NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY (CABLE)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005505097
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2011
• Case Number: F-2009-01666
• Publication Date: November 1, 1978

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Wednesday 1 November 1978 CG NIDC 78/255
Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
APPROVED FOR
RELEASEL DATE:
04-Apr-2011
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
 ARGENTINA: Major Cabinet Changes
The sudden resignation last week of Argentine Foreign
Minister Admiral Montee was followed yesterday by an official
announcement that four other cabinet ministers will be leaving
their posts soon. Although this is the first major cabinet re-
shuffle since the military took power in March 1976, there are
no signs that the changes reflect a crisis or major upheaval.
The Ministers of Planning, Defense, Justice, and So-
cial Welfare--all generals-announced their resignations yes-
terday, although they will remain at their posts until replace-
ments can be found. The two key cabinet members, Economy Min-
ister Martinez de Hoz, a civilian, and Interior Minister Gen-
eral Harguindeguy, are expected to remain in office.
The timing of Montes' departure may have been linked
to the fact that he was not consulted in President Videla's
decision late last week to continue diplomatic efforts with
Chile to resolve the Beagle Channel dispute. The resignations
of the other ministers, however, appear to be directly con-
nected with internal military politics.
E For the past several months, Videla and the military
junta have been deadlocked over the issue of who is to make
major policy decisions. The seriousness of this conflict is re-
flected in the failure to agree on a replacement for the Educa-
tion Minister, who resigned two months ago, or the Foreign
Minister. Interior Minister Harguindeguy is now occupying all
three posts.
If Videla can gain the junta's agreement to the ap-
pointment of prominent civilians to the vacated posts, he will
have made a major breakthrough= he promised early this year
to bring civilians back into the government. A new cabinet
dominated by conservative generals and admirals, on the other
hand, would indicate that Videla had lost ground to his mili-
tary opponents and had been forced to give greater considera-
tion to the views of the junta members.