BOLIVIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-292-3-11-2
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2009
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: October 7, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM 22552
SECRET
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: Henry A. Kissinger
SUBJECT: Bolivia
INFORMATION
October 7, 1970
A. M.
The military rebellion by moderate and conservative military officers which
ousted President Ovando yesterday appears to have collapsed. Tile military
junta which took over yesterday has disintegrated.
General Juan Jose Torres, the radical and ultranationalist former armed
forces chief, who had himself been forced out of the government last spring,
appears to be filling the vacuum. Latest reports indicate that he has assumed
"leadership" of the country and military units loyal to him have taken over the
presidential palace and seem to be in control of La Paz itself.
Shortly after the capitulation of President Ovando to Army Chief General
Rogelio Miranda on the morning of 6 October, General Torres began his move
to take over the country. He assumed control of the air base outside La Paz
and military units based there. He launched a campaign to win support of
labor and student groups. Proclaiming himself the leader of the "revolution"
that had been led by Ovando and was nowthreatened by General Miranda, he
received a steady stream of visitors at the base during the day. By yesterday
evening he had apparently succeeded in solidifying a Coalition that included
practically the entire labor movement, important peasant groups, the leftists
student elements of La Paz and a number of military units, including the crack
para-troop battallion (US trained and MAP supported) at Cochabamba. Torres
supporters proclaimed a general strike in the early morning hours today.
Facedwith an ultimatum last night and following a strafing flight by three planes
from Torres' base, the junta collapsed. One member joined Torres, the other
two resigned. Miranda is still at his headquarters but apparently with a rapml,,
diminishing force under him. 25X1
The situation in La Paz this morning is described as explosive.
or the Embassy is not impossible.
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violence against Americans
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SECRET
This situation resulted from the almost incredible incompetence and indecisive-
ness of those who initiated the rebellion Sunday. They refused to act on several
occasions when it was clear they had the power to nail down their poSition. They
refused to isolate Torres' base and cut off his visitors. As late as last night,
they apparently had sufficient force to move on the airbase and capture Torres'
headquarters, but they refused to move. They were apparently afraid to risk
bloodshed and the rapid coalescing of labor and student support behind Torres
may have frightened them. General Torres meanwhile seems to have been the
only principal figure in the drama who has acted decisively and with calculated
risk-taking.
A Torres' regime will most probably be ultranationalistic, leftist and anti-US.
Some of the leftists, supernationalist former members of Ovando's cabinet who
were ousted under military pressure earlier this year, have already reappeared
around General Torres. The ,more moderate elements in the military are likely
to be reduced in effectiveness if they are not already destroyed.
SECRET
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MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SECRET ber 7, 1970 (1030)
MEMORANDUM FOR DR. KISSINGER
FROM: Viron P. Vakyf
SUBJECT: Bolivia
The Bolivian situation has turned serious indeed. My reading is
attached in the form of a memo to the President should you wish
to send it to him.
I think that Torres will be far more radical than the Peruvian
generals. Here is a real potential Nasserist.
RECOMMENDATION
That you sign the memo to the President at Tab I.
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