XV NATIONAL CONGRESS OF CPU

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005000550002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 27, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 20, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

CL.ASSIF"ICA TION >FC T 25X1 A
Sanitized - AppaaNM11IS 0C8Q,AIVP82-004ffQ?0
IOTfLI0Fi4 .12
INFORMATION PO T C0 110.
COUNTRY Uruguay
SUBJECT XV National Congress of CPU
PLACE 25X1 A
ACQUIRE
DATE OF
INFO.
1.
2. In the keynote address of the Congress, Eugenio Gomez, Secretary General
of the Party, called for the CPU to lead the battle for "peace" against
the U.S. ianoerialists and demanded all-out organizational efforts so as
to bring the Party to its peak of strength during the period of the
national elections in November 1950. Other well-known leaders followed
Gomez' lead in exhorting their followers to greater endeavors, and their
speeches presented in detail the curre t status of Communist activities
in Uruguay.
25X1X
NO.OF PAGES 5
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW) 25X1 A
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
the clock-like precision in which the XV national
Congress of the Communist Party of Uruguay (CPU) was controlled during
the period 18--21 re=ly indicated the complete and thorough manner in which
the Communist leaders had prepared for the event.* All speeches went
according to schedule, there were no arguments among any of the dele-
gates, and the leaders' viewpoints and decisions were completely accepted
by those attending the meeting.
3. No unusual Party statute reforms were effected, and the election of the
4.
National and Department of .Montevideo Committees included no radical
changes. It was noticed, however, that the Party is making a nronounced
attempt to expand its activities throughout Uruguay, and at the confer
onee, leaders from the interior were given the right to speak on numer-
ous occasions. Several were named as members of the 1950 National Com-
mittee, For sore unknown reason,noxe of the CPU Deputy or Senatorial
candidates were announced at the Congress as had been expected?
Amnroximataly 1500 national -affiliates and delegates attended the initial
meeting in the esplanade on lg May. On 19-20 May, sessions of the Con-
,gross were held at the Party Headquarters, Calla Sierra 1720. 4ttendance
at these meetings was closely controlled by members of the Party security
guard, and it is known that only the 200 delegates and specifically
invited guests were admitted into the convention room. The Congress was
terminated on 20 May tsith the election of the National and Department
of Montevideo Committees. The meetings were enhanced by the attendance
of several foreign Communist delegates representing Argentina, Paraguay,
and Brazil.
A
CLASSIFICATION S
E3SR8
DISTRIBUTION
C~.Tll. DATE DISTR. 20 JUN 50
CONFIDEN"E WL in accordance with the
letter of 16 Octos:,er 1978 from the
Director of Central Intelligence to the
Archivist of the United States.
Next Review Date: 2008
lass. r` ? .
Auth.: )!
Date: ...0?
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SEC/ z~T 25X1 A
CENTRAL IOTELLIGETCE AGENCY
50 The following information obtained during the period of the Congress
outlines the order of activities and gives a resume of the more imoor4J
tart speeches, and the attendance and activities of the assembled
delegates,
1S T"ate lg5p
60 It 2100 hours in the municipal esplanade the XV National CPU Congress
was onened by the Secretary General of the Department of Montevideo,
Rodney lrismendi, who made a short address to the approximately 1500
assembled Party affiliates. Julio Dutrenit, important member of the
Communist-controlled Ediciones Pueblos Unidos, made a short speech
denouncing the nolicies of the United States Government. Upon the
completion of his speech, Dutrenit read telegrams of adherence sent by
the Communist Parties of the USSR, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Spain,
Chile, Portugal, Bolivia and Mexico. At the completion of Dutrenit's
part on the program, the following foreign Communist delegates made
short addresses attacking the U.S. Government: Rodolfo Ghioldi of
Argentina, Pedro de Carvalho ?3raga of Brazil, and Hugo Pintos of Para-
guay. Raul Toast, representing the Communist Party units of the inter-
ior of TJrugnay, then addressed the gathering and echoed the anti- U.S.
diatribe of the speakers before him.
7. The meeting was terminated by Eugenio Gomez, who also spent much of his
time attacking the U.S. imperialist nolicy In Uruguay and its latest
effort to enslave the people by means of the Uruguayan-U.S. Commercial
Treaty.
8. It the termination of Gomez' speech, previously selected delegates were
given instructions as to how they should conduct themselves at the closed
sessions of the Congress, to be held during the next two days. They
were advised by section leaders to he prompt in arrival at meetings, to
take copious notes concerning the important speeches which would be
made and, in voting for the candidates for the National and Departmental
Committees, to consider the ones who would be best qualified, i.e.,
those who were favored by Tarty leaders. At that time entrance .passes
were given to the delegates.
=av 1950
90 It 0845 the Congress convened at the Party Headquarters with soproximately
200 delegates and esnecially invited individuals in atte,dance to hear
a three-hour sneech by Eugenio Gomez. Much of the material covered by
Gomez had nrevtously been nublished for the use of the delegates, thus
enabling them to follow closely the long address.** Gomez constantly
reiterated the importance of the Communist support of the cause of "peace."
