VICTOR PAZ ESTENSSORO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007400580007-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 10, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1999/09/27 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007400 07
CLASSIFICATION,
CEN V1,0 I T-LLIGENCE AGENCY
FOR Ilfg AsT fi 0 64 tl [Ei: PO Frf
COUNTRY Bolivia
SUBJECT Victor Paz Estenssoro
ACQUIRED
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- DATE OF
INFO.
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,
CD Na
DATE DISTR, 10 Aril 1951
NO, OF PAGES 2
:\
NO. OF ENOLS..
(LISTED 3ELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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The -following background information on the decision of Victor Paz Estenssoro,
leader of the Bolivian Movimiento Nacionaista Revolucionario (MR) to return
to La Paz, was told by Paz to a reliable U. S. national
in Buenos Aires. Paz' statements were made soon
lexit.i.eturn from a brief visit to Montevideo.? It should be borne in mind
that Pa zg statenents may have been made for U. S. official consumption.
1... Paz said that he had decided to return to La Paz by air to avoid the possibility
of meeting with violence, which he suspected might hapnen if he traveled by rail.
He voiced the oninion that the long trip by rail mould give his enemies many
orrortunities to harm him. Although he expected to be met by Bolivian police
officials on landing in La Paz, and to be Placed under immediate arrest, Paz
stated that he preferred that this happen in La Paz, where he had many friends
who would ensure his safety.
2. Paz said that a trusted and long-time friend, Emilio Sarniento, would travel
with him and act as his adviser and aide during the coming months.
3. Men asked whether or not he was considering throwing his politica' weight behind
the administration candidate, Gabriel Gosalvoz? Paz answered that he had been
approached by Gosalvez to do just that. According to Paz, Gosalvez had promised
that, if Paz backed him, Paz mould be named Vice President, provided Gosalvee
faction vas victorious in the 6 May elections. In addition, two cabinet posts
and one half of the congressional seats would be given to the MR, and the rim
would have a "free hand" in the finances of Bolivia.
4. Paz declared that he did not like this proposal, and did not relish the prospect
of working With the sere politicians who had been his political enemies in the
rast. Also, he did not like the idea of working with Gosalvez during the present
campaign, as this would entail spending money doled out by the present government
and using its tactics to obtain votes. Source commented that it was not clear,
whether Paz actually told Gosalvez? the sane thing.
5. Paz further stated that he vas returning to Bolivia to campaign for himself for
the presidency in the 'lay elections and had chosen Hernan Silos to run with him
for the vice presidency. Siles, according to Paz, vas in Santiago, Chile, but
would return to La Paz in the near future. Paz said that he would depend heavily
upon Silos in the coming months, afm,fell as'on Victor Ilndrade, vho is now in
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE Am=
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Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Carlos Salamanca, who is presently living in Nev
York City,
6. Paz made the surnrising statement that he expected to lose the election,
according to source. He declared that, if the elections were clean and if
the votes were counted honestly, he believed that 80 percent of all votes
cast would be for him; however, he suspected that votes mould be counted
rather carelessly, with the result that he would loee by a smell minority..
Furthermore Paz said that he had been informed that all members of the EER
were required to apply for good conduct certificates from the Bolivian police
authorities before they: would be Admitted to the voting places. No other
voters mould require such certificates, according to Paz.
7. Paz added that he bad been confidentially advised that some Bolivian Army
leaders might attempt a coup before the Vey elections, and, if successful
they would name General Hugo Ballivian Rojas as President.*
8. If he does win the election, Raz declared that the first thing he intended to
do would be to reorganize the financial setup of Bolivia and raise the standard
of living. Next, he would attempt to import more agricultural machinery and
initiate agricultural reforms, such as diversification of crops. He would also
try to obtain a larger loan from the United States with which he hoped to ex-
tend the Santa Cruz-Cochabadha highwey. He would attempt to install hydro-
electric transmission lines on the altirlano by means of which he hoped to
supply electric power to other earts of Bol4la. He also Promised that he would
make no changes in the present cooperative mapping program for aerial and
geodetic mapping and would give his support to increasing this program. He
stated that he could see no use in building another oil refinery at Sucre, as he
feels that the refinery in Cochabamba is sufficient to take care of the present
demand.
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Conmept, It will be recalled that for months reports have been received
indicating that some elements of the Bolivian Army, under the control of the former
Chief of Staff Rios Rosel? planned a coup against the present government. For
that reason, Faze information may have some basis in truth; however, Rios was re-
moved from his position some months ago and sent to Madrid as Military Attache
in order to get him out of Bolivia.
Approved For Release 199 ilA\1?-RDP82-00457R007400580007-4