IMPROVEMENT OF INTERNAL SECURITY IN LATIN AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000900050065-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 3, 2003
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: January 22, 1960
• Content Type: MF

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cc: 1 ICI
D$P `CI
ImId (19 January 1.960 )
Distribution:
Orig & 1 Addressee
Signer
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1 - CQPB
I - C/CI
Z-CIAI
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Dulles
I have sent a copy of this memorandum td
After you have noted, I will show this to
General Cabell and send it on to DD/P
I -jar comment.
STAT
STAT
ATE)
FORM O. ioi REPLACES FORM 10-101
1 AUG54 Y WHICH MAY BE USED.
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MEMORANDUM FOR:
Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT .
Improvement of Internal Security in
Latin America
REFERENCES :
A.
B.
OSD (80) Memorandum to CIA dated
31 December 1959, same subject
CIA Memorandum for Members of USIB dated
22 October 1959, same subject
1. Paragraph 6 of this memorandum recommends your action
in the form of a memorandum for the Assistant to the Secretary
of Defense (Special Operations) replying to reference A.
2. General Erskine's memorandum, which comments on
reference B. makes the following principal points:
(a) Defense concurs in CIA's view that USIB shoul3
remain primarily responsible for coordination of the
U. S. intelligence effort in support of Latin American
programs.
(b) While the Department of Defense will be most
happy to explore ways to coordinate joint efforts in
improvement of internal security in Latin America, it
considers that such improved coordination can best be
achieved by utilizing existing mechanisms. General
Erskine's office therefore does not believe that creation
of a new coordinating group or committee would contribute
toward the end of improved coordination.
SEC E i
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(c) Particular note is made of revised procedures
currently being worked out between the Departments of
Defense and State for handling Mutual Security Program
matters. These procedures are stated to envision the
development of jointly agreed Mutual Security Objectives
Plans (MSOP's) for each country being assisted under the
program. Guidance on internal security assistance will
be included in the ? OP's, including programs of assistance
to foreign military forces in the internal security field.
3. You will recall that paragraph 5 of reference B stated
that CIA was contacting Assistant Secretary Rubottom's office
at State to recommend the establishment of a working group t
undertake overall coordination of programs designed to strengthen
internal security in Latin American countries. In Agency
discussions with State in this regard it had been emphasized
that what was required was an informal inter-agency group at
the Assistant Secretary level, composed of individuals with
direct responsibilities for operations of their respective d part-
ments or agencies. It was felt that participation of Departauent
of Defense representatives in such a group would most readily
ensure overall coordination of State, CIA and Defense activities
in terms of U. S. political objectives. Such an informal group
has been established composed of Assistant Secretary Rubottara,
Robert H. Knight, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International
Security Affairs at Defense, and the Chief, Western Hemisphere
Division, DDP/CIA. The extent to which this informal coordination
may be extended further to the working level is still under
consideration at State.
1+. General Erskine's memorandum has been discussed in-
formally with the working level in his office and it has been
determined that CIA's memorandum to members of the USIB was
interpreted in Defense as proposing the establishment of
another OCB-type working group. It was not clear to Defense
that CIA was proposing to the State Department establishment if
a higher level group that could deal more directly with operational
matters. On the basis of informal discussions with General Erskine's
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office, it is believed that Defense recognizes the advantagei?
of establishing such a coordinating group on an informal
basis at the level indicated.
5. In regard to the revised procedures currently being
worked out between State and Defense for the Mutual Security
Program, country MSOP's which contain guidance on operational
planning on internal security are of direct interest to CIA.
In practical terms, these documents will include statements of
courses of action to improve internal security such as were
formerly included in Overseas Internal Security Program documents.
It is considered essential that CIA participate in formulation
on the internal security sections of MSOP's that may be
developed under these revised procedures.
6. It is therefore recommended that the following action
be taken in regard to General Erskine's memorandum:
(a) The attached memorandum be forwarded to General
Erskine over your signature to clarify CIA's thinking
in regard to the coordinating group which was proposed
by the Agency to the Department of State and its current
status.
(b) That DDP/CIA be authorized to contact the office
of the Coordinator of the Mutual Security Program in the
Department of State for discussion of the revised procedures
for handling the Mutual Security Program. CIA's interest
will be emphasized in regard to MSOP's which contain
guidance on internal security assistance with a view to
inclusion of appropriate CIA representatives in discussions
leading to formulation of these documents.
James Angleton
Chief, Counter Intelligence Staff
1 Attachment
cc: DDCI ~lV The recommenda s c ntained in
DDC. paragraph 6 a e s re~ed:
CONCUR:
n
Deputy c r
(Plan )
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 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25. D. C.
b o -c1
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCI AGENCY
SUBJECT: Improvement of Internal Security in Latin America
REFERENCE: Your memorandum for Members of USIB, subject as above.
dated 22 October 1959
Your memorandum focuses attention on several matters of irtsmerti.=te
interest to this office. We share the concern which you express that our
overall effort to counteract subversion in Latin America be as mutually
supporting and well-coordinated as possible. This is essential in other
parts of the world as well, especially the unstable areas of Asia, the Middle
East and Africa.
With respect to the role of the various inter-agency coordinating
mechanisms to which you refer, we feel that the following principles sho;;ld
generally apply:
(a) The USIB is and should remain, in our view, primarily
responsible for coordination of the U. S. intelligence effort. With specify:
reference to countering communist subversion, USIB and its component
members should insure that the most accurate and up-to-date opera:iona-,
intelligence possible is available to the various departments and agencies
responsible for conducting programs in this field.