He declared that it was imperative for the Party to fight against the
imperialistic and warlike actions of-the U.S., who now had. extended its
control over Uruguay to the extent that the local government was pro-
posing the signing of a commercial treaty with a country which already
controlled t>70,000,00O ('1.5.) of industry in Uruguay. Gomez claimed that
the Communist Party was alone in its fight against forces of imperialism.,
since none of the other so-called liberal parties, or other national p~oli.
tical groups, had come out in defense of the Uruguayan workers. It was
for this reason, he stated, the CPU had decided to enter a. Presidential
candidate in the national election in "ovember 19500
10 After this beginning, Gomez went into a long discussion of his now well-
known "seven points," which include demands for improved living condi-
tions, increased salaries, and welfare benefits. Later, when discussing
labor, Gomez made a strong attack against Enrique Rodriguez, Communist
Deouty, Co-Secretary General of the UGT and outstanding labor leader.
SET
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ICONICY
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When describing the financial situation of the Party, Gomez discussed the
difficulty the Party previously had with :Alberto Suarez, former National
Secretary of Finances, who had been found guilty of not following the Party
Line, but who now had seen the error of his ways and accordingly had been
reinstated as the Secretary General of the Regio-al Sur.
ll,, The problem of eliminating opportunists was developed by Gomez more fully
as he explained that the Party now, more than at any time in the past, was
raking an effort to remove those who were not following the Party Line and
were considered to be opportunists. He said that control commissions would
become increasingly severe in their reports concerning the activities of
susnected individuals. In reviewing election plans, the "arty Chief said
Communist cells would soon become election clubs and they, in turn, would
have to develop sympathizer groups. These units would be formed in all
sections of Montevideo, as well as all of the interior of Uruguay. He said
plans were being made to commence a daily newspaper during the election cam-
naign, and he named June 1950 as a tentative date for the neriodical's
appearance. Gomez ended his speech with a call for funds, stating that
without finances none of the above-mentioned plans could be carried out
successfully. The meeting adjourned at 1215 hours, after voting Stalin as
the honorary President of the Congress?
12. At 1435 hours on the same day, the Congress met again to hear Eugenio Gomez
Chiribao, National Secretary of Organization, call for specific activity in
regard to the organization endeavors of the CPU. In addition to the seven
point program, he said it was necessary that the Communist speed up their
organization drives so that they could reach the goals set by his father.
He further stated that the Party currently had only two Regional Committees,
11 Departments and 1.60 Apru.paciones in activity.
13. Citing specific examples of faulty organization, Gomez singled out wort cells***
for not consolidating into one group, and he criticized the Party opportunists
such as Enrique Rodriguez. As an example of efficient Party work, he praised
the constant and loyal work of Ramon Freire Pizzano. For future plans he
said that delegates present would have to carry out the idea of successfully
forming Pro-Communist election groups, which are to be known as the Comites
de Fuerza Patriotica. He reoo-mended that each member visit three inactive
comrades and bring them hack into Party affairs.
14a Among the various Communist leaders who made short speeches in rapid suc-
cession were: Jose Luis -.assera, Secretary General of the Junta "Jacional de
Partidarios de la Paz, who attacked Enrique Rodriguez for not cooperating
with the "Pro-Pe "movement; Cesar Reyes Daglio, member of the Montevideo
Departmental Committee; fun Lisaguere from Durazno; Raul Toast, representing
the Regional Norte; r,eronino Arnedo Alvarez, Argentine Communist Party
observer; Hermes Gadda of the Maldonado Department; Joapuim da Silva, Braz-
ilian Communist Party observer; Pedro "iguel Astapenko of the Canelones
Department; Leopoldo Bruera; Juan Francisco Pazos; Antonio Richero; Miguel
Wolman and Emilin Garcia from the Ninas Department. These addresses merely
repeated the necessity of strong Party organization to combat the influence
of the warmongering Yankees. The Congress adjourned at 2130 hours,.
20 May 1950
15. The Congress opened again at the Party Headquarters at 0135 hours, at which
tine Juan Acufa, Montevideo Department Secretary of Propaganda, gave a short
speech concerning the status of the official Party organ, Justicia. After
this, a daily dues collection was taken and delegates were again checked for
their Congress carnets of entrances The following leaders addressed the
Congress: Sebastian reballos of the Department of Rocha, fnu Caballeo,
Antonio Denis and Carlos Leone,, Communist Deputy, After these individuals
finished, a letter of congratulation to the CPU from the Hungarian Communist
P-irty was read to the group. Speeches were continued by Marcelino Rodriguez
SEC? T
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' C/T 25X1A
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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of the Section 9 of Montevideo, Hugo Pintos of the Paraguayan Communist
Party, Omar Sosa, Hector Rodriguez, Julia Arevala de Roche, Wilfredo
Figueras, Tuan RMujiea, Enrique Pastorino and Jaime Perez. Jose Blanco,
leader of the UG'T maritime group, said on 25 May his organization would
create a 24-hour work stye in Montevideo and other ilruguay.n coastal
norts in protest against maritime police authorities. At 1200 hours the
session was suspgnded until 1420 hours when the Congress reconvened with
additional speakers.
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