GRAIVER/TIMERMAN INVESTIGATION AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS - 1977/04/25

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06626854
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: April 25, 1977

Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626854
CONTRa4 3052
� � 25 APR 77 1745
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
VLLLLRAUA
INDICATE
E:l COLLECT
Ej CHARGE TO
E.O. 11652:
TAGS:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
Ate
ECOM
USIS
LEGAT
RF
MON
FROM
AMEMBASSY 13UENOS AIRES
CLASSIFICATION
SECRET
EO 13526
3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
r*CDS-2
PINS SHIM FLAB AR
impplimmomGraiver/Timenman Investigation and Related
Developments
SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
SECRET BUMS AIRES "52
REF: Buenos Aires 2948
1. While a more conclusive judgment must await a detailed revela-
tion of what evidence the GOA has developed in the Graiver case,
we find it significant that inquiries by the Embassy Legatt
invariably have elicited responses from usual sources in Army
Intelligence (601st Army Intelligence Battallion/311131111
Buenos Aires Provincial Police and Federal Police that they
have uncovered no rpt no information to support thesis that
the Montoneros "laundered" their funds through Graiver financial
institutions or had any other financial links to Graiver.
2. La Razon of Apr 18 reported the investigation had revealed
that, in order to reinforce their attempt to ensure that David
Graiver would do their bidding, the Montoneros kidnapped his
brother Isidoro (for ranson) an one occasion and attempted to
rob Graiver's Banco Comercial de Ia. Plata on another. According
WPOLC)UNS:AGF4ejr
DRAFTED BY
CLEARANCES
50153-101
DRAFTING DATE
4/25/77
LEGATT: RScherrer 10116
POL/R: JSeare
TEL EXT
121
SECRET
CONTENTS AND CLASSIFICATION APPROVED BY
DCM:MChaPlin
AMB:
CLASSIFICATION
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Dein of State
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r- to Legatt's information, the kidnapping report is probably a
reference to a successful extortion perpetrateinftg?ry Montoneros
posing
but by Buenos Aires provincial policemen who, diappinkesi as
Montoneros and with the approval of Isil4lagovernor 911441
MitiVAIMVOI at the time, obtained $800,000 in exchange for
freeing Isidoro.
3. Clarin of Apr 18 reported the assertion appearing a day
earlier SIM in "La Nueva Provincia" of Bahia Blanca that,
following payment by the Born family (of the Bunge and Born
cathine) into a Swiss bank account for the ransom of Juan and
Jorge Born in September 1974, former Peronist Economy Minister
Jose Ber Gelbard and David Graiver net with Montonero leader
Roberto Quieto in Buenos Aires and allegedly put the final
touches to a financial commitment between the Montoneros and
"the Gelbard-Graiver grow." We understand, however, that the
bulk of the $30-60 million ranscm reportedly paid for the
Born brothers was effected by bank transfers in Europe and did
not have to be "laundered" out of Argentina through an Argen-
tine bank. Moreover, Roberto Cirieto, who has been cooperating
fully with Argentine authorities since his detention in December
1975, told his captors that the Montoneros maintained a Swiss
bank account containing $150 million, with another (350 million
distributed throughout Argentina. At no time has Quieto, whose
life has been spared because of his cooperation, stated that
Lany of this mrxey was "laundered" through Graiver banks.
SECRET
Class:location
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(Formerly FS-419A)
January 1975
Dept of State
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Classificahon
V a")
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Argentine intetligence services' spectacular
coup in February-March 1977 in which they recovered Montonero
financial reserves on the order of $85 minim, including $64
million plus which was deposited in too European banks (one in
Madrid and the other in Geneva) and $21 million hidden in
safehouses in Cordoba and Mendoza, Argentina. 'Mese funds con-
stituted the Montoneros' principal financial reserve, but none
of it evidently had been '1.auncktree through Graiver banks.
most of the Mbntonero operations had been financed by interest
earned an the two European accounts. (According to information
purportedly leaked to the local press in recent weeks from a
346-page Buenos Aires provincial police report, the Montoneros
entrusted David Graiver with somewhere between $12 and $25
million, with which capital he allegedly founded his banks in
the United States and in Brussels. In return, Graiver allegedly
agreed to pay the Montoneros over $130,000 monthly in interest.)
However, the Buenos Aires provincial police, which had the
Initial responsibility for investigating Graiver's financial
manipulations following his death in an air crash in August
1976, told, Legatt that their bank squad had uncovered no
L__ evidence of any financial dealings between Graiver and the __]
Montoneros.
