831.001 Gallegos, Romulo/12–648
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
Sir: In amplification of Embassy telegram No. 786 of December 6, 1948, I have the honor to report that the Conservative newspaper El Mercurio of Santiago gave front page prominence to an interview given by former President Gallegos of Venezuela on his arrival in Havana where he had been exiled by the new military government of Venezuela. Gallegos told the Associated Press that reactionary Venezuelan groups and foreign capital were the causes of the situation in Venezuela which led to seizure of power by the military.
The opposition of Venezuelan reactionary forces and foreign petroleum companies to the social program of his government, and especially the government’s determination not to grant further oil concessions, contributed to conditions leading to the revolt, he stated. A further cause of the coup, according to Gallegos, was the government’s policy of a fifty per cent tax on the profits of petroleum companies. He also stated that a foreign military attaché was involved in the overthrow of his government but refused to reveal the nationality of the petroleum companies or the military attaché involved. He did, however, state that there was considerable Peruvian influence in the movement against his government pointing out that various military figures who had participated in the coup had studied in Peru. Despite his refusal to name directly the nationality of foreigners involved he did affirm that neither Argentina nor former Venezuelan Presidents Medina Angarita and Lopez Contreras were involved.
He attacked the United States for its neglect of Latin America stating that we were preoccupied with Europe and failed to see the dangers existing in America. Although former United States Governments have obtained the friendship of Latin America this feeling is rapidly diminishing, he said.
Gallegos charged that although he was well treated while held by the military government, various members of his Cabinet were badly [Page 137] treated and even tortured. He stated that the military had not asked him for Cabinet posts as they knew he would not grant them but that they had asked him to deport Rómulo Betancourt, President of the Acción Democrática.
Former President Gallegos viewed the return to power of the military in Venezuela as indicative of a network of Andean dictatorships which have as their purpose the suppression of independent activities by political parties. He lamented the adoption of the recognition agreement at Bogotá and referred to it as the “mother” of many military coups.
He stated that he would remain in Havana a short time and then go to Mexico. Later, he said, he hoped to visit the United States where he would speak “very clearly”.
Clippings of this editorial from El Mercurio are enclosed.1
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