831.00/11–2348: Telegram
The Ambassador in Venezuela (Donnelly) to the Secretary of State
858. I received visit 1 a. m. this morning from Cabinet Minister who said he had come directly from meeting with President Gallegos at latter’s private residence. He said that about midnight an Army officer representing Army called on Gallegos to tell him that unless President accepted conditions laid down by Army, Army would take over government today (November 23). President informed Army officer his position unchanged namely he will not accept conditions imposed by Army but that as stated before he prepared consider Cabinet changes, etc., free of duress. Army officer replied to President this was Army’s ultimatum. Delgado Chalbaud Minister National Defense left at once with Gonzalo Barrios on what my informant said as last minute effort avoid blow-up Cabinet.
Minister confirmed labor leaders have been alerted and that if Army acts there strong possibility general strike with unpredictable results. He said that if Betancourt assassinated we may have another Bogotá.1 According Minister, great majority Army officers united against government. Police Caracas and officers National Guard with Army. He confirmed Pérez Jiménez spearhead Army movement2 and described him as Peronista type. In reply my query as where Communists stand he said President regretted that Communist Party publicly announced its adhesion to government.
[Page 129]I view situation as very critical at this moment.
Pass Army Navy and Air. Department please repeat to General Ridgway, Balboa3 for his information.
- Reference is to the Bogotá, Colombia uprising of April 9, 1948, after the Liberal Party chief Jorge Gaitan was shot and killed.↩
- Ambassador Donnelly informed the Department in unnumbered telegram of November 24 that Colonel Pérez Jiménez had just announced by radio that the army had taken over the government (831.00/11–2448).↩
- Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway, Commander in Chief, Caribbean Command.↩