Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, American Republics: Central and South America, Volume VII

570. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Holland) to the Acting Secretary of State ¹

Washington , June 1, 1956 .

SUBJECT

• OCB Paper² on Venezuela Under NSC Action 1290–d³

Discussion:

As you are aware the internal security of Venezuela is important because of the strategic value of its oil and iron ore and its geographic location. The Government of General Pérez Jiménez, which depends mainly on a flourishing economy and the continued support of the Army, appears stable despite some Army dissatisfaction with extensive graft and brutality. The Government is basically anti-communist.

The analysis of internal security conditions in Venezuela indicates that the communist parties have been outlawed, the total number of communists is not large and their activities are restricted. The internal security forces of Venezuela are quite effective against communists whenever these are believed to threaten the stability of the present government. Principal weaknesses are the Government’s concentration on suppression of the political opposition (frequently mislabeled communist) rather than on the real communists, failure to recognize the danger of permitting communists to entrench themselves in labor, and inadequate knowledge of the organization and capabilities of the underground communist movement.

The principal internal security agency (SN) and its Director, Estrada, have become symbols of intelligence activity and quite ruthless repression directed chiefly against domestic political opposition, both civilian and military, and have incurred the enmity not only of many important civilians but of important military leaders as well. Thus, any action which identifies the U.S. with SN may damage our relations with important elements in Venezuela, whether or not such elements are vocal at present.⁴ …

. . . . . . .

Recommendation:

That you move approval of the paper by the OCB subject to the adoption of paragraph 54c or, if that is unacceptable, then paragraph 54b.⁵

1. Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Latin America 1956. Top Secret.
2. Reference is to the May 29 version of the OCB paper, “Analysis of Internal Security Situation in Venezuela and Recommended Action,” dated June 13, 1956. No copy of the May 29 draft has been found in Department of State files.
3. This action, taken at the 229th meeting of the NSC, December 21, 1954, established a program aimed at improving internal security (constabulary forces, etc.) and destroying Communist apparatus in free world countries regarded by the United States as vulnerable to Communist subversion. See the Memorandum of Discussion at the 229th meeting of the NSC in Foreign Relations, 1952–1954, vol. II, Part 1, p. 832.
4. The OCB Working Group was split on the recommendation for a survey of the Venezuelan Department of National Security (SN), headed by Pedro Estrada. The positions were set forth in paragraphs 54a, 54b, and 54c. Documentation concerning the interagency split is in briefing papers prepared for the Acting Secretary of State, May 31. (Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 62 D 430, Latin America 1956)
5. There is no indication on the source text that it was approved by Hoover.