Office of the Historian

464. Memorandum From the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Secretary of State1

Washington, May 13, 1957.

SUBJECT

  • Change of Government in Colombia

Colombian Ambassador Urrutia informed us this morning that ex-President Rojas telephoned him from Bermuda at 10:00 A.M. yesterday to obtain visas for himself and family to enter the US.2 The Ambassador dissuaded him from making this request and, through the Spanish Ambassador in Washington, obtained permission [Page 939] for him to enter Spain. Urrutia thinks Rojas and his family left Bermuda about 2:00 P.M. on Sunday for Madrid.

The five-man military Junta in Bogotá has set up a 13-man Cabinet composed of five Conservatives, five Liberals and three Army Generals. The Minister of Government (senior Cabinet officer), José Maria Villarreal, a Conservative and follower of former President Gomez, has a record of cruelty and partisanship as a provisional Governor. Foreign Minister Carlos Sanz de Santamaria, former Ambassador in Washington, is a Liberal but has shown recent pro-Rojas leanings. A gratifying appointment is that of Antonio Alvarez Restrepo, a Conservative and a believer in sound banking and business principles, as Minister of Finance. The Military still hold the posts of War, Justice, and Communications, the first two going to very able men—General Saiz, pro-Conservative, and General Duarte, pro-Liberal—while the third is the only holdover from the former Cabinet.3

The equal representation of both parties in the Cabinet and the caliber of the men selected, generally speaking, suggest that the Junta is endeavoring to carry out its promise to set up a representative government. Reports from Bogotá seem to indicate that the Government is well received by the people. It remains to be seen how long the leading figures can put aside party politics and collaborate in the interest of national unity.

The Colombian Ambassador has queried us with regard to recognition, and this question is now under study in ARA.4

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 721.02/5–1357. Confidential.↩
  2. According to a memorandum of telephone conversation between Rubottom and Pigott on May 10, Pigott informed the Department that the Embassy had received a call that day from the Colombian Foreign Office asking for a visa for Rojas and his family to enter the United States. Pigott said he had sent a telegram to the Department in which he had indicated his lack of support for the request. Pigott told Rubottom that “there is complete feeling of odium against the man [Rojas] all over the country and if we were to grant him a visa the press there would have a lot to say about it and the people would certainly not understand it.” Rubottom replied that “he was inclined to feel the same way as Mr. Pigott about the matter but he felt we should give the matter some consideration and would let him know later.” (Ibid., Rubottom Files: Lot 59 D 573, Colombia)↩
  3. A memorandum to Rubottom from Sanders, dated May 13, contained information on the backgrounds of the new Colombian cabinet members. (Ibid., Central Files, 721.13/5–1357)↩
  4. In a memorandum to the Secretary of State, dated May 14, Rubottom presented a discussion of the question of recognition of the new Colombian Government and recommended that the Secretary send a memorandum to the President recommending recognition of the military junta as the provisional government of Colombia. (Ibid., 721.02/5–1457)↩