~ K FORCEZe REVIEWED BY FBI/JFK TAS J Oo i ro I qd \ - TEPPER, BOGGS described the subject as "our mutual friend." \ SSS a ee ss OPTIONAL. FORM NO. 10 a MAY 1962 EDITION os “ Saga FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6 ‘ wow “UNITED STATES GC 2RNMENT . ry U emorandum TO  *: DIRECTOR, FBI (64-23999) : SAC, wro[(34- coon) eo hey : WILLIAM GEORGE Aarne ‘Pst _ / 1S - LATIN AMERICA = ( /  f (@o:no) ip SAL — vf f ReWFOlet to Director dated 5/13/68 and BAlet to “-)." Director dated 5/13/68. DECLASSIFIED BY £57 fo ON 9/5 | 4 On 6/10/68, the files of the Officé © a USDS, concerning the subject were reviewed by SA JAMES F. a 8g J | =a PRICE. These files contained the following pertinent ~ i SS. information: Classified | One ; BAS reer | Siz. OA By communication dated 3/18/63, Representative | AALE BOGGS, Congress of the United States, wrote to ROBERT J. | S = cerning the subject. BOGGS advised that he thought a FS proposal by the subject concerning a "Report on Haiti" had a S great deal of merit and he hoped the department would con- sider the subject's proposal favorably. In writing to It was noted that the file contained communications from nh¢ Department of State to various US Embassies in Latin merica concerning trips throughout Latin America by the bject. These communications were sent in 1951, 1952, and 957, and requested that the various embassies extend the sual courtesies to the subject. In thése communications Spa7the subject was described as the editor of Latin American i | Reports. a ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED i > 2 doy, , NA By communication dated 7/7/47, WALTER J. DONNELLY, U. S. Embassy, San Jose, Costa Rica, advised the USDS of the recent visit of WILLIAM G. GAUDET, President of Latin American Reports, Incorporated, New orlesnsy houlsiana, to San Jose. ae | z Zpureau a NM ip ot Lt fe LY . yy New Orleans ka3s- 976) (acnsnsinams (nEnEEEERS SORES 43 & aWFo z 10h 17 JUN 28 1968 ‘ss shir-ey fel COW AL—-  — Buy U.S. Savings Bonds Regularly on the\Payroll Savings Plan Lani CAN NW 45788 DociId:32298962 Page 2
U “wo fe wot] Kc DONNELLY wal (Oe) as the former Executive Secretary of the Coordination Committee in Costa Rica. The communi- cation advised that in addition to obtaining information for the Latin American Report and attempting to sell the service to the Government and Costa Rican businessmen, GAUDET was also interested in obtaining information about iron ore deposits in Costa Rica. The communication indicated that GAUDET was obtaining this information on behalf of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. In the communication, GAUDET was described as having a wide circle of friends among Costa Rican businessmen. f \ ‘ \ —_s — By communication dated 6/6/45, HALLETT JOHNSON, U.S. Embassy, San Jose, Costa Rica, advised the USDS of the efficient work done by WILLIAM G. GAUDET as Executive Secretary for the Coordination Committee for Costa Rica and Press Field Representative for Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The communication commented that GAUDET had been efficiently carrying out the press, radio and moving picture programs. By communication dated 5/18/46, GEORGE F. SCHERER, “U.S. Embassy, Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic, advised the USDS of the recent visit of WILLIAM GEORGE GAUDET, ’ /\ correspondent of World Report. World Report was described 'as a new publication of international information sponsored ; by the United States News of Washington. The communication | described GAUDET as formerly having been employed with the pusfes, Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. It Ah 113/89 noted that GAUDET attempted without success, to interview President TRUJILLO. The communication noted that World Report will not adopt a sympathetic attitude toward the dictator TRUJILLO as long as GAUDET represents its interest in the Caribbean. It was noted that this communication was classified "Confidential." QJ ( The file contained no additional pertinent information. -2- ~ CONIA NTIAL NW 45788 DociId:32298962 Page 3
- . . | wefan] ity) | | | WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE CONFIDENTIAL | AT WASHINGTON, D. C. WH - 3, it ot Will report!/-jertipenty/t hformation from NIS files when available for review. ° 2?) Tit in My iba -3- CONF ENTIAL NW 45788 DociId:32298962 Page 4
