HEARING - SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000100160053-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 5, 2003
• Sequence Number: 53
• Publication Date: May 23, 1958
• Content Type: MFR

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
F'j
25:
25XATE 1 Pk-'-(
5-5 OGC Has Reviewed
SUBJECT: Hearin: > Senate Foreign Relations Committee
1. Can Monday, It May, the Director and Mr. Robert Murphy,
Deputy Under Set"" & Department of State, appeared before the Senate
Foreign Relations C cmtittee, which was chaired by Senator Theodore
]Francis Green Me It.. t. ). Also present were Republic" Segators
Alexander Wiley (Wis.), H. Alexander Smith (N. J. ), Bau ke B.
Hickesloopes (Isew-a), William Langer (N. Oak. )# William jr. Knowland
(Calif.) (for a few minutes at the end only), George D. Aim (Vt.) and
Hamer Z. Capehart mod,). Denm"ratic Senators present. in addition
to Cks1ruum Green, were Hubert H. Humphrey (Minn.), Mike Mansfield
(Mont. )# and Wayne .Morse (Oreg.).
3. After Mr. Murphy had read his prepared statement, the
Director spoke from notes on the evolution of Communist tactics from
the hard approach. of farce In the Staiinist era to the present more subtle
combination of egos is approaches and penetration of and alliance with
leftist elements. In South America this presented diem with many oppor-
tunities. In the case of Ysnesuela the Communists * back into the
country in fore* with the overthrow of Peres Jie,r. The Director
pointed out that we could sad did predict the possibilities of trouble and
the nature of the trouble foreseen, but that CIA cannot predict the nature
and spread of riots with any precision or the stability of security forces
in s situation such as eadsted in Venezuela. The Chairman limited
questioning by Committee members to five minutes apiece.
3. Senator Humphrey said his sole atm was to inform himself to
look to the future and spoke of his high regard for the Director and CIA.
In connection with South American universities he asked if Department of
State had ado Cd Vies President Nixon not to visit deem. Mr. Murphy
said that there had been censidersble discussion of this and advice that
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perhaps the Vice President should not visit these at which the most
serious trouble was expected and pointed out that in some degree the
success of Mr. Nixon's contact with the students at Montevideo
influenced him and his party to hope that similar successes could be
developed in the succeeding visits. He pointed out that CIA had
developed and gives to State a large amount of specific information
on the Caracas situation. He also said that in ne,ation with the visit
to the San Marco University the Vice President decided to go on after
very grave doubts.
4. Senator Wiley said it was his understanding Vies President
Nixon's visits were made an the decision of the -cutive Branch that
they would promote our foreign Polley in the area and that the timing
had been tied to President Frondisi's inaugural. He said he und vote"
there were specific invitations from each country mad that visits such as
these followed regular diplomatic tradition. no also said he felt that in
this particular case the trouble could be turned to advantage by revealing
and emphasising to the South Americans themselves the naft" of the
Communist danger. H. also asked if the Ambassadors from the vies
concerned had net apologised so that relations currently were good.
Mr. Murphy said this was true.
5. Senator Mansfield asked first for Mr. Murphy's comments
about the letter Ambassador Warren, at Ankara had seat to Pedro Estrada
complimenting him an putting down the first revolt. Mr. Murphy pointed
out that when Mr. Warren had been Azabassador in Venezuela it had been
his duty to work with the regime of which Estrada was a part and, therefore,
it was not We natural for him to write to his former associate. Mr.
Murphy said, however, that he personally considered it a source of
considerable embarrassment. Mr. Mansfield asked if Peres Jimeaes
did, as rumored in bite papers, own property is Florida, D. C., and other
places, and eras bringing 5, 000, 000 into the United States. Mr. Murphy
said that State would not have specific infe~ece en sack matters but
agreed that probably Pares dimenes was a wealthy nun. Senator Mansfield
then commented that be thought it was very unfortunate to have dispatched
Marines and Paratroopers to the Caribbean, with so much publicity, and
asked if State had concurred. Mr. Murphy said yes the Secretary had
concurred; that the decision was made in the light of the events as they
saw them at the time, and it would be necessary to wait and see the lees.
run results. Senator Mansfield said that as a former Marine he knew the
antipathy toward them in the area and Marines should net have been used
in any ease.
