104-10072-10241 13 April 1970 } MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD | SUBJECT: Meeting With firusLaB/1) on 10 April 1970 / i. (Security and Arrangements: The meeting took place at- [wuStaB/1"sf home where he is still recuperating from his eye operation. I had to delay my arrival from 1200 until 1230, and I phoned him concerning the delay. He answered the door and we went upstairs where we sat in an upstairs study. I left at about 1400. / 5 ; 2. Production:t\ (WUSLAB/I) said that Jose Raul Viera Linares [nad phoned him at his.Nome at about 1100 on §S April. Viera said |e oe ese ~“ that a friend had described jto him an acquaintanc@ who had had . aS an eye problem similar to WISLAB/J (or words to that effect), and ¢ at, Viera now realized the s@ériousness of the case and that WUSLAB/I/would not be able to travel. Viera said that - the Chances were now remote that he would’be returning toy New York. A friend of his named "Rogelio”™ would contact (WUSUAB/1 te did not say;when or where, but it would be when circumstances - permit. (WUSLAB/LJasked if Viera might be assigned to another foreign country. Viera did not deign to answer this question. . - / 2 3. I asked [WUSLAB/1/what he considered the | lera were. He, thought an important factor would be Vieéra's _ = He would not be but he did like good living. He also pro- ably did no ike living in Havana, and would not like to stay 3 there for a very long period. [W/1) thought that if Viera came S out to a countrv such as Spain’ that could J easily|_ In the United States Viera was on his guard. Also in the United States Viera did not have high level contacts with the local government, whereas in other countries he would be expected to have such contacts. Some of those con- tacts might then be also in contact with U.S.sofficials and you could get a cross-check on Viera. I told{ WUSLAB/1/ that we would finish the lon Viera the next time we get together y’ viene cc Wer, aelee oae wee tag 4. Carlos Antonio CYP ASCO the Nagional Director for Education Planning, (visit& WUSLAB/1] on §]April 1970. Carrasco claimed that the Bolivian government is in a period of stalemate. There is progress being made in only two fields. One of these is planning and the other is education. The Minister of Education Mariano Baptista has more power than some of the other ministers.,. ACS. COPY = aaeeeet etniatesh ae te veer ane teenie cote tie er ary rennin tttientna nee memenemen are tea fapepue eiecentr Rett tp ers
14-00000 Qe The education budget has been increased, and he has some say in the selection of the Ministry of Education's personnel. Even though the military blocked appointments for Maria Elba Gutierrez and Professor Chavez they are still in the ministry; Chavez in the "Instituto Normal’ and Maria Elba as Secretary General of the Ministry (the third ranking post in the ministry.) Baptista > has good relations with the United States which is helping the education program. The cabinet seems to be rather stable at the moment, although there continues to be pressure to remove Rolon Anaya and Marcelo Quiroga. The latter is a candidate to replace Juan Lechin Oquendo as the secretary general of the union organization. The strongest military man in the govern- ment from the standpoint of firmness 4s Edmundo Valencia, the Minister of National Economy. 5, The civilian cabinet members believe that the United States is happy with them. They think that the military are incapable of running the government. There has been no in- dication of a 28mdale among the cabinet members. There is also a freeze on Bolivian-US relations. The military continues to be worried because there ig not a political party behind the government. Some of the civilians wanted to gain the support of the MNR, but the military did not want to do that. 6. Carrasco gave one example of the military-civilian interplay: The Minister of Education Baptista wanted the education bill signed on 9 April 1970 which is the anniversary of the 1952 revolution. Valencia ovposed it because it was the anniversary. Colonel Juan-Ayoroa continues to be opposed to the return of MNR people to the government. “7. Hernan Siles when he was in Bolivia saw Losada, Baptista, and twice saw Ovando. The reason for his removal from the country is as follows: Arellano denounced Siles to General Torres and gave him some written material on a plot. Torres then announced that there was a plot set for 9 April. Colonel Ayora called Siles. in and said that he had to leave Bolivia within four days. The government wanted him out of the country on 9 April. Ayoroa told Siles that he could return to Bolivia on 10 April. Carrasco received the above story from Siles to whom he talked many times.. Ovando believes that Siles is no longer interested in governmental power. He is interested in the MNR, and he does want to destroy the political power of Victor Paz Estenssoro. While in Bolivia Siles atlienated Serate~- Reich, Arellano, etc. Siles attributes to Arellano his betrayal . to the government. /
14-00000 7 i Nai tne B ~ 3- 8. Nothing has happened on Paz's negotiations with the government. 9. The arrival of the Soviet Ambassador has produced good consequences according to Carrasco. Relations are smoother with the American ambassador. The Bolivians feel freer to be more friendly knowing there is someone else to turn to. The Soviet presence is a sop to placate the left in Bolivia. It Serves aS a substitute for the lack of leftist participation in the government. Ovando may use the Soviets as the need arises, just as he will try and use the Americans. 10. Ovando and Torres wanted to expel a Colonel Limay who is a very right-wing government employee. The military opposed it and he is still in his job. Ovando has been thinking of a constituent assembly as a device to legalize his government. He very much wants a legal: presidency. 11. Plans: [WusLAB/i] will be returning to limited office . work the week of [137April I promised to call him during the week. (A cable was sent on the Viera information on 10 April.) fLEPEI FLOYD B. MCCULLY \% Sahin etiekel ey ee Sts rte erg I nr ree | N feof obo: [isin] 00s