LETTER TO CHARLES L. BARTLETT FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2009
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: December 5, 1985
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
p 7
Central Intelligence Agency
0 5 DEC 1985
Mr. Charles L. Bartlett
Dear Charley:
I appreciated your candid and perceptive views on the
Guatemalan elections and your assessment of the presidential
candidates. I have forwarded your letter to the officers who
are watching Central America and the Guatemalan elections. Your
comments are both perceptive ,and_.timely. While I know you are
disappointed**that Mr. Serrano is-not'one of the candidates in
the run-off elections now scheduled for 8 December 1985, we must
all be pleased that the first round went'off-so well.. This is-a
significant step in Guatemala's history and promises to go a
long-way in-improving the .. country's, abysmal image-in the world.
It is my firm belief that whatever candidate is chosen by the
Guatemalan people, it will be in truly free and fair elections.
The United States Government is prepared to work with the winner
to continue to improve the country's human rights record and to
reinforce the winner's respect for democratic principles.
Again, I would like to thank you for your comments on this
important issue. I would welcome receiving additional views
such as those contained in your letter in the future.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
25X1
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Chief, 1,A
TO: (Officer designation. room number, and
building)
C/Li'
DC/LA
C/LA
SA/ODDO
ADDO/DDO
SA/DCI
EXTENSION N
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
DD/
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
Attached herewith is a
draft response for the
Director's signature
which was prepared at
his request.
FORM 610 usEDtTaNS 'low
7.79 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
SUBJECT: (Optional)
0/DCI
25X1
FORM
1-79
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
C/L
610
DITI t"' S"s
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
DATE
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
18 November 1985
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
The Director requests that a
reply to the attaches? letter
be drafted for his signature.
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
.
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
ROUTING SLIP
27 NOV 85
- Remarks
ACTION
INFO
DATE
INITIAL
1
DCI
X
2
DDCI
X
3
EXDIR
4
D/ICS
5
DDI
6
DDA
7
DDO
X
8
DDSBT
9
Chm/NIC
10
GC
11
IG
12
Compt
13
D/OLL
14
D/PAO
15
D/PERS
16
VC/NIC
17
18
0
2
22
Executive Secretary
18 NOV 85
Dote
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21 : CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
FORM
1-79
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO
0/1C I
DATE
18 November 1985
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
buildin
)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
g
-
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
C/L
The Director requests that a
reply to the attached letter
2
be drafted for his signature.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
DGI
14.
EXEC
REG
15.
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
61 0 USEDPREVIOUS E
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21 CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0
r (?208} 234-3691
Executive R::cistr
85- 4572
25X1
CHARLES L. BARTLETT
Dear Bill,
I am concerned by our policy toward. the Guatemalan elections next
Sunday. The. State Department is maintaining we can, live with the election
of Vinicio'Cerezo, the Christian Democrat; Jorge Carpio a well-financed
publisher whose backers, are presumed to be the military establishment; or Jorge
Serrano, who was the appointed president of the appointed Council of State
under Rios Montt. _
Neutrality towards all three is perhaps sound diplomacy but it is
not shrewd or far-sighted politics. It is true we have not seen solid proof
that #arpio is the candidate of the crooked generals but the assumption is widely
spread among the army's reformist elements so that if he gets in and neglects
to prosecute anyone for the blatant corruption of the past, the prediction I get
is that there will be more political coups and instability.
Ce-rezo is an attractive fellow who will probably get the most votes in the
first round.: He, can be l aten in the run,-off, more likely by Serrano than: by
Carpio. The problem Cerezo's election -wilI create is that he is seen by the_
business community to be far to the left of the-ambiguous centralism he has talked
in the campaign. His election will therefore provoke a flight of whatever dollars
remain' in Guatemala; and it will certainly not lure any back from the banks in Houston
and Miami. This means continuing economic decline and real social turmoil.
Serrano has a good base as a result of his work under Montt, the only
decent President Guatemala has had for 15 years, despite the handicaps he derived iju
Fed Chapin's bitter hostility. Serrano is'popular with the Indians because he was
fair to them. He is a businessman, a practical thinker, and an exceedingly good
politician who is not motivated by the urge to settle scores. He is very articulate
and tells. his story well in Washington. He can get through to the Dodds and
Barneses.
I see him as the only real hope for a consolidation of Guatemala's
progress toward democracy. I don't know what options you have in the political
action down there but I urge you to consider doing what you can for *rano.
Best wishes to you both -
Oct. 27, 1985
Sincerely,
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP87M00539R002804720015-0