STAFF NOTES: LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS JUNE 25, 1975[SANITIZED] - 1975/06/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02691650
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 25, 1975

Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
3.5(c)
z
2ircc KifirEV.
Latin American Trends
132
June 25, 1975
No. 0515/75
�
"M.
pproved.for_Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
3.5(c)
pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 CO2661650
LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS
CONTENTS
June 25, 1975
pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
3.5(c)
LtIgentina: The Dialactue That Never Was
President Peron has held another of her infrequent
meetings with Ricardo Balbin, the leader of the major
opposition party--the Radical Civic Union. As in pre-
vious sessions, Mrs. Peron heard Balbin's tactful
criticisms of her administration, but was not particu-
larly forthcoming or conciliatory. The only notable
difference was the presence of Foreign Minister Vignes,
who acted as Mrs. Peron's secretary in place of Lopez
Rega, who was temporarily out of the country.
In spite of Mrs. Peron's effort to pay lip service
to the political dialogue initiated by her late husband,
her apparently total dependence on Lopez Rega has dis-
couraged constructive contacts with all political sectors,
including other Peronist officials. Balbin is under pres-
sure from his party,as indicated by his reported statement
to the President that their meetings must produce results.
Other spokesmen for the centrist Radicals now openly state
that if no action is taken on their complaints, the party
will issue a eocument saying that the "dialogue is dead."
Balbin may well be in danger of losing his mantle to
someone more aggressive because of his efforts to play the
role of a constructive critic. In the past his detractors
have Characterized Balbin as an "old hack" and last week
the extremist Montonero organization revived this charge
in a full-page announcement published in several prominent
US and European newspapers. The announcement was paid
for by the huge BUnge and Born Company as part of an
agreement with the Montoneros to facilitate the release
oi two kidnapped company executives. The article speci-
fically attacked Balbin as one of the politicians who
play at constructive opposition based on dialogue and
respect for the institutions" and "one of the Masters of
all the skills tc make the popular struggle their own,
witiNout ever representing their (the people's) interest."
June 25, 1975
SE
4g77;
pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 CO2691650.
More important than the possible replacement of
Balbin, however, is the fact that none of the opposi-
tion political parties has developed viable alterne.-
tives to the government's increasingly unpopular
policies. Historically it has been precisely their
absence of democratic options that has ultimately
facilitated the intervention of the armed forces as
the "guardians of the republic."
3.5(c)
June 25, 1975
-7-
pproved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650;�
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
Approved for Release: 2018/10/26 002691650
NR