ANTI-COMMUNIST PROGRAMS
ICFTU-ORIT The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). Labour Centre set up and controlled by the CIA to oppose the World Federation of Trade Unions. (WFTU) Headquarters in Brussels. The Inter-American Regional Labor Organization (ORIT). The regional organization of the ICFTU for the Western Hemisphere with headquarters in Mexico City. Founded by Serafino Romualdi, q.v., and a principal mechanism for CIA labour operations in Latin America.
From Inside the Company: CIA Diary, by Philip Agee [Stonehill, 1975, p. 611]In the messages under reference (both classified "Confidential") the Department was informed of certain projects that the Embassy planned to undertake in conjunction with the ICFTU-ORIT representative here in an effort to combat Communist infiltration of the Colombian labor movement. Other steps were taken in addition to classifying all messages in order to ensure that the Embassy's role in these projects remained entirely in the background. Despite these precautions, it has been reported that certain officials of the AFL-CIO in Washington had been informed there of these plans. As a result, a Latin-American expert of the AFL-CIO recently made a special trip to Barranquilla to advise the ICFTU-ORIT representative in friendly fashion that he should not become directly involved in these projects.
Unauthorized Disclosure of Classified Information Threatens Embassy Labor Projects, July 8, 1958ORIT Resolution Receives Favorable Comment, February 17, 1960
The "Black Hand" In discussions with Correa, the facilities available through USIS were explained as well as possible suggestions for use of unattributed material, such as mass distribution of books at lost cost. Correa expressed great interest in the acquisition and distribution of educational and anti-Communist titles which might be distributed to students and professional groups at a low price and on a mass basis. He further expressed interest in the use of films, specifically educational films for campesinos, which could be distributed by the large number of mobile film units owned by several of the large companies represented by the Centro. This would make possible saturation displays in key areas and among key target groups. He expressed interest in possible use of pamphlets and other material and thought of possibly obtaining specially tailored anti-Communist material. Further discussions will be held with the Centro group over possible use of available materials and exploitation of distribution outlets which the Centro may be in a position to provide. In discussions regarding activity among students, the suggestion was made that the Centro consider financing visits of large numbers of students to the United States or western European countries. Some specific suggestions regarding what such tours might entail and estimates of cost were given to him. The embassy recommends that consideration of this whole situation be made jointly by the Department, USIA and CAS [CIA Covert Action Staff] headquarters specifically with reference to suggestions for utilization of the organization's unique facilities. It may become desirable, for example, to provide backstopping, particularly in grey and black propaganda efforts, and if so prior consideration and preparation would enable prompt action to be taken when a specific request arises. Anti-Communist Campaign, October 19, 1960
Colombian Professional Men Request U.S. Assistance in Formation of Anti-Communist Organization, November 7, 1960
With reference to the anti-Communist Centro de Estudios y Accion Social on which I have been reporting (my letter to you of October 21, 1960), I wanted to let you know that, pursuant to the Department's instructions, we have begun to phase out of the picture. CAS [CIA Covert Action Staff] will pick it up from here. As a result we will probably be doing very little additional reporting on this in despatch form. In the meantime, I am sure that additional information, as developed by CAS, will be available to the Department through normal liason channels. ... I wanted to alert you to a possible visit by some of these gentlemen to Washington. ... CAS is alerting its headquarters on this, so there will probably be some liaison with the Colombians made through them.
Telegram from U.S. Embassy, Bogotá, to Secretary of State, November 28, 1960Mr. Devine and I have agreed that (1) if it is learned that members of this group are in the city around the middle of this month, Mr. Devine is to be notified; and (2) if any meetings are arranged for them in the Department, we will make sure that Mr. Terrel of the [Central Intelligence] agency is invited to be present, as his outfit has plans regarding the handling of any request they may have. Members of Centro de Estudios Sociales planning to visit Washington in connection with their anti-Communist plans, November 30, 1960
These gentlemen are beginning to claim credit for a number of domestic events. They state that they are going ahead on the forthcoming meeting of the CTC to insure that the Communists are isolated in that body. They claim to have provided the President with confidential minutes of Communist meetings regarding proposed actions in a recent national bank strike threat, information which they claimed provoked the President's very strong stand against the strike which subsquently collapsed. These gentlemen stated that the Centro was developing excellent intelligence infrormation, and they hinted that they would like to get similar information from us. They also made a rather astounding statement that they proposed to close every left-wing newspaper and publication through economic pressure.
