MEMO FOR THE RECORD RE MEETING WITH OPERATIONAL CONTACT ON 1 MARCH 197.
Originator: CIA
Document date: 03/16/1970
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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16 March 1970

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Meeting With [WUSLAB/Jon 10 March 1970

1.

security and Arrangements:

This meeting was pre-

arranged by phone to take place

at (WUSLAB/1's home In

Maryland where he is recuperating from an eye operation.

His wife met me at the door and let me go up to the second

floor where I met W/t. When I left there was a family car

ene vorte

in front of the house. By the voice it was probably one

. of the two sons. I did not see him.

2. W/1/ is wearing pin-hole/glasses which give him a

rather startling look.

He was released from the hospitala

on 8 March/ and he will go back and see the surgeon on 18

March. The total recuperation period is another five weeks,

it has been one week since the time of the operation

(2 March 1970).

3. Administration: WI)was paid his salary for february.

He was unable to sign a receipt because of his vision problems.

4.

Production:

Just before his operation s

received

a letter from Guillermo Bedregal which was sent

"fróm Caracas.

Bedregal had seen Bolivian Planning Minister Jose Ortiz

Mercado in Caracas.

Ortiz said that the Bolivian government

either wanted in effect to work an alliance with Paz without

the MNR, or with the MNR without Paz.

One idea was for Paz

to remain in Lima and to give his blessings on MNR people to

join the government.

Paz had already rejected the idea of

Paz without the MNR. Ortiz told Bedregal that he was anxious

to see Juan Lechin Oquendo, who had been in Caracas,

but had

disappeared. (He is reputed to have gone. to Europe.)

Bedregal had seen Lechin a month before he talked to Ortiz.

At that time Lechin had said that he would have nothing to

do with the Bolivian government.

bitter.

Bedregal said that he has become even more radical.

Lechin said that the was willing to enter into conversations

with Paz.

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fein

ment In september 1970.

Bedregal said that he would send

further details on this scheme to,

W/1, and that he would

expect Ortiz to discuss it with/w/i/personally. Ortiz is

WH/3/B

expected to attend the CIAP meeting in Washington which is 1,8

being held in March. W/l is supposed to receive the blessings)

of Paz, General Torres, the civilian members of the cabinet,

and even the approval of the conservative military which is

apparently aligned behind a relative of W/l's wife, This

is a retired officer.

44734493

6. Iư/2 náá %

been in contact by phone with Hector

Fernandez in New York. Fernandez has returned from his

period of leave in South America.

and will probably see him early next week.

?: Plans: I expect to recontact Ev/sTover the weekend

F.5M1

FLOYD B. MCCULLY

TWHSLADOES

SEATS?

p..r.l

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