STAFF NOTES: LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS MAY 28, 1975[SANITIZED] - 1975/05/28

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03018460
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: May 28, 1975

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5c-MY
No Foreign Dissem
Latin American Trends
SOURCED
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May /2133, 1975
No. 0511/75
EO 13526
3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
EO 13526
3.5(c)
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LATIN AMERICAN TRENDS
This publication is prepared for regional specialists in the Washington com-
munity by the Western Hemisphere Division, Office of Current Intelligence,
with occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of
Intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to
the authors of the individual articles.
CONTENTS
May 2 8 , 1975
Argentina: Restrictions on Press
Freedom
1
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3.5(c)
Argentina: Restrictions on Press Freedom
On May 21 the Trends reported the details of an
Argentine executive decree issued on May 14 forbidding
domestic and foreign news media to carry news about
Argentina supplied by foreign wire services. The de-
cree has touched off a furor in Buenos Aires press
circles. Editorial reaction zeroed in on the uncon-
stitutional nature of the edict and generally echoed
La Nacion's assertion that it is "ambiguous, arbitrary,
and absurd."
The government responded quickly. A public serv-
ice message, broadcast over government-controlled TV
on May 18 and 19, warned that "subversive organizations
are using some media in their efforts to influence the
masses." Lest viewers have any doubts about which news-
papers were guilty, the ad clearly showed someone buy-
ing copies of Cronista Comercial and La Opinion.
Moreover, presidential press secretary Villone,
one of Lopez Rega's cronies, visited La Nacion, La
Opinion, and Cronista Comercial to complain about their
criticism of the government. He reportedly warned one
writer of "dire consequences" if the criticism did not
stop.
The government has already withdrawn official ad-
vertising from La Prensa, a long-time critic of Peronism,
and La Opinion, which appealsto the left wing of the
Peronist movement. The recent assassination of a writer
for La 2Riai211 by unidentified assailants also has
shocRd, angered,and frightened the journalistic community.
The victim allegedly was a former member of the left-wing
Peronist Youth and had once written an article making fun
of Lopez Rega.
Mrs. Peron and Lopez Rega clearly have embarked on
a campaign to bring the news media under stricter control,
and offenders are likely to be increasingly intimidated
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and punished by withdrawal of official advertising.
During his first administration (1946-1955), Juan
Peron brutally silenced or neutralized the country's
two great metropolitan dailies, La Nacion and La
Prensa. It is difficult to picture the present govern-
ment following the same path, but as Mrs. Peron's
economic and political problems worsen it will be
tempting for a man of Lopez Rega's mentality to make
at least a try at it. (CONFIDENTIAL)
May 28, 1975
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