DISAFFECTION IN THE MONTECRISTI INFANTRY BATTALION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002400280003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 28, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

FORM NO. 31-4A
SEPT. 1848
CLASSIFICATION aw .25X1 A
Approved For Rel aL91~I L~~ N #2-00457 pqq~ 2
COUNTRY Ecuador
NFORIIMATION REPORT CD NO.
SUBJECT Disaffection in the Montecristi Infantry
Battalion
PLACE
ACQUIRED
25X1A
DATE DI. TR. 70 Pe1 1040
NO. OF PAGES 1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
DATE OF INF SUPPLEMENT TO 25X1A
25X1 X REPORT NO. -
1. During a visit on 29 January 1949 to Puyo, Ecuador, Vice President Manuel
SotoW or y Luna, learned that the greater part of the Montecristi Infantry
Battalion is opposed to the present regime in Ecuador.
2. The Montecristi Battalion is composed of some 350 officers and men and is
commanded by Major Eduardo Silva Guerra, a self-styled leftist and opponent
of the present government. Several officers and sergeants confirmed the
views of Silva and stated that a large number of the men in the battalion felt
the same way. They stated that a. solution could be reached by relieving the
Minister of National Defense and numerous other high officers of their
duties at once.
The chief complaint of the troops against the government appears to be their
low salaries and unfavorable living conditions.
3. Silva and other officers were said to receive a good many politicians from
Ambato and Quito who frequently visit the barracks to discuss radical politics.
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