TRACK II RE SHOOTING OF CHILEAN ARMY COMMANDER GENERAL RENE SCHNEIDER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01310805
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-00792
• Publication Date: October 23, 1970

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I.. Situation:
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TRACY. II
23 October 1970
Yesterday morning at 0815 hours_t_Lrii_cleatifisd gunmen shot
and seriously wounded Chilean Army Commander General Rene
Schneider. He was rushed to a military hospital for emergency
surgery. An Army high command communique said he was in
serious condition and the latest medical bulletin last evening
stated his condition had worsened and that he would have to
undergo further surgery. The shooting came just 48 hours before
Congress was to vote on confirming Salvador Allende as President.
As a result of this assassination attempt the following developments
have taken place in the past 24 hours.
II. Developments:
�
A. General Carlos Prats assumed the position of Army
CINC.
B. General Camilo Valenzuela assumed the position of
Jefe de Plaza for law and order in Santiago Province.
C. State of emergency declared throughout Chile.
D. Armed Forces and Carabineros confined to barracks.
E. Military given responsibility for investigating the
assassination attempt.
F. Rigid curfew imposed.
G. All exits from Santiago under close control.
iECRET
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TRACK II (Continued)
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I-I. Information media instructed not to publish or
broadcast information which could alarm or incite the public.
I. Retired General Emilio Cheyre designated Chief of
.Investigations and Socialist Rene Paredes (pro-Allende) named
Sub-Director.
� J. The UP issued a statement blaming the attack on
rightists supported by foreign elements.
K. Chilean Confederation of Workers called an emergency
meeting to discuss the assault on Schneider.
L. Technical Students planned a demonstration for yesterday
afternoon.
M. Government investigating recent arrival of foreigners
in Chile.
N. General Viaux, retired Lt. Col. Jose Cabrera and
six unidentified persons, including members of Patria y LiVertad
reportedly have been arrested. \
� 0. The three Armed Forces Corrxmanders in Chief, General
Prats, Admiral Tiraclo, and General Guerraty, issued a communique
condemning the attack on Schneider and announcing their support
for the constitution.
P. Allende met with President Frei yesterday afternoon and
asked Frei to adopt drastic measures to crush a "seditious plan".
Q. General Valenzuela addressed the nation over radio �
last evening concerning measures to be taken under the state of
emergency.
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R. President Frei spoke over nationwide radio expressing
his profound indignation over the.attempted assassination and
explained the steps taken under the state of emergency.
III. Analysis:
X
With only 24 hours remaining before the Congressional
run-off, a coup climate exists in Chile. The assassination attempt
against General Rene Schneider has set off a train of events that
has started Chileans talking about a coup and has raised the
expectation that something significant will occur today.
�
The attack on General Schneider has produced developments
which closely follow Valenzuelat; plan: Schneider has been removed,
a state of emergency has been declared. General Prats has replaced
'General Schneider, radicals have been arrested, and General
Valenzuela has assumed control of Santiago Province. Consequently.
the plotters position has been enhanced, but it is not clear that these
developments arc the direct result of Valenzuela's initiatives.
Although the plotters may have second thoughts about a coup, they
nonetheless arc irrevocably committed to executing the plot -
even if Frei refuses to resign since it can be assumed that their �
plotting would eventually surface under an Allende government.
Hence they have no alternative but to move ahead.
The state of emergency and the establishment of martial law
has significantly improved the plotters position: a coup climate
now prevails in Chile, and military officers have replaced civilians
at the provincial level. This condition greatly inhibits any future
effort by Allende to counteract the coup. The next step in Valenzu'ela's
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plap, which is the most important one, calls for the resignation of
Frei and his cabinet. Thus far, President Frei shows no indication
that he intends to resign. If Valenzuela has advised Frei of his plan
and Frei has concurred, then Frci certainly would be compelled to
.Should Frei:got be advised -as appears to be the case -
a confrontation between the plotters and Frei can be expected
before the Congress meets tomorrow.
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