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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–11, Part 2, Documents on South America, 1973–1976
  4. Document 344

344. Telegram 4335 From the Embassy in Uruguay to the Department of State1

Montevideo, December 17, 1975, 1734Z.

4335. Subject: Meeting with Wilson Ferreira. Refs: A) MVD 4087; B) State 295966.

1. Embassy would be interested in learning telegraphically how Department officers responded to allegations made by Wilson Ferreira December 12 as to U.S. role here (reftel B, para 1B).

2. What Ferreira presented as statements of fact or general belief are, in fact, rumors generated or retreaded frequently by Ferreira and his followers among others. For example, Wilson Ferreira’s supporters were among those perpetrating rumors that the Ambassador had personally intervened to secure the Bordaberry regime during the political crisis of last May. The truth is that the Ambassador was in the United States during the entire month of May and that the Embassy otherwise took no position or action whatsoever in regard to this crisis. As for the magnitude of “US Assistance” being greater than that accorded “all previous democratic regimes,” we assume Dept. officers were able to correct his gross misimpression, including the fact that the impact of recently signed modest aid loans has not in any way begun to be felt.

Siracusa

  1. Summary: The Embassy requested information on the Department’s response to Ferreira’s charges, arguing that he had spread rumors alleging the Ambassador’s involvement in the political crisis of May 1975.

    Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750439–0184. Confidential. In telegram 1788 from Montevideo, May 29, the Embassy reported that the previous weeks’ confrontation between Bordaberry and the Uruguayan military had been “a standoff with no clear winners or losers.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750189–0877) Siracusa was absent from Uruguay May 2 to May 30. (Telegram 1312 from Montevideo, April 22, National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750141–0068, and telegram 123317 to Montevideo, May 28, National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D750185–1028)

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