Telegram from U.S. Embassy, Bogotá, to Secretary of State, December 5, 1960Communist Plans for Revolutionary Activity, December 7, 1960
Mr. Mann said he was delighted to hear this declaration fo the determination of a number of leaders in Colombian life to halt the spread of Communist ideas. He said he was certain that the salvation of Latin America lies in its own people. It is the Colombians themselves who can save Colombia from the Communist menace. Had the Guatemala coffee growers and the Cuban sugar growers not given support to Arbenz and Castro at the start both countries would have been spared all the misery that they have suffered at their hands. With regard to the student and university groups, Mr. Mann suggested three things: 1. Revise the preesent system of representation by groups and categories and institute democratic elections open to all; 2. Make sure that meetings are held at a reasonable hour to prevent take-overs by fraud and deception; 3. Give timely notice of all meetings -- at least three days in advance -- in order that the anti-Communist forces are not taken in advance. Mr. Mann suggest that, in addition to the contacts this group has made with business and educational groups in this country, it get in touch with Mr. George Meany of AF of L/CIO and with Mr. Mike Haider of Standard Oil of New Jersey. He also suggested that they make contacts with important personages in the Catholic Church, which is well-informed on what is going on in the Latin countries, and thought that perhaps it might be possible to find certain officials at Georgetown University who could be very useful. He suggested that if they have not already done so, they arrange for discussion with ICA and USIA officers, who might be in a position to advise them to their advantage. Plans to counteract Communist and Castro Penetration in Colombia and other parts of Latin America, December 15, 1960 [Meeting between Luis Robledo, Hernan Echavarria, Alberto Samper, Mr. Franco, Manuel Ulloa of the Centrol de Estudios Sociales, Mr. John Smithies, an American businessman, formerly in Cuba, and Mssrs. Mann, Lane, Devine, Payne, Poole, and Gerberich of the State Dept. ARA, and Mr. Terrell of CIA]
Anti-Communist Campaign in Latin America, May 9, 1961
The Embassy does have indirect contact with the Colombian organization, and we are passing along the fact that the two Ecuadoran groups you mentioned are interested in contacting them. The Colombian organization prefers to work this way and prefers to make the first contact. Confidential letter from Milton K. Wells, Bogotá Embassy to Brewster R. Hemenway, Esquire, Quito Embassy, June 28, 1961
The referenced despatches described the organization fo the Centro de Estudios y Accion Social, a private group dedicated to combatting Communism. the Centro has now been in operation for some eight months, is active and in many ways effective. It has not been overly discreet in its activities, however, or in talking about htem, and its existence is widely known. It is now known in local jargon as the "Black Hand," a label pinned on it by Alfonso LOPEZ Michelson. Some of the group have openly talked of their visits to Washington and of their conversations with US officials, including Attorney General Kennedy, General White, various Senators, members fo the White House staff, etc. Talk of such visits was the occasion for Alfonso Lopez Michelson to observe to an American newsman recently that from that he adduced the suspicion that the Centro was an instrument of the CIA. In his conversation with the Centro leaders, Ambassador Freeman expressed three standards which he thought should guide the group's activities; 1) emphasize the positive side; b) operate as discreetly as possible with regard to covert matters; and c) avoid any identification with the United States. It is believed that this generally should be the group's objectives and tactics, and that the US Government should not be identifiable in any way with any aid or cooperation extended to the group. Anti-Communist Group -- Centro de Estudios y Accion Social, July 5, 1961
Spruille Braden, Jr. said that he had had a letter from IBEC in New York concerning correspondence from a Mr. Frank Safford in Bogotá to the Council fo Foreign Relations stating that Spruille had been mailing "Black Hand" literature on IBEC stationary, and that he had been contributing IBEC money to "Black Hand" activities. Spruille asked me if I knew a Frank Safford. I said that I did not. Memorandum of conversation between Spruille Braden, October 13, 1961
Spruille has written to Safford asking him to contact him about the matter; and, according to Spruille, Safford has called him saying that he has no knowledge of the entire affair. Spruille is investigating further. Memorandum to Files, October 23, 1961
I was recently visited by Mr. Joseph SMITH, an American resident in Bogotá and sometime informant with frequent tidbits of local intelligence, much of it perhaps of questionable value. According to Mr. Smith, the subject who is an official of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is an extreme anti-American. Mr. Smith, who explained that Letelier is a cousin of Mr. Smith's through his wife who is Chilean, seemed very pro-American at Smith's house during a visit early this year in Bogotá. However, Mr. Smith had heard information or talk regarding Mr. Letelier's anti-American attitude on previous occasions. Recently Mr. Smith heard from a Canadian friend in Caracas that Letelier had told that Canadian friend of his continued distaste for the United States. Smith also mentioned that Letelier is a good friend of the President of IDB, Felipe HERRERA, and that Herrera is a Chilean Socialist of far leftist views.
Mr. Smith, in providing this information to me, expressed his concern that a person such as Letelier should be distributing and determining the destination of U.S. aid money.
Anti-American Attitude of Orlando Letelier, Official of IDB, Memorandum of John M. Barta, October 13, 1961
Copyright Paul Wolf, 2002-2004
