816.00/10–2144: Telegram
The Chargé in El Salvador (Gade) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—3 a.m.]
336. My telegram No. 335, October 21, 10 a.m. The whole Diplomatic Corps decided not to go to the Presidential Palace. After a meeting at 11 o’clock this morning, the Corps called at a private house on Doctor Avila who declared that he was ill, that he had heard on the radio that there had been a change of government and that he had not resigned but had “withdrawn” from the Foreign Office. In reply to a blunt inquiry he declared that he did not bow whether or not General Menéndez, who was in Zapote Fort, is a prisoner.
At 12:30 p.m. the announcer of the Government controlled radio stated that the program was being broadcast from the Presidential Palace, that the Provisional President was about to speak and that there was a distinguished gathering including members of the Assembly, Diplomatic Corps etc. (there were no diplomats present). Colonel Aguirre then went on the air and declared that Menéndez had resigned on account of ill health (the Papal Chargé d’Affaires32 called upon him at his house this afternoon and found him looking very fit) and that he, Aguirre, had assumed the Presidency. He called upon all true sons of El Salvador to support the new government, and added that he would [form?] his Cabinet from members of all political parties. He promised, upon his word as a gentleman and soldier, freedom of suffrage and of political parties.…
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From personal observation of members of the staff and from other reliable informants, the coup d’état appears to have been carefully [Page 1103] planned in advance by a military clique including Colonel Aguirre.
Repeated to all Central American Missions.
- Msgr. Paolo Bertoli.↩