198. Memorandum From the Acting Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Little) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
SUBJECT
- The Argentine Elections
The enclosed memorandum2 summarizes developments in the Argentine electoral campaign, which reaches an initial climax on Sunday, July 7, when the public goes to the polls. It explains why it is [Page 413] unlikely that any Presidential candidate will receive a popular majority,3 on July 31 will be of crucial importance. In case of a stalemate in the Electoral College, the new Congress will meet on August 12 to have the final say in picking a President.
There has been a continuing series of shifts on the part of important groups as the Peronists sought to find loopholes in decrees promulgated by the government and designed to prevent their obtaining a controlling role in the new government. Peron’s latest instructions to his followers have been to vote in blank as a protest, and it is possible that he may also be planning to have them precipitate strikes and riots.
This memorandum is based on information available in Washington as of 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 5, and should provide the background needed to interpret last minute developments as well as the outcome of the popular vote. A previous memorandum dated June 10 provided more detail on the political parties and the complex election mechanism.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 14 ARG. Confidential. Drafted by Lancaster and approved by Wellman and Martin.↩
- Attached, but not printed.↩
- According to telegram 47 from Buenos Aires, July 8, the elections of July 7 “took place in an atmosphere of complete calm but not of apathy as indicated by surprisingly low percentage of blank votes cast.” The majority victory of Arturo Illía and the UCRP and the strong showing of Oscar Alende and his faction of the UCRI led the U.S. Embassy to believe that “two radical parties now stand at point of historic opportunity for fusion and reform of Argentina’s traditional radicalism.” (Department of State, Central Files, POL 14 ARG) In telegram 61 from Buenos Aires, July 10, the Embassy noted that Argentines were indulging in “surprised self-congratulations and genuine enthusiasm” over Illía’s victory. “Military, which masterminded electoral strategy, are flushed with success,” the Embassy noted, “their prestige at new heights.” (Ibid.)↩
- Not printed. (Ibid.)↩
- David Rowe signed for Little above Little’s typed signature.↩