THE STRIKE SITUATION IN HONDURAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01443R000200280011-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 1998
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: May 11, 1954
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP80RO1443R000200280011-9
evas-taxtial Owi
aft
6 May
s " the -s tor 4w.
Otis I*bw sgit*tors
t
sugg*uta a
bolm f
I c*t - that strip . ? tia L t
plant
*404 r
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP80RO1443R000200280011-9
. rrult E i Sandur
 Approved For Release 2000/08/30 . 280011-9
holdings in Honduras with suspicious,
but unidentifiable, markings.
y the Honduran government publicly
charged two Guatemalan consuls with subversive
activities and closed the two consulates on
h coast.
. Guatemalan ambassador in Honduras recalled on
8 Way for consultation.
Communist literature inciting to strike found in
area -- origin undetermined.
. Son reported preparing to cross border fro
a; Honduran troops now patrolling border.
Workers (cGTG ion
rivalries over the Honduran presidential and
alan
to strikers.
appears shrewdly tined to coincide with growing
due 10 Octobe.
even threwayr political split as
approach,
1. Natio
ation
statement 7
Nominated 80 year old ex-
dictator Tiburcio carias
ong hand.
prepared for a
probable.
ruled country
a. Carias is generally unpopular but reported
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RD:P80R01443R000200280011-9
 Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA
table of bringing
n into capital in single
Liberal party - Traditional opposition party,
president under 1w!a.J6 ins.
Abraham Williams, pro-US
a of Presiden
who split from Nationalistes and nominated General
2.
dealing with Communist threat.
day.
2. Strong anti-carias faction in army
likely to take counteraction in event
of carias coup.
b. Carias claims to be only candidate capable of
believed infiltrated by Communists. Caudi-
-n VILLXDA Morales.
Carias is therefore likely to exploit current strike in
pt to
his strong hand.
of decisive government action re present strike
uld be pretext for coup by carias.
The Honduran government in probably able to
ain order, at least temporarily, in strike aon
nod orderly and appear
unarmed, except for their machetes.
Troops in the area were promptly reinforced and control
points .
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP80RO1443R000200280011-9
 Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-Fb1443R000200280011-9
C. Honduran civil and military leaders on the scene have
ted company officials in atempte to negotiate
hers.
s been difficult, however, to find repro-
strike committee with which to ne-
gotiate.
leers' wages and benefits
le
those of United Fruit employees in neighboring countries.
The strike -is aisceptible to varied Communist exploitation.
A. Honduran pol
naive with respect to Ci
grant Communists an e
direction is not establish
Liati.c,
car the t part, notably
ice and might
g wedge in political scene
in return for a strike settlement.
Non-Communist leftists in Honduras are likely to
Sympathize with. strikers,
Company is a strong
hroughout Contra
ecially
issue.
Co ist
Approved For Release 2000/08/30 : CIA-RDP80RO1443R000200280011-9