CROATIAN COLONY IN ARGENTINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002100200001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 26, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

25X1A2g
CI.Af,;.SIFI"ATION G'W DF-NTIA1..
Approved For I e ,e I18>1 .ILQ? E Q1 P82-004 -0Qfi Q
I FOR AT . II 0
COUNTRY Argentina
SUBJECT Croatian Colony in Argentina
25X1A6a
PLACE
ACQUIRED
IKADV
GIA U
aI
25X1X6
DATA DISTR. 26 November 1948
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
LUSTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1~ Dr. Karlo Balic, Rector of the Antonianum University in Rome and an inter-
nationally influential Croat, was the principal guest at the Conference of
Franciscan Priests of Latin America which was held in Buenos Aires from
28 September to h October 1948. Vhile in that city, Balic had a one-hour
interview with President Peron in the Casa Rosada, at which time Peron
spoke sympathetically of the ideological difficulties faced by various ele-
ments of the Croatian colony in Argentina and suggested that Balic, because
of his recognized influence, advise local Croatian groups to unite and to
support the Peronista social program. Balic was considerably impressed by
the conversation and somewhat surprised that the President should ask him
to intervene in the Croatian colony on behalf of the Argentine government.
2Q When Balic related the President's proposal to local Croat Nationalist leaders,
they affirmed their desire to respect, but not become compromised by, the
Peron regime inasmuch as it is their belief that an alignment with the
Argentine government and its "third position" would be viewed with disfavor
by the United States government. They feel that the United States is the
only country which can effectively assist them in achieving an independent
Croatian state. 5~r, qq
3p Groat Nationalist .eaaerg in Argentina have stated their disapproval of
Branco Benzon (c Benzon receives money from the Argentine
Sub-Secretariat ss n Propaganda to publish the Croatian newspaper
Hrvatska, which defends the Argentine "third position" and criticizes the
Uni 7'3tates. Although Hrvatska is not popularly received throughout the
Croatian colony, it tends ' "L srupt the work of the pro-United States
group and is a source of confusion within the colony. Benzon also exerts
considerable influence on the Croat priests Vladimiro Bilobrk and Blas
Stefanie, both of whom are employed part time by the Argentine Immigration
Service. Benzon is alleged to have recently advocated that the Croatian
colony in Argentina enter into contact with the Yugoslav Embassy in Buenos
Aires in order to support the Tito faction in its conflict with the Soviet
Union.
WARNING NOTICE: THIS DISTRIBUTION LISTING MUST BE
EXCISED BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT.
NAVY
AIR
1 tter._Of
Director of Ce
Archivist of Q
Next R u Date: 200
(fl DFNTIAI
Document No.
NO_0M-;@~ ;d
A _ W- cin ION
t~ ber V00rol anc
Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CI P82- p 5.7