Office of the Historian

VE–1. Memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter– American Affairs (Rubottom) to the Acting Secretary of State1

Washington, January 28, 1958

SUBJECT

  • Recognition of the new Venezuelan Government.2

Discussion:

Venezuela has undergone a revolutionary change of government. The former President, General Marcos Pérez Jiménez, was forced by the Armed Forces to resign on January 23. His downfall was preceded by an unsuccessful uprising on January 1 and 2, in which the Air Force and units of the Army sought to overthrow his government. After several days of civilian riots and student demonstrations, followed by a widely supported general strike on January 21 and 22, he was ousted by the Armed Forces. General Pérez Jiménez was a member of the original three-man Junta of Government that assumed power in 1948, [Typeset Page 1193] following a military coup d’etat that overthrew the legally constituted government of President Gallegos, who had gained a majority of the popular vote in the free elections conducted in Venezuela the preceding year. Installed by the Armed Forces as Provisional President in 1952, following the dissolution of the Junta, General Pérez Jiménez was named Constitutional President the following year by the Constituent Assembly. He was “reelected” for another five-year term of office as a result of a plebiscite held on December 15, 1957, in which he was the only presidential candidate. Resentment among the younger military officers and the civilian population over the plebiscite is believed to have contributed to a great extent to his downfall.

In a note dated January 25, 1958,3 the new Venezuelan Government informed our Embassy at Caracas that, in accordance with the universal desires of the nation, in defense of the supreme interests of the Republic, and in order to move toward a legally constituted democratic form of government, the National Armed Forces had assumed power and had formed a five-man Junta of Government headed by Admiral Wolfgang Larrazábal, as President of the Junta, and comprised of two other military officers and two civilians. The note stated that the new government would comply strictly with its international obligations and expressed its desire to resume cordial relations with the U.S.

The Junta is in control of the machinery of government. It appears to enjoy wide popular as well as united military support and there is no substantial resistance to it. It has pledged by public announcement to conduct free elections as soon as possible in order to constitute a democratic form of government. A member of the Junta has assured our Embassy of the new [Facsimile Page 2] government’s receptivity to foreign investment and of its willingness and ability to protect it. He has also given assurances that the new government will be anti-communist.

In the belief that early recognition on our part would contribute materially to the stability of the new regime, we propose that the U.S. recognize, at 6.00 p.m. today, the Junta as the Provisional Government of Venezuela.

Recommendation:

That you sign the attached memorandum to the President4 recommending recognition of the Junta as the Provisional Government of the Republic of Venezuela.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 731.02/1–2858. Confidential. Drafted by Carl E. Bartch of the Office of South American Affairs; concurred in by Robert Murphy, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; E. Allan Lightner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Information and Cultural Affairs; John S. Hoghland, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations; Marjorie M. Whiteman, Assistant Legal Adviser for Inter-American Affairs; and Clement E. Conger, Assistant Chief of Protocol.↩
  2. At the Secretary of State’s staff meeting on January 23, 1958, at 9.15 a.m., Assistant Secretary Rubottom stated the following with respect to the overthrow of Pérez Jiménez:
    “14. Mr. Rubottom gave a full report on recent developments in Venezuela leading to the overthrow of Perez Jimenez and the establishment of a military junta. He pointed out that no Americans were involved in these events and that the wells and refineries of the Standard Oil Company are in full production. He noted that a representative of the junta called at the Embassy this morning and assued our Charge that the new regime is friendly to the U.S. and seeks quick recognition.
    “Mr. Murphy asked Mr. Rubottom to stay in close contact with the Navy Department to furnish guidance with respect to the U.S. carrier and destroyers which are approximately 150 miles from the Venezuelan coast. The Acting Secretary asked Mr. Rubottom to furnish General Goodpaster at the White House with a summary of the situation in Venezuela for the information of the President.”
    (Notes of the Secretary’s Staff Meeting, January 23, 1958, designated SM N-604; Secretary’s Staff Meetings, Lot 63 D 75)    ↩
  3. Reference is to Venezuelan Foreign Office note 69, transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 510 from Caracas, January 25, 1958. (731.00/1–2558)
    Acting Secretary of State Herter’s memorandum, which is not printed, bears a typewritten notation which reads: “President authorized Acting Secretary to do so. per Gen. Goodpaster in telephone conversation which Mr. Calhoun 1/28/58. ARA ultimately called Caracas.”    ↩
  4. The Department’s note to the Venezuelan Foreign Office, dated January 28, 1958, extended recognition. (731.02/1–2858)↩