WHITE HOUSE APPROVED SECRET CIA EFFORT TO AFFECT OUTCOME OF EL SALVADOR VOTING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570104-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 104
• Publication Date: May 10, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570104-0
ARTICLE APPEARED WALL STREET JOURNAL
ON PAGE Z 10 May 1981+
White House Approved Secret CIA Effort
To Affect Outcome of El Salvador Voting
By DAVID ROGERS
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
WASHINGTON-The Reagan administra-
tion secretly funneled about $2 million into
El Salvador as part of a two-year effort by
the Central Intelligence Agency to facilitate
national elections and assist parties compet-
ing with right-wing candidate Roberto d'Au-
buisson, intelligence sources said.
Christian Democrat Jose Napolean
Duarte, who claimed victory in the runoff
Sunday, was the chief beneficiary of the aid.
But aid also was given to at least one other
party, the party of National Conciliation,
headed by Francisco Jose Guerrero. Mr.
Guerrero, who finished third in the March
voting, remained neutral in the )runoff, but
his April 16 decision against endorsing Mr.
d'Aubuisson-who also has claimed victory
in the runoff-was seen as a major boost for
Mr. Duarte.
Sources familiar with the program say it
was carried out with President Reagan's ap-
proval. Mr. d'Aubuisson's defeat is consid-
ered crucial to the Reagan administration's
hope of winning increased military aid for
El Salvador, and, if Mr. Duarte is declared
winner, the White House will move quickly
to capitalize on Mr. Duarte's image as a
moderate and his support in Congress.
Within Congress, however, the CIA pro-
gram has provoked new controversy on both
the left and right. Advocates contend that
the money was useful to facilitate free elec-
tions and to counterbalance the power of
right-wing forces in El Salvador. Critics ar-
gue that the depth of CIA involvement was
excessive and represented tampering with
another nation's internal politics.
The harshest criticism has come from
Sen. Jesse Helms (R., N.C.), a leading con-
servative who has bluntly charged the State
Department and CIA with buying the elec-
tion for Mr. Duarte, a Christian Democrat.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D., Vt.), in a classified
letter filed with the Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee, also has protested to Secretary of
;State George Shultz. According to sources,
Mr. Leahy cited the CIA program as one
reason for his decision last week against
serving as an observer in last Sunday's elec-
tions.
Both House and Senate Intelligence Com
mittees reportedly were informed of the pro-
gram, but the level and detail of involve-
marks surprised other senators, and the epi-
sode is likely to add to tensions between the
CIA and the Intelligence committees
charged with its oversight.
The House panel, which
appears
to have
been unaware of the full scoofthe pro-
gram, is expected to take up the issue at a
meeting today. It is unclear what effect the
disclosures will have on future aid to El Sal-
vador.
bers. "I tell you I would have been a lot more
According to intelligence sources, the upset if d'Aubuisson won," said one member
money assisted three major parties compel- - of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Ing with Mr. d'Aubuisson-the Christian Though embarrassed by the means used
Democrats, Party of National Conciliation,
and Accion Democratica-as well as unions
aligned with Mr. Duarte. Part of the funds
went to improve the election process, includ-
ing the purchase of better equipment and
paper to avoid ballot fraud, while aid to the
parties included money to hire news media
and political consultants.
"There was nothing nefarious," said one
source. But funds are said to have been used
twice to manipulate press reports in an at-
tempt to denigrate Mr. d'Aubuisson's candi-
dacy before the March and May elections.
Initial press reports of some CIA involve-
ment came from El Salvador last week, in
accounts published by the Washington Post
and Boston Globe. Mr. Helms's office said
he based his attack this week on reports in
the Salvadoran press, but he is known to
have spoken privately with at least one
member of the Senate Intelligence Commit-
tee before he released his statement Tues-
day night.
Given the sensitive nature of the covert
program, the details of Sen. Helms's re-
many liberal Democrats don't argue with
the outcome. "You've got rich Salvadorans
from Miami pouring in money to help d'Au-
buisson," said one senior House Democrat.
"I don't believe in the CIA interfering in
other nation's elections. But if you're asking
me if I'm terribly upset about the result and
will it change my vote on aid to El Salvador,
the answer is a resounding no."
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570104-0