824.00/1530a: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics 19
You are instructed to seek an early opportunity for an interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with reference to the subject of the Department’s circular telegram of January 8, midnight, and to inform him that the memorandum concerning the Bolivian revolutionary regime, which is being forwarded for presentation to the [Page 431] Foreign Ministers of the American republics which have declared war or have broken relations with the Axis for their strictly confidential information in accordance with the January 5 resolution of the Committee for Political Defense, may be summarized as follows:
Information which has reached the Department from various sources indicates:
- 1.
- The Bolivian revolutionary regime is made up of two groups: members of the MNR, a pro-facist political party, and young army officers of the rank of major who have been under Nazi influence as followers or associates of the notorious Major Elías Belmonte.20
- 2.
- The recently-published official program and platform of the MNR contain elements hostile to continental interests. They disparage democracy, are anti-Semitic, glorify the leadership principle and an all-powerful state and disregard the threat to hemisphere security from Nazi Germany.
- 3.
- The MNR leaders have been connected with Nazi groups in Germany and Argentina. Paz Estenssoro, Chief of the Party and now Minister of Finance, frequented the German Embassy in La Paz and received money from Nazi agents for carrying on pro-German propaganda together with party associates Augusto de Céspedes, Secretary General of the Junta, and Carlos Montenegro, Minister of Agriculture. He was involved in 1941 in Nazi-inspired subversive activities of Major Belmonte, Bolivian Military Attaché at Berlin. In 1942 Paz Estenssoro formed connections with Dionisio Foianini, associate of Belmonte who was engaged in a plot with the help of the German Ambassador in Buenos Aires against the Peñaranda government. The official newspaper of the MNR—La Calle—received German subsidies and its articles expressed an attitude of hostility to the democracies. MNR congressional deputies opposed adherence of Bolivia to the Declaration by United Nations and filibustered to impede legislation to speed the war effort. MNR leaders also condemned Hull’s note21 to Storni.22 During Paz Estenssoro’s visit to Buenos Aires in July 1943 he associated with Argentine pro-Nazis such as Pertiné, Mayor of Buenos Aires, Ibarguren, publicist and writer, and others. Through Foianini and Father Wilkinson, Argentine priest close to President Ramírez, contact was maintained in Argentina with pro-Nazis while in La Paz Argentine Ambassador Martín Gras and Spanish Chargé d’Affaires, del Castillo, served similar purposes.
- 4.
- Army officers actively connected with the Junta are under Nazi influence. President Villarroel, Ponce, Minister of Public Works and Communications, and Pinto, Minister of Defense, have expressed Nazi-inspired views and are closely associated with Belmonte whose continued cooperation with the Nazis since 1941 is demonstrated.
- 5.
- Members of the Junta received financial support from pro-Nazi sources. During Paz Estenssoro’s visit to Buenos Aires he is reported to have received money from Admiral Scasso, and to have made arrangement for arms and additional financial assistance. Calvo, an [Page 432] Argentine agent, smuggled arms into Bolivia. Three million bolivianos were secured from German and Argentine sources for the revolt.
- 6.
- Since the Junta came into power, certain of its acts have indicated its continuing ties with Nazi Germany and the Argentine government. Wilhelm Kyllman, German businessman and Nazi agent previously expelled from Bolivia, is being allowed to return. Anti-Semitism continues. Organized mob action hostile to democracies was indicated by stoning of La Razón and Colombian and American Embassies.
This information is being furnished to you in summary form as the circular instruction of January 8 enclosing the text of the memorandum23 under reference will not reach you for several days. You should indicate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the available evidence indicating foreign involvement in the Bolivian revolt is considered here to be very strong and that it is unlikely that this government will recognize the new regime. You should therefore request that any pertinent information which the government to which you are accredited may be able to contribute be furnished you at the earliest opportunity.