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Sow American countries he visit*d two years ode sad asked if dk*
Communist threat was a vary recent development. Mr. Murphy said
there had been a considerable period of evolution and growing Cammunist
capability and that the economic decline in South America has speeded up
and enhanced this capability during the last two pears. Senator ih
asked if the Nixon trip was. therefore. in recognition of the growing
problems, and Mr. Murphy said yes that was one of the considerations.
7. Senator Morse also asked why Marines were sent when other
military forces were available in the area. Mr. Murphy said it was a
matter of judgment and If no action had been taken and damage had
occurred that too would have been, criticised. Senator Mouse asked for
a report on what ether forces were available, and Mr. Murphy said he
would ask for such inl'atrmatiexe. Senator Morse asked if the dispatch of
Marines was does in sager or after careful consideration and if so what
was the consideration. Mr. Murphy said there was very careful discussion
of all aspects.
8. Senator Hi*koaloopes said he had noted considerable Criticism
that the United States had not been paying sufficient attention to Sooth
America and yet when we seat General LeMay on a spectacular flight to
South America we get criticised for that too. He said it's a ease of
"Damned it you do and damned U you dealt, " and seemed to be tke same
with the Marines. H. said the United Status will also be accessed of being
an, 4
imperialist power if we deal with any current regime. He asked what
excuse the Venezuelan authorities gave for the failure to keep order. Mr.
Murphy said their excesses were not toe satisfaet rry and the failure seemed
due particularly to unawareness of the problem, and the fact that the old
Estrada se*urity forces had been e i 'idna ,. A swaftf.-waA sw ` .._.......~...
9. Senator Ai wn asked if the Communist activities were carried
an by South American waists, not Russian. Mr. Murphy said that
was true although they got the party line and targets from Moscow.
Senator Aiken asked if we save Peres Jimenes a medal, and Mr. Murphy
said we had given him a Medal for Merit in 1954 and read from a paper the
circumstances leading to that decoration.
10. Senator Capebart asked about the Vies, President's itinerary
and Mr. Maurice Borobaum of State who had been with the Vice President
answered. Senator +apeharrt asked if the rioters really wore students and
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Mr. Bernbaum said they were students who appeared to be egged an by
Pshart asked if there were any other moans
of dealing with such communist activities than with strength, and Mr.
Murphy said strength must be available but it is necessary to meter
Communism in many ways. Senator Capehart asked if it had not been
nie?sssryr for the Prosident to have troops ready since peaceful protecUon
had failed. and Mr. Murphy agreed.
U* Senator Green asked it the ?iawernmrnt knew musk about
international Co ,unje. The Director said We had a eat doalof
information and that it is a vast organisation which works through the
hard *Ore elements worldwide, controlled through Senator Green asked it it were a secret activity and the rectorlsaid
it was.
12. All the i ators Were highly c pUm'
Murphy and the iraatrs for their OGO'StSdOnse At the ~ b'0"` to ldr.
Morse said be Wanted the witnesse*back for more q s' +-'end for
Senat Humphrey said he too wished more infer ti and
what is being done Pr gasdawise to ,ter t e ?a Ps itoutarlyr
Problem. He also wasted Information on as a Aanericat~t
Problems and policies in South America. Senator is and ?d site
newspaper rumor was ~e that the Vice Presidsut was two m tes a
from desk. Befftbaum sn said yes. if his our had nearly did the Vice President gee over as it
He soznmeatad on the s probably would not h&" gotten out sat it.
splendid job the Secret service had dons.
S1G(ufa
Orig- ?')r'J'
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DID/ -P
T-.egi'l?tine Counsel
General Counsel
LAWRXNClr: R. HOUSTON
General cou"el
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