COMMUNISM IN LATIN AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200150002-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 17, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved- For Release 2000/0 1-0 443R000200150002-3
NSC BRIEFING 17 February 1954
COMMUNISM IN LATIN AMERICA
1. Topic will rece-ive some attention at
10th Inter-American Conference -
Caracas - 1 March.
II. Increased Communist interest in Latin
America over past two years.
A. Activity of Soviet and Satellite
missions.
1. Credentials presented in eight
countries, in addition to five
existing missions in Argentina,
Uruguay, Brazil, Ecuador, and
Mexico.
2. Trade pact between Argentina
and USSR may stimulate others.
Increase in Latin American travel
behind Iron Curtain - Communist
subsidized.
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1. 900 Latin Americans last six
months 1953.
2. Greatly increased Latin
Bucharest, August 600.
organization conferences in 1953
with travel in Orbit countries.
C. Communist leaders trained or visit-
ing in Moscow or Orbit in 1953.
1. Secretaries General four
parties sand one other top
party official.
2. Other Communist present or
potential leaders also in
Orbit.
American representation at
international Communist meet-
ings WFTU, in Vienna, October
160. World Youthstival,
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3. European Communist leaders have
in return visited Communist
or front conferences in Latin
America.
4. Communist training schools and
programs reactivated or begun.
'III. Communist influence varies - negligible
only in Dominican Republic or Haiti.
A. Guatemala.Influence Arbenz, control
labor, dominate agrarian reform.
1. Increased voting strength in
January 1953 and December 1953
elections.
2. Party strength up from 500 to
3,000 in 1953.
3. Opposition divided.
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B. Brazil.
1. Party recruitment broadened
under "united national front."
a. Membership up from 65,000
to 110,000 in 1953.
2. Strength growing in organized
labor.
a. Labor minister using
Communists to build own
machine.
C. Chile.
1. Increasing strength in organized
labor from rising inflation.
2. Communist influence energetic
in nitrate fields, coal mines,
copper workers' federation.
3. Influence in workingmen's
newspapers.
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IV. At Caracas.
A. US resolutions want controls on
Communist propaganda and inter-
national travel.
1. Most Latin American governments
do not see Communism as threat
connected with Soviet Union.
B. Most Latin American governments will
vote for resolution condemning Com-
munism.
1. Little interest.
2. Greater interest in economic
problems and colonialism.
3. Fear giving impression of inter-
vening in Guatemalan affairs.
a. Sensitive because of
Guatemalan charges (29 Jan-
uary) implying US would approve
armed attack by Latin Ameri-
can governments on Arbenz
regime.
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 Approved For Releasg~Af('1~2~P~0'320d(~'2~~612~~53~
Argentine Exports to USSR
Wool
Hides
Quebracho extract
Linseed oil
Canned meat
Pork
Mutton
Lard
Cheese
Soviet Exports to Argentina
Crude Petroleum
Coal
Petroleum by-products
Steel and sheet iron
Oil derricks
Asbestos
Dye products
Precision machinery
Steel rails
Special steels for
RR Construction
Equipment for:
Oil wells
Cotton mills
Railways
Power stations
20, 000 tons
18, 000
15, 000
75, 000
5, 000
3, 000
5, 000
1,500
3, 900
500, 000 tons
300, 000 tons
500, 000
98,000 tons
40, 000 tons
8, 000 tons
$ 1,000, 000
$ 500,000
60, 000 tons
$ 3, 500, 000
$30,000,000
Agricultural machines
Tractors
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Further negotiations for additional trade under-
way in Moscow now. Argentine trade mission
there.
- Petroleum by-products, ($500, 000) known to
include 7, 700 tons avgas, first known Soviet
export of avgas outside the Orbit. Believed
95-octane, Price of $76. 20/ton compares with
U. S. price at New Orleans of $71. 80 per long
ton (2280 lbs. )
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