COMMUNIST PARTY TACTICS IN CHILEAN ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002300710004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 16, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

01ASSIFICAT1O
COUNTRY Chile
Approved For Re1ease/1M1
SUBJECT Communist Party Tactics in Chilean Electoral
Campaign
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF IN
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2~ An attempt will be made to penetrate the Radical Party, and circulars are now
being distributed to regional leaders recommending a pact with the Radicals
"The Radicals must not be confused with the CEN" is the slogan which will be used
for the new campaign. The first step in this new program., which in expected to
remove the PGCh from its voluntary isolation, will be to offer electoral aid to
the Radical candidates opposed to the official Radical directorate tCEi1). This
offer will be extended to include the Radicales Democraticos, enemies of the PCCh
since the presidential election of 19460
3. Another confirmed this information and stated that the FCCh is
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5. At the same time these instructions wore sent out, the Political Commission agreed
on immediate action. Hu.:iberto Abarca was designated to sound out allied parties
STATE # NAVY
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~,rithin the Communist Party of Chile (PCCh) has stated that the Political
Commission of the Party has recently adopted new political tactics in preparation
for the congressional elections scheduled for 6 Narch 1949. The Party has
decided to work closely with all political parties now in opposition to the present
f!overnment. CoM,=t. The previous Party line, as reported by a
different source in was directed toward undermining all opposition
parties.)
definitely seeking allies for the electoral fight, This search for allies has
the appearance of a complete internal reorganization of the Party. The word has
been given to fraternize with the "fundamental Radicals" and the parties forming
the FRAS. The Political Commission has determined to eradicate what it terms
sectarianism, and has ordered Party members to ally themselves with the masses,
even of other parties. It warns that care should be taken, however, to prevent
this new attitude from causing the development of passiveness, opportunism., and
lack of discipline in PCCh ranks.
Instructions were issued to PCCh leaders setting forth measures for organizing a
powerful Frente Nacional Demooratico (FND)~. These measures included setting up
con ittees in all areas to direct all activities such as strikes, protests, peti-
tions; struggles against repressive laws, and mass movements. In actual practice,
the FTdD will be directed by the PCCh, although no known Communist member will
appear on the directorate.
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and parties which were possible allies.. Among the allies area The Partido
Socialists tlnificado, headed by Marmaduke Grove; the rbvimiento social-Laborista,
directed by Armando Rodriguez Quezada; the Partido Laborista, a new Communist
creation; the "ocialistas Autenticop, directed by Asdrubal Pezoa; and the Aliansa
Popular Libertadora, led by Carlos Ibanez del Campo. Among the parties listed as
possible allies area the Partido Radical-Demoeratico, headed by 1arcelo Ruiz
"alar; the Partido "ocialista Popular, whose president is Eugenio Gonzalez Rojas;
25X1A6a the Partido Arrario Laborista, headed by Jaime Larrain Garcia-Moreno; and the
Falange National, presided over by Tomas Reyes. -2g =at. A Chilean
broadcast on 2 February 1949 indicated that no agreement had been reached between
the Frente Nacional Democratico and the FRAS to arrange an electoral pact through-
out the country to support a single ticket. The Falange, one of the four parties
composing the FRAYS, is the only party to support this pact.)
6. Special work is to be done in oonnection with the Partido Radical Doctrinarlo,
which does not figure directly in the F.O.
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7o Carlos Contreras Labarca, who was reported in - to be in favor of collabora-
tion with other groups, has expressed himself before the Political Committee as being
in perfect accord with the new policy. He stated that these tactics will permit
the PCCh to regain ground in the 6 March elections. The primary task of the Party
is to acquire votes, which will require care to avoid repressive goverment measures
while at the same time satisfying the workers' demands for improved labor conditions.
Zt is not prudent for the Party to step into union struggles to the extent of bring-
ing about illegal strikes. All movements must be kept within the confines of
absolute legality, in order not to provoke the government and to protect the workers
1.'vom reprisals. He stated that all pending strikes were legal. In the coal mines,
a.dserious strike could have taken place, but it was stopped on orders from the Party.
The strike vote was not won because the workers eliminated from the electoral lists
by the Law of Defense were not permitted to vote, and therefore there was not a
sufficient quorum. The Party refrained from instigating an illegal strike as a
matter of prudence. This same policy will govern activities in all industries.
Workers' petitions will be studied by Party lawyers and each step the unions take
will be carefully controlled. In this manner, Contreras Labarca hoped-to cause
new problems for the government and to tie its hands.
S, Humberto Abarca has confirmed the adoption of the program set forth by Contreras
Labarca. Abarca is acting as Secretary General while Ricardo Fonseca is ill. The
other members of the Executive Secretariat of the Central Committee are Fonseca,
and Gale Gonzalez and Luis Reinoso (Reynoso) who are in hiding. Abarca said that
the Party is now enraged in studying electoral formulas which will permit support
for candidates who will be in the next Congress. This support cannot be open or
official, according to Abarca, because there is a risk of invalidating elections,
but the Communists who maintain their voting privileges will cast their votes as
ordered by the PCCh directorates.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002300710004-8