CLAIM BY THE CHILEAN COMMUNIST PARTY THAT IT HAS EVIDENCE DIRECTLY LINKING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN ITALY AGAINST BERNARDO LEIGHTON AND THE MURDER OF ORLANDO LETELIER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06572348
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-01845
• Publication Date: August 12, 1978

-1"
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
�
k.
NIONVV. AIA300ICA683
PP RUEHFB
DE RUEAI IA #G453 2240039
ZNY SSSSS
P 12003GZ AUG 78
FM CIA
TO RUEHFB/FEDERAL BUAU
RUEHC/DEPT OF STATE
BT
-.ECRET.CITECIA 2:73361.
2 tluc 7 thi 53z
. H- , ;$
" ' 'VT
:j r:T4
YEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OF INVESTIGATION
Ass6c.
Dep. AD Adtn.
Dep. AD Inv.
Asst.Dir.e:
Adm. s
Crim. Inv. �
Went.
Intel!.
Laboratory
Legal Coun.
Plan. & Insp.
TRecech!ViSgenrtv.s.
Training
Public Affs-.-Oif.
Telephone Rm.
Director's Seel,�
FB I: FOR CR I r1I-N AL IN VES.1.12-AI V I S IO N /4R. NLY ) (b)(6)
1 'A (b)(7)(c)
'ATE: EXCLUSIVE FOR INR/P1R . WILLIAM G. BO l'IDLER(ONLY )
r-
4
R E T WARNING OT ICE � SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
AND METHODS INVOLVED NOT RELEASABLE TO FO REIGN NATIONALS
���
AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMAT 10 NTRO LLED BY 0,1RIG INATOR,
REC-53 [ 5�"/ cd/
$T42.5
SUBJECT: CLAIM BY THE CHILEAN CO MilUN IST PARTY THAT
DISS
NEP NO
2 Atjr. ;I:k11 19%8
ISMINS�Imievars,

/' I
IT HAS EVIDT:NCE
DIRECTLY L INK IN T ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN ITALY
AGAINST BERNAR
57s p 1 51978
. _
LEIGHTON AND THE '1URDER OF 0 RL AN90
digit 6 �.
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
"PAGE 21RUEAIIA 64530E R E T
LETELIER IN .WASHINGTON� D.C.
�
2. A CHILEAN COMMUNIST PARTY (PCCH) DELEGATION WHICH VISITED
PC1 HEADOUARTERS IN ROME ON 31 JULY 1973 CLAIMED THAT THE PCCH HAS
EVIDENCE WHICH DIRECTLY TIES TOGETHER, THE OCTOBER 1975 ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT IN ITALY AGAINST BERNARDO LE IGHTO N, LEADER OF THE
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDC) IN EXILE, AND THE MURDER OF
ORLANDO LET EL IE R, FORMER CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER. MT.23ER53
OF THE PCCH DELEGATION SAID THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILEAN
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
PS?-
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
tPAGE 3 sRUEATIA 6453 /PE CRET
�
PRESIDENT. GENERAL AUGUSTO P I NO CHET IS CLEAR IN THIS CASE �
AS WELL AS IN THE CASE OF CHILEAN POLITICAL PRISONERS -- CASES WHICH
THE PCCH BELIEVES ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT CAUSES THAT SHOULD
)
BE PROMOTED INTERNATIONALLY.
3. THE CHILEANS SAID THAT SOME MONTHS AGO TH HAD REqUESTTD
THAT THE PCI ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH FRANCESC a_s_s_J,G. A4
A
THEN ITALIAN MINISTER OF INTERIOR, SO THAT THEY COULD PRESENT THE
EVIDENCE THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE COLLECTED LINKING THE TWO ATTEMPTS.
BEFORE THE PCI COULD ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, ALDO M 0 R 0
WAS KIDNAPPED AND KILLED, THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR HAD BECOME FULLY
OCCUPIED WITH THE MORO CASE, AND THEN THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR
RESIGNED.
COMMENT: COSSIG A WAS KNOWN. TO HAVE HAD
DIRECT CONTACTS WITH THE PCI AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PCI COULD
HAVE �ARRANGED AN INTERVIEW I THE PCCH.) NOW THE PCCH WANTS THE
MATTER REOPENED. G IANCAR PA JE T T Al THE PCI FOREIGN
POLICY SPOKESMAN, SUGGESTED THAT THE PCCH TAKE ITS EVIDENCE TO THE
NEWSPAPERS. � OTHER PCI OFFICIALS, HOWEVER SAID IT WOULD BE BETTER
IF THE EVIDENCE WERE SHOWN TO THE PCI BEFORE ANY SUCH STEP IS TAKEN.
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
P9 3
"TZT
. PATE
4.
� LETELIER'S
AFRAID TO
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
UEAI I A 6453 1112 CR E T
4,
r
(b)(1
(b)(3
THE WIFE OF
ASSASSIN (NOT FURTHER IDENTIFIED) HAS SAID THAT SHE IS
TELL WHETHER HER HUSBAND WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE
LEIGHTON ATTACK
BUT POSTCARDS WHICH THEY SENT
FROM ROME ARE STILl:
IN EXISTENCE.
THE ATTEMPTED
(b)(1
(b)(3
ASSASSINATION OF LEIGHTON WAS ORGANIZED BY THE CHILEAN. DIRECTORATE
OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE (DINA)
AND THAT THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS
' INVOLVED ARE KNOWN TO THE PCCH.
(b)(1)
COMMENT: WE.
((ksII;)
. (b)(3)
HAVE NO INFORMATION 'TO INDICATE THAT THE PCCH HAS ANY EVIDENCE THAT
THE DINA ORGANIZED THE 'ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF BERNARDO
LEIGHTON. THE PCCH IS 7SUMABLY REFERRING TO STATEMENTS MADE
PUBLICLY BY MARIANC A L L E.J _A $4 THE WIFE OF MICHAEL
TO WNLEY, THAT SHE CANNOT DENY THAT SHE AND HR HUSBAND WERE
IN ROME AND BUENOS AIRES AROUND THE TIMES THAT THE LEIGHTON
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AND THE ASSASSINATION . OF CARLOS PRATS
OCCURRED SINCE THEY SENT POSTCARDS TO FRIENDS IN CHILE WHILE
VISITING THESE CITIES. CALLEJAS DID NOT ELABORATE FURTHER, BUT 51-E
SAID NOTHING TO DENY THE IMPLICATION THAT TOWNLEY COULD HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THESE CRIMES.)
�
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348
iPAGE 5 RUEAIIA 6453FCRET
4I
t
5
TO HAVE AN EYE WITNESS,
SOMEONE WHO LIVED NEAR THE LEIGHTO N RESIDENCE IN a) nE, WHO SAYS
THAT SHE SAW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE LEIGHTO N HOME THE PERSO N
. WHOM THE PCCH KNOWS TO BE THE LET EL IER ASSAILANT. CO MMENT
THE PC I /PCCH MEETING DID NOT 'RESOLVE HOW THE "EVIDENCE" OF THE PCCM
WOULD BE HANDLED.)
J.,
6. IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE FBI INFORM MR . EUGENE PRO ?PER ,
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, OF THE ABOVE
INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS ON ITS USE THE U.S. AMB ASSADO RS IN
SANTIAGO AND ROME AND THE FBI REPRESENTATIVE NOW IN SANTIAGO ARE
BEING INFORMED.
7. CLASSIFIED BY RECORDED REPORTING 0 FF ICER XGDS-.2
BT
#6453
Approved for Release: 2017/10/02 C06572348