties, since
the 12 portfolios are divided among six Liberals and six Traditional Con-
survatives. The following Conservative Ministers-Urdaneta Arbelaez;
Interior,;' Perez, Finance; Zuleta Angel, Education; and Daw.ila Tello,
Communications--keep their portfolios. The other two Conservatives in
the Cabinet are Alejandro Cabal Pombo, for Justice, and Luis Ignacio
Andrade, who is manager of EL SIGLO, for Public Works.
"Among the six Liberal Ministers, four belong to Jorge Eliecer
Gaitanvs faction and two are followers of Santos. The two latter are
Luis Lopez de Mesa, who returns to the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, and
Fabio Lozano Lozano, who was Colombian Ambassador to Caracas, as War
Ministers)
"The four Gaitanista Ministers are the lawyer Jarami1lo Arbolaez,
Labor; the noted doctor Pedro Eli.seo Cruz, Health; fonner Piinister and
diplcmat !loises Prieto, Economy; and Francisco do P. Vargas, Liberal
party boss of Bolivar Department, Mines and Petroleum,.
"In its general lines the cabinet is well received by the press and
the public. The larger representation given the Caitanista faction in
the Liberal ranks is interpreted as a recognition of the electoral facts,
since in the last elections it received a sizable majority over the
opposing Liberal forceo0
"Ex President Eduardo Santos, together with his wife, flew to the
United States on his way to Europe. In statements to the press, Santos
favored collaboration by the Liberals with the Ospina Perez Government
in order to help meet the difficult, situation the country is in because
of postwar problems.
"Santos will spend several months in England and France.
Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730009-8
 Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730009-8
CONFIDENTIAL 25X1
(AP) "The National Conservative Board answered, in a long message,
addressed to the President of the Republic, an appeal on "a report of
insults" sent a few days ago by the Liberal leader, "Jorge Eliecer Gaitan,
to President Ospina in which Gaitan says that the Conservatives have
created an atmosphere of anxiety which. disturbs theitranquility of the
country. The Conservative Directory notes chronologically the "Victims"
of the Liberals in all the country beginning Jarraary 1947 - a list which
adds up to kl dead and hundreds of wounded."
This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the gn$ted States
within the meaning of the r5spionage Act, 50,
U.S.C. 31 and 32 as amended. Itd transmission
or the revelation of its contents in my manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by lave.
Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730009-8