831.00/12–1348: Circular airgram
The Acting Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics, Except Venezuela and Cuba
The Department issued following press release December 10:
A United Press report from Habana, Cuba dated December 9, 1948 quotes His Excellency Rómulo Gallegos, exiled President of Venezuela, [Page 145] as “demanding” that the United States Government explain the presence of its Military Attaché at the Caracas army barracks during the military revolt of November 24. Sr. Gallegos is further quoted as having stated that the Military Attaché of the United States acted as “cooperator or counselor” for the revolutionists.
According to information received from the American Ambassador in Caracas the Military Attaché of the United States, Col. Edward F. Adams, did visit the Ministry of National Defense on November 24. The purpose of this visit was to inquire if there was any news from our Air Attaché at Caracas who a few days earlier had left for a sparsely populated region of Venezuela known as the Gran Sabana to search for a lost U.S. military plane. No word had been received from him, giving rise to serious concern.
Despite the political crisis it was not felt advisable to defer this Inquiry because of the nature of the emergency. Shortly after noon the same day Col. Adams visited the Presidential Palace, Miraflores, on the same errand. There he met Venezuelan officers of his acquaintance who confirmed an earlier radio report that the Army had taken over the Government. The American Ambassador has informed the Department that Col. Adams has stated categorically that in none of his conversations did he indicate any partiality for either side involved in the political crisis or give any advice or express opinions which could be interpreted as constituting intervention in Venezuelan domestic affairs.
It is regretted that Sr. Gallegos, not knowing the emergency reasons for the visits of Col. Adams to the Ministry of Defense and the Presidential Palace on November 24, concluded that they had some other purpose, even though Sr. Gallegos cannot but be aware of the record of this Government in adhering strictly to its non-intervention commitments. Standing instructions of the Department to all U.S. missions prescribe that officials of this Government must not intervene in the internal political affairs of any foreign Government. There is no basis for belief that any member of the Embassy staff failed to live up to this standing injunction during the recent political crisis in Venezuela.