(b) The overall coordination of various departmental an r,
programs designed to counter communist subversion is the responsibility of
the Operations Coordinating Board. Within the OCB framework necessary
coordination should continue to be accomplished through the variety of ex-
isting mechanisms presently organized on both a functional and geographi?:
basis. Overall coordination of various programs in specific parts of the
world should be the responsibility of the various country and regional work-
ing groups. Functional coordination on a world-wide basis should be ac-
complished through the various mechanisms in existence for this pur-oose_
i. e. the "Task Force" on psychological matters, the "points of contact"
established by the OCB Ad Hoc Working Group on Overseas Internal Eecuritl,
Program, etc. The latter groups should maintain contact and coordinate with
the various geographic working groups as appropriate. To further comp i ate
this process by creating still another coordinating body would seem bath
duplicative and unnecessary. However, we share your belief that greater
coordination is possible. Therefore, it is suggested that ways be sought
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to utilize the various existing mechanisms referred to above in order to
make them more useful and productive. This office is responsible for
functional coordination at the Washington level on behalf of the Departme:a-
of Defense on foreign counter subversion matters. We will be most. happy
to explore ways of making our joint efforts in this field as closely coordi-
nated as possible.
In addition to better coordination, we feel strongly that a revital-
ization of some of our programs is also desirable especially in the field
of internal security assistance to other nations under the Mutual Security
Program. As you may know, revised procedures for handling MSF are
currently being worked out between State and Defense. These procedures
envision the development of jointly agreed Mutual Security Objectives
Plans (MSOPs) for each country being assisted. Thus one document
will serve as guidance for the appropriate courses of action under (SF
in order to assure more integrated effort towards achievement of U. S.
objectives in each country. Guidance on internal security assistance
will be included in the MSOP. Within this general framework we hope to
develop specific and meaningful programs of assistance to foreign military
forces in the internal security field and develop a mechanism for irnple
menting these programs in timely manner.
In summary, this office concurs in the need for a more effective
program of anti-Communist effort in Latin America as well as other
regions; however, we do not believe that the creation of a new group or
committee would contribute toward this end. Please be assured that I
am anxious to contribute in any way possible,, using machinery now avail-
able toward elimination of Communist influence in Latin America.
r
General, USMC (Ret.)
Assistant to the
Secretary of Defense
(Special Operations)
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USIB -D-4E. 4/ 2
22 October 195c)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
MEMORANDUM FOR : Members of the United States
Intelligence Board
SUBJECT Improverrent of Internal Sec!ur;ty
in Latin America
1. The trend of events in Latin America gives cause for.in-
creasing concern with particular attention to the development of
conditions which can be profitably exploited by the Communists.
Therefore, it is essential that U. S. efforts to counteract the Corr, munists be conducted on an across-the-board basis, be mutually
supporting, and be well coordinated from planning to execution.
2. Current U. S. activities to counter Communist subversion
in Latin America involve numerous elements within the Govern-
ment. The over-all coordination of these activities at the "summit"
stems from the NSC, but below that level is divided between the
OCB and the USIB. There is, of course, continuing day-to-bay
coordination between the departments and agencies involved, and
some ad hoc working groups are in operation. However, in con-
sidering ways and means to achieve the highest degree of effective-
ness in this effort, I believe that a more comprehensive coordina-
tion between all operational elements involved would be beneficial.,
3. The primary role of the intelligence community win- respect
to the U. S. effort to counteract Communist subversion in Latin
America is to collect the esse,:Z.ial information required and pro-
duce the intelligence necessary to support this effort. In addtion_
there are resources under the control of various Board members
that are now participating in the effort and can, in the future, play
a more aggressive role. A case in point is the program being
developed by the Army which General Willems described to us soma
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USIB -D-48.4 /2
22 October 1959
months ago. You will recall that this contemplates a revitalized
joint program involving full participation by all of the Military
Departments. Specifically, the Army program envisages increased
i
Admiral Frost
proposed consideration of the establishment of a Special Cor-imitt??e
within the Inter-American Defense Board to provide for a more
effective exchange of information concerning Communist subversion
and related matters.
4. We should examine all possibilities for improving the effec -
tiveness
f
o
any resources we may have available f6r'thi$ effort.
activities in Latin America. ersion and relat,id
support of U. S. efforts to counter Communist -7-, y ec e to thc~
The primary objective of the USIB should bet sseek ways
and means for ensuring the participation of every resource within
the intelligence community that can be appropriate) dir t d
5. Within the area of the OCB's cognizance, a wide range of
activities are carried on in furtherance of the U. S. counterattack
against the Communist effort in Latin America. These incluc
owever, over-all co-
ordination is lacking and should be provided, particularly at this
time when we are trying for increased efforts all along the line.
CIA is contacting Assistants-&cretary Rubottom's office at the
Department of State to recommend the establishment of a working
group to undertake such over-all coordination.
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22 October 1959
6. With regard to those activities that are under the cog:-izance
of the USIB and pertinent to the problem of countering Comniunist
subversion in Latin America, I suggest that those members of our
respective organizations who are responsible for the day-to-day
running of the activities involved make every effort to ensure tha .
the intelligence community will provide full support to the w--rkinw
group noted in paragraph 5 above. Careful coordination in this
regard within your organization should result in making possible
a U. S. effort of maximum effectiveness.
ALLEN W. J~ftJLLES
Direc r
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