SECRET
Classafication
3.3(b)(1)
3.3(b)(1)
OPTIONAL FORM 163A
(Formerly F8-41314)
January 1976
60153401 Dept of State
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SECRET
Clansficatrair
..�11=1,
tft
r-- 5. As for La Opinion publisher Jacobo Timennan's connections �1
to David Graiver, the local press and unsigned pamphlets
circulating here in recent weeks have made the assertion that
Graiver had controlling interest in La Opinion enterprises--
the implication being that the newspaper was controlled by
the Montoneros' financial agents. Actually, there are two
companies involved In La Opinion: Gustavo S.R.L. owns the print
shop and (LTA S.A. has title to the newspaper. According to
one version, ex-President Lanusse has a. part interest in these
enterprises and the missing Edgardo Sajon, manager of the print
shop, represented Lanusse in the venture. (thus allegedly impli-
cating Lanusse with Graiver as well). On April 19 Editorial
�LTA issued a notice, signed by its Vice President,
Hector limerman (Jacobo's son), stating that from its inception
an absolute majority of OLTA's shares have been owned by its
founders who have the power of decision in the enterprises,
and that the "Graiver group" has never had any shares in the
enterprise, formed part of the board, nor participated in the
ownership in anyway. The note made no mention of Gustavo
S.R.L. However, Legatt's information is that while Graiver's
Banco de La Plata guaranteed a loan to the print shop, the
loan was fran another unidentified source.
6. On April 22 Jacobo Timerman's name appeared on a list
released by the Interior Ministry of 105 persons who have
L__ been arrested since April 6 and are being held at the disposit!ll
SECRET
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(Formerly F5-413A)
January 1976
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r-- of the PEN (executive power). Timmamanmes the only person --1
on the List whose arrest was attributed to "economic crimes"
alone. Eighty-nine persons on the list are accused of "econ-
omic crimes in connivance with subversion," and 15 are charged
simply with "subversion." Previously, the Army's I Corps, in
answering a habeas corpus request, had stated that Timerman
was being held under Law 21,460� mill& is the national security
law pertaining to subversive crimes. The change in the legal
ymtification for holding Timerman suggests that the Amy is
unable to make the charge of subversion stick and may be fall-
ing back to the less serious accusation circulating against
Timerman in recent weeks that be, like hundreds or probably
thousands of his countrymen, has illegal dollar accounts abroad.
The particular charge against lineman seems to be that he,
along with other prominent Argentine Jews, trade union leaders,
Peronists and others, including commentator Bernardo Neustadr,
Edgard� Won, exCGT leader Casildo Berreras and exProvisional
President of the Senate Italo Luder, got their money out through
the Graiver banks. Military authorities may argue that it
was legitimate to haul in Timerman in order to check out
further his connections with Graiver and, presumably homing
failed to prove any subversive link, to continue holding him
on the basis of new reirelations concerning "economic crimes."
lanctizziartexibasanockanamalthal
Bbwever, this procedure smacks of arbitrariness and raises our
L__ suspicions regarding the motives involved. Particularly if
SERET
Classification
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(Formerly FS-413A)
January 1075
Dept of State
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60163-201
our information is correct concerning the absence of any
financial links between Graiver and the Montoneros, the view
abroad ofThmerman as the martyred victim of an attempt to
discredit him and his newspaper by hysteria-possessed hardline
antisemitic and antiperonist elements in the Army and provincial
police, undoubtedly will be strengthened.
7. The April 24 issue of La Nueva Provincia charged that the
principal investors in Graiver's La Plata bank were former
President Juan Peron, his wife Isabel, Herreras, adtomdbile
(SMATA)
union/leader Jose Rodriguez, Won, exPresident Lanusse's two
sons and others. yfricliyyjamminmppyiniejenamayiyypmvppi
tiPPPYVYPIOWMPWAP1001/#0000/00/000000A0A0/01
igom4466444tA41/ The Argentine government recently asked
Interpol to locate and arrest Herreras for allegedly defrauding
the ow of large amounts of travel and other official monies.
In a related development, six persons implicated in the
Graiver case and who man recently were included in the Act of
Institutional Responsiblity have had their bank accounts
frozen by the Central Bank.
8. La Opinion's subdirector Enrique Jara was released Apr 23
without charges.
9. Notmithstanding the promises to carry out the current in-
vestigation "to its ultimate consequences," it has been reported
that the Army has rejected General Vilas' request to convene
L__ a special military court of honor to review ex-President
SECRET
aassification
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(Formerly FEI-413A)
January 1975
Dept of State
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E Ianusse' s statements in connection with the disappearance of --1
his former civilian aide Edgardo Sajan. According to our in-
formation, Lanusse quietly let it be known to President Videla
that if he were made to stand trial he would be compelled to
reveal his files implicating high-ranking Argentine military
officers in crooked financial schemes including the famous
ship scandal involving AdnrisaiGnavi and others.
SECRET
Classification
Approved for Release: 2018/10/01 C06626854
OPTIONAL FORM 159A
(Formerly FS-413A)
January 1975
Dept of State