SAC, New orteans/(@ [25-070] ‘ 6/28/68 AVS a Bello erg (64~23999) —Sf3 1 - Mr. H.W. atte , ALL Ing WILLIAM GEORGE SIDNEY GAUDET © HEREIN Is yao CONTAINED IS — LATIN AMERICA EXCEPT Stott A aha / OTHERW “ap , ified b . Reurlet of 6/14/68, Declessity on A review of the investigation in this matter discloses that on 11/6/67 confidential informant NO 1488-8 ? reported that well-placed personnel with the United Fruit “ty Company, New Orleans, Louisiana, regard the subject as an opportunist who probably cannot be trusted, It was stated ' that while subject has written articles favorable to the United Fruit Company, on the other hand he has threatened iQ personnel of that concern with adverse publicity unless - | the concern furnished him certain information he desired, gf Et was the consensus of opinion within the United Fruit ‘5,2 Company the subject cannot be trusted and he will use any "- get of circumstances to gain information for his publication, U jee A Bureau SIS representative in the American Eubassy, San Salvador, Ei Salvador, on 5/1/43 reported to the Bureau that Gaudet and one Richard Briggs, who were then with the Office of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs in San Jose, , Costa Rica, had acted in an indiscreet manner in discussing in public places business matters which conversations were ; overheard, Furthermore, they disclosed to persons regarded fh as almost strangers that a Bureau Agent was connectéd in an i undercover capacity with the American Embassy in Costa Rica, i It is further noted that subject has been involved . _ in two divorce proceedings; was sued on several cccasions for back alimony payments ; was regarded in the past a8 a poor credit risk; and in the late 1950's was a near alcoholic, A O Accordingiy, your request to designate Gaudet as | a PSI is denied; however, you may use him as a source pf information, In this regard, however, you are instru ted. uh 2 = WFO lass-sou on cass a | Casper — ase cous AW walk [Uinta peeue $e Felt Gale Rosen - {Sullivan fp ne ————— “G ondy pany POUUL'S: RO § 5 reuerys unit L_] aN) NW 45788 DociId:32298962 Page 5
mG) OQNFIDMTIAL «SECRET Pa., aS a free-lance journalist and then later returned to New Orleans where he was connected with the International News Service. In 1937 GAUDET was stationed with Interna- tional News Service in Atlanta, Ga., and remained with International News Service until 1942 when he was appointed __...- correspondent in the Inner-American Affairs Department with the United States Government, New Orleans files do not con- tain any information as to the significance, if any, of , GAUDET's contact with BERNARD S, REDMONT, WFO airtel to Burea 12/2/55, reported that OV 2) boas advised on 11/30/55g9uat an opposition newspaper the Jadvis Costa Rican Government published an editorial quoting from a "Latin--American Report" prepared by WILLIAM GAUDET. The "Report" stated (Bags vg ution would occur in Costa Rica within 60 days. Bre Sfstated that cauber(¢) lives and works out of New Orleans and hat while the sour did not know where GAUDET obtained his information, that_in / the past GAUDET's information had been remarkably accurate V/qy ] Bureau letter to New Orleans, 11/7/67, disclose that the Bureau's representative attached to the American Embassy at San Salvador, El Salvador, had been advised in 1943 by a source that subject, during a visit to San Salvador, had earned himself the reputation of being out- spoken and indiscreet in matters of a confidential nature, NO 1488-S advised on 11/6/67, that he had made inquiries with well placed individuals within the United Fruit Co. in New Orleans and these individuals advised that WILLIAM GAUDET , ublisher of "Latin American Report," has been a reporter in the tropics for over 20 years, These individuals- described GAUDET aS an Opportunist who probably could not be trusted. While GAUDET has written articles favorable to the United Fruit Co. concerning its operations in Latin America, he has on the other hand threatened United Fruit personnel with adverse publicity if United Fruit did not furnish GAUDET with certain information he. desired, wOW Rt ELEN EE NN CCA E OLE: LC AC LOOT AL LA AL OAD It is the consensus of opinion within the United Fruit Co. that GAUDET should probably not be trusted since it is felt that he would use any set of circumstances to his own end (Wu) of gaining information for_his CONFIDENTIAL NW 45788 DociId:32298962 Page 6 ”
vo [is4-o76:\() Dun and Bradstreet Rport A Dun and Bradstreet report in the name of in American Reports, Inc., under date of 4/25/67, ists the following individuals as officers of this corporation: Lui WLS iia W. G. GA President __.vice President... W, GERAT GAUDET zy ec , SIDNE = f ‘ The report discloses that the corporation was chartered in 1946, and that, during 1965, past due debt Secretar Treasurer. accumulated, some of which remains outstanding but is being reduced to some extent. This report describes GAUDET as having been born in 1909, in St. James Parish, La., and, for a number of years prior to 1941, having represented ‘the UP and the International News Service in Mexico and Latin America. GAUDET is described as having been employed by the Foreigh Service Department of Latin America, US Govern- ment during World War II. Contacts with Informants The following informants have advised that they possess no information or at least no pertinent information concerning GAUDET: Former NO 886 - S SI BLES I a OTHER 1B I -CARLOS DE LA VE (X) PSI OTHER 4 3 “ NAL ; CONFIDEN iA | NW 45788 DocId:32298962 Page i2