824.00/7–544: Telegram
The Chargé in Bolivia (McLaughlin) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5—3:53 p.m.]
1327. It is by now apparent that the elections have brought a sweeping victory to the MNR which is indicative of the weakness of passive parties and the failure of the Government to set up many independent candidates to oppose MNR men. It is not at the moment possible to determine whether the Government’s failure to exercise control over the elections to the MNR’s disadvantage was due to over-confidence or rather to its acquiescence in an MNR success, the latter being a distinct possibility.
In any event, the genuine popularity of the MNR among the voters must not be overlooked as a most influential factor in determining the results of the elections. In the seven leading cities of the country [Page 472] La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosí, Sucre, Tarija, and Santa Cruz 10 out of the 29 deputies elected were MNR candidates. This is a ratio only slightly lower than in the country as a whole including many districts where the MNR candidate was the only one receiving any material assistance.
Whether on account of the ineptitude of the Government in controlling elections or on account of the Government’s connivance, the MNR will occupy a most respectable proportion of the seats in the convention and Congress and it is to be presumed that some of its members will be chosen to occupy prominent positions and probably some consequent posts. Indications consensus of opinion is that no one but Villarroel will be elected President, however. It appears that the government which is to result from these elections and which will be constituted on August 6 will be a strong and a confident government, considerably more compact and unified than either the Peñaranda Government or the Villarroel Government heretofore. It will be composed of elements which since December 20, 1943 have given every indication of a sincere desire to cooperate closely with the United States, and as long as the United States is in a position to make such cooperation to Bolivia’s interest, there is not seen any reason why it will not continue. This group is likely to take decisive, definitive action, without undue procrastination, a trait which may be useful to the United States. It is, therefore, felt that although at first it did appear that the outcome of the elections is undesirable from our point of view, because of certain recognized anti-American individuals who [apparent omission] to formulate the policies of the MNR, in reality the United States will stand a better chance of getting cooperation from a government so organized than from one composed of either too many divergent and mutual antipathetic factions, or of a group of unschooled, opportunist politicians which would have resulted had the Army clique controlled the elections and planted its procrastinating henchmen in every seat. (The “independent” candidates elected were mostly obscure, little-known newcomers on the political scene).