821.00/11–249: Telegram
The Ambassador in Colombia (Beaulac) to the Secretary of State
589. For background of political situation Colombia, see Embassy’s despatch 579 of September 16.1 Basic situation explained more fully and clearly in that despatch than possible in telegram. Press continues report violence in various parts of country. Experience indicates most stories exaggerated and dishonestly presented. Nevertheless, there is evidence violence exists and engaged in by both sides, although larger number of victims are Liberals. Clearest case police persecution Liberals is attack on Liberal meeting at Cali October 22 resulting in 24 deaths (Embtel 568 October 24, Embdes 673 October 312). Liberals engaged in cold war (and in some cases not so cold) against Conservative government and Conservative party. Both Liberal and Conservative parties have used all facilities available to them to gain electoral advantage in naked struggle for power. Conservatives have advantage because of their identification with government which has proved stronger than Liberal control of congress.
Liberals allege Conservative government has combined with Conservative party to oppose Liberals and there is evidence to support allegation. One doubtful factor is extent to which extremists in Liberal party may have been able to dictate or influence strategy and tactics which have contributed to bring about present situation. Conservatives have made much of this alleged influence, but they probably exaggerate as do both sides in all their allegations.
Whether elections will be held this month is anyone’s guess. Present prospects, which may be changed overnight, are that they will be held with Liberals abstaining as conservatives abstained during Lopez administration.3 [Page 617] However, Liberals in congress have moved to postpone elections although doubtful there remains enough time before November 27 to complete necessary legislation to effect this result.
President and some other Conservatives, including Gómez,4 inclined to think country will adjust itself to Conservative victory even though Liberals abstain. Whether or not this will occur Embassy cannot say. The situation in event of elections without Liberal participation would be explosive, but it does not necessarily follow that it will explode. Threatened Liberals strike would of course present a national problem to government. Embassy has naturally given thought to possibility that some outside influence might be exerted to bring about solution to existing difficulties. In that relation following is pertinent: the government so far has refrained from using its power to declare state of siege. Freedom of expression continues to exist to a degree not equalled in most Latin American countries. As of today, there is nothing to prevent communication between parties except possibly desire of parties not to communicate with each other. Despite Lleras statement (Embtel 583 October 295) that relations between parties broken, contact between parties continues. Nor has there been any lack of important and influential intermediaries between parties.
As Department will have perceived, my conversation with President of October 28 (Embtel 583 October 295) had as its principal purpose to impress President with seriousness with which Embassy views situation. I told President our government concerned over situation Colombia because it considered Colombia’s democracy precious possession of the continent and feared it was imperiled.
My own opinion is President has been excessively passive in his attitude toward the situation and has not used, publicly and to the fullest extent, prestige of his office to bring about peace. He is, of course, hurt and angered by personal attacks on him by Liberals and apparently feels sincerely that in espousing national union government from which Liberals chose to withdraw, he was giving highest service to cause of peace.
In my conversation with him October 28, he gave me no reason to believe he would welcome outside suggestions at this time. The Liberals, because they feel at a disadvantage at this stage, might welcome an expression of outside interest, but it is doubtful that Conservatives, who feel that they have an advantage, would or that govt would. Under the circumstances, I doubt that pious expression by the [Page 618] Department, or by other agencies, would be helpful, although we shall continue to give thought to possibility that some outside influence might be useful. If Department has any ideas on the subject, I should appreciate having the benefit of them.
In this connection, Lleras Camargo’s statement (Embtel 588 November 16) was characterized by conservative El Siglo as intervention by international official. Today’s liberal press states Liberal party intends to send Lleras Camargo’s statement to governments of other American republics.
Sent Department 589, repeated Lima.
- Not printed.↩
- Neither printed.↩
- Alfonso López Pumaréjo was President of Colombia, 1934–1938 and 1942–1945.↩
- Laureano Gómez, Conservative party candidate for President in the election to be held on November 27.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
-
The text of this telegram read as follows:
“press give prominence today to statement to UP of Aberto Lleras Camargo, appealing to all patriotic Colombians to unite to save country. He discounts Communist influence with Liberal Party and contrasts sterling virtues of [Liberal Party presidential candidates Darío] Echandía with Gómez anti-Communist obsession, thus probably eliminating himself as possible arbiter in situation or as possible choice of both parties for temporary president, as some-peace advocates proposed in the past.” (821.00/11–149)
On November 7, the Colombian representative on the Council of the OAS wrote to Mr. Lleras protesting his statement on the Colombian situation; the texts of that message and Mr. Lleras’ reply of the same date are printed in. Annals of the Organization of American States, 1949, p. 364.
↩