As you may be aware, a Latin American Intelligence Conference, attended by all of the Military and Military Air Attachés to our Embassies in the other American Republics, by representatives of various offices of the War Department and by observers from other Governments agencies, including two for this Department, was held at Quarry Heights, Canal Zone, from January 13 to 17, 1947, inclusive. Seven Committees were set up to consider various matters in more detail than they could be covered in the Conference proper. As of probable interest to you, I am enclosing a copy of the report of Committee No. 1 which dealt with "the military, political, economic, and subversive trends in Latin America as they militarily affect hemisphere defense." Latin American Intelligence Conference. Report of Committee No. 1, March 6, 1947

Liberal Party Chief Jorge GAITAN told Liberal El Tiempo yesterday he had learned from various sources of plans for hostile acts against delegates to Ninth Pan American Conference. He denied, however, that Liberals were involved, and called on "strong disciplined masses of the Party" to resist any outbreaks of such nature. Gaitán spoke in reply to direct request from El Tiempo reporter, for comment on reports that Communists were planning to promote disorder during Conference, laying blame on Liberalism. Gaitán replied, "Through various channels I have received knowledge that persons in no way connected with Liberalism have attempted to promote the acts of hostility and disapproval of which you speak, against foreign delegates to the Pan American Conference. ... It is not necessary for me to say that no Liberal may participate in such acts." Airgram from US embassy in Bogotá, March 24, 1948

Airgram #222 from Ambassador Beaulac to Secretary of State, March 31, 1948

I told Dr. Gómez I wished to ascertain whether Colombia would go along with the United States in a strong anti-Communist declaration by the Conference. He said that he thought I was familiar with Colombia's position toward Communism. The Conservatives on the delegation would like to make a strong anti-Communist statement. The Liberals, for demagogic reasons, were opposed to carrying on an ideological war against Communism. The Chilean and Uruguayan Delegations had discussed the matter with him and the three of them were of the opinion that a declaration which condemned interference in the internal affairs of the American Republics by other countries would be most likely to succeed at the Conference. He said that we had to have in mind the certain opposition of Guatemala and Venezuela to an anti-Communist declaration. He asked me what wording our delegation would like to give such a declaration. I said that I didn't think our thoughts in the matter had crystallized, that we were in the stage of sounding out other delegations on their ideas. He said he wished I would let him know the precise wording we would like in case our thinking in the matter ever reached that stage. If possible Colombia might present it as its own initiative. He asked me to keep him closely informed on our principal wishes in the Conference with the idea that Colombia might put forth some of our proposals as its own ideas. ... Reverting to the Communist question, I said that, while the ideas of the United States Delegation had not crystallized, my own idea was that a weak declaration would be seized upon by the Communists, particularly in Europe where they are trying to overwhelm new countries, as a failure on the part of the United States to mobilize public opinion against the Communists. Such a statement might actually be helpful to the Communists. Dr. Gomez said he could see that, and the point would have to be borne in mind. Proposed Anti Communist Declaration, April 8, 1948

THE REPUBLICS REPRESENTED AT THE NINTH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES ... RESOLVE

1. To reaffirm their decision to maintain and further an effective social and economic policy for the purpose of raising the standard of living of their peoples; and their conviction that only under a system founded upon a guarantee of the essential freedoms and rights of the individual is it possible to attain this goal.

2. To condemn the methods of every system tending to suppress political and civil rights and liberties, and in particular the action of international communism or any totalitarian doctrine.

3. To adopt, within their respective territories and in accordance with the constitutional provisions of each state, the measures necessary to eradicate and prevent activities directed, assisted, or instigated by foreign governments, organizations, or individuals, that tend to overthrow their institutions by violence, to foment disorder in their domestic political life, or to disturb, by means of pressure, subversive propaganda, threats or by any other means, the free and sovereign right of their peoples to govern themselves in accordance with their democratic aspirations.

4. To proceed with a full exchange of information concerning any of the aforementioned activities that are carried on within their respective jurisdictions. Final Act of Bogotá, Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS)

International Communism at the present time must be regarded as the tool of the Kremlin, which the latter utilizes to advance Russian imperialistic designs and to supplant democracy throughout the world with a totalitarian police state system that suppresses human rights and civil liberties ... This threat, at the present time, is a potential rather than an immediately serious one in Latin America generally, but preventive measures should be taken to minimize it before it becomes more dangerous. ... Any program of cooperation among the American Republics to combat Communism will require some means of coordination among the American Republics, and arrangements within the Department of State to provide a responsible center for coordination of action to be taken by several departments and agencies of our Government which will be concerned with the problem. ... After consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency and other interested departments and agencies, the Department of State should work out a plan for police cooperation in the Americas to combat Communist activities, including the possible training in the United States of police officials from the other American Republics. Paper Prepared by the Policy Planning Staff, March 22, 1948, FRUS

Sirs: At the Bogota Conference in April of this year there was approved unanimously an anti-Communist resolution providing among other things that the American Republics will exchange information among themselves to assist in checking subversive Communist activities. ... You are instructed therefore, to discuss this matter with the Foreign Minister and any other appropriate authorities of the country to which you are accredited and to arrange for the establisliment of a suitable liaison and procedure by which information of the type mentioned in the Bogota Resolution may be exchanged. Liaison with some countries may be directly with the Foreign Office, while in other instances more suitable regular arrangements for the interchange may be established with another ministry or with the police. In all cases the liaison, particularly the designation of specific officials of both the Embassy and the other government, should be arranged personally by the Chief of Mission directly with the appropriate high official or officials of the other government. Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics, October 15, 1948, FRUS

Copyright Paul Wolf, 2002-2004