Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

VE–8. Letter from the Chargé in Venezuela (Burrows) to the Director of the Office of South American Affairs (Bernbaum)¹

Caracas, April 18, 1958

Dear Maurie:

With reference to your Telegram 628² and our 742,³ I don’t believe I can emphasize too much the strength of the feeling here on this particular issue.

Unless something should happen prior to the Vice President’s arrival in Caracas (and by “something” I mean the departure of Pérez Jiménez and Pedro Estrada from the United States, temporarily if nothing else), I am sure there will be demonstrations and perhaps other unpleasant events. I don’t know quite how the Department would go about this, but if there is some way to encourage these two to be out of the United States while the Vice President is on this trip, I think it might be one of the smartest things the Department could possibly do. We read in the paper here yesterday that PJ was preparing to travel to Switzerland and, as a matter of fact, that Mrs. Pérez Jiménez had already undertaken negotiations to buy a house there. The Foreign Minister in commenting on this yesterday said what a wonderful thing it would be if the report were true. He, incidentally, expressed the hope that there would not be any demonstrations while the Vice President is here.⁴

Best regards,

Sincerely,

Charles R. Burrows

1. Source: Department of State, ARA/EST Files, Lot 61 D 319, “Visas—Perez Jimenez—Estrada.” Confidential; Official-Informal.
2. The reference telegram, April 17, 1958, reported that the Treasurer of the Junta Patriotica, Vincente Lecuna, told Department officials that he feared demonstrations during the Nixon visit if Pérez Jimenez and Pedro Estrada were still in the U.S. (033.1100-NI/4–1758)
3. The referenced telegram from Caracas, April 18, 1958, reported difficulties in relations with Venezuela caused by the presence in the United States of Pérez and Estrada and stated, “Far from quieting down strength of feeling this issue being maintained and probably will continue as aggravating factor long as they remain in U.S.” (033.1100-NI/4–858)
4. A handwritten marginal notation, dated May 1, 1958, by William P. Snow, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, reads: “I believe we are stuck with the presence of P.J. & Estrada. I say this after speaking with OSA officers & giving it thought myself. If either of them should leave the U.S., the INS would probably deny them readmission, and even if not, their return shortly after the Nixon party has visited Caracas would look like a shabby device on our part.”