BR 017 MEMORANDUM FROM DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE COLBY TO SECRETARY OF STATE KISSINGER.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05355623
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2018
• Case Number: F-2018-01568
• Publication Date: April 11, 1974

Approved for Release: 2018/08/20 C05355623
Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Colby to Secretary of State
Kissinger, Washington, April 11, 1974
The Central Intelligence Agency reported that President Geisel planned to continue
Medici's policy of using extra-legal means against subversives, but would to limit
executions to the most dangerous subversives and terrorists.
[CIA, State]
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry, Job 80M01048A, Box 1,
Brazil 200274-190774. Secret;
David N. Blae of the Central Intelligence Agency Staff signed for Colby.
on April 9. The line for the
Drafted by Phillips,
concurrence of the Deputy Director for Operations is unsigned.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505 /
Executive Regi(b)(3)
n An 1974 rfll
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
The Secretary of State
SUBJECT:
Decision by Brazilian President Ernesto Geisel
To Continue the Summary Execution of Dangerous
Subversives Under Certain Conditions
2. On 30 March 1974, Brazilian President Ernesto Geisel
met with General Milton Tavares de Souza (called General
Milton) and General Confucio Danton de Paula Avelino, re-
spectively the outgoing and incoming chiefs of the Army
Intelligence Center (CIE). Also present was General Joao
Baptista Figueiredo, Chief of the Brazilian National
Intelligence Service (SNI).
3. General Milton, who did most of the talking, out-
lined the work of the CIE against the internal subversive
target during the administration of former President
Emilio Garrastazu Medici. He emphasized that Brazil
cannot ignore the subversive and terrorist threat, and
he said that extra-legal methods should continue to be
employed against dangerous subversives. In this regard,
General Milton said that about 104 persons in this category
had been summarily executed by the CIE during the past
year or so. Figueiredo supported this policy and urged
its continuance.
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4. The President, who commented on the seriousness and
potentially prejudicial aspects of this policy, said that he
wanted to ponder the matter during the weekend before arriv-
ing at any decision on whether it should continue. On 1 April,
President Geisel told General Figueiredo that the policy
should continue, but that great care should he taken to make
certain that only dangerous subversives were executed. The
President and General Figueiredo agreed that when the CIE
apprehends a person who might fall into this category, the
CIE chief will consult with General Figueiredo, whose approval
must be given before the person is executed. The President
and General Figueiredo also agreed that the CIE is to devote
almost its entire effort to internal subversion, and that
the overall CIE effort is to be coordinated by General
Figueiredo.
6. A copy of this memorandum is being made available
to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-Americari-
/Affairs. /
urther distri
-
bution is being made.
CONCUR:
Deputy Director for Operations
tzira
litf
W. E. Colby
Director
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Distribution:
1 - Each addressee
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - Exec Reg
1 DPI
1 - NIO
1 DDO
1 - OPS/INT/RC (dummy)
1 - C/WHD
1 - C/WH/RR
1 - C/WH/5
3 - WH/5/R
1 - WH/Reg
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