CHILEAN PROPAGANDA EFFORTS AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT FREI

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03158038
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2019
• Case Number: F-2016-02161
• Publication Date: January 14, 1977

Approved for Release: 2019/01/25 C03158038
January 14, 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
THROUGH Acting Director, Center for Policy
Support
SUBJECT Chilean Propaganda Efforts Against
Former President Frei
propaganda efforts sponsored (b)(1)
by operation Condor possibly designed to cause the (b)(3)
dissolution of the Christian Democratic Party in Chile
and the political demise of former President Eduardo Frei.
"Operation Condor" is an organization of intelligence and
security officials from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Para-
guay and Uruguay. From its headquarters in Buenos Aires
the organization's mission is to keep track of subversive
and leftists hostile to the five Southern Cone govern-
ments.
(b)(1)
2.
Condor of-
(b)(3)
ficials
am as year t at would
allow
one member country to publish propaganda useful to an-
other. In this case Chilean propaganda experts com-
posed a story about alleged interviews between former
Chilean'President Frei and high US political leaders.
The story, subsequently published in the Argentine press,
suggested that the criticism directed against the Chilean
government during the US election campaign had been in-
spired by Frei during his meetings with US politicians.
3. Chilean propagandists apparently were able to
take advantage of a trip Frei made to the US last fall.
They also were aware that several Christian Democratic
leaders visited Washington and held discussions with
certain high ranking American politicians. Frei's at-
tendance at a seminar sponsored by the Atlantic Council
at the University of Georgia--which took place at Sea
(b)(3)
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lorr'
Island, Georgia--added substance to charges contained
in the propaganda.
4. Frei is a well-known international figure and
this, plus his stature within Chile, has allowed him to
operate with relative freedom, despite the political ban
in force since the military coup in 1973. Frei has also
been able to protect the Christian Democrats--Chile's
largest democratic political party--from government
censure. Should the Chilean government be able to prove
that Frei indeed held substantive conversations with
senior US political leaders, the former president's po-
sition would be eroded substantially within Chile.
5. Condor's propaganda program adds a new dimen-
sion to the efforts of Southern Cone governments to
undermine potential opponents--even those representing
the center or moderate left of the political spectrum.
Office of
Regional & Political Analysis
(b
)(3)
(b)(3)
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MEMORANDUM FOR: DDI
7E44
I am sending a copy of this memoran-
dum to CRG for consideration as an
addition or a supplement to the PDB.
They will check with you before taking
any action on my suggestion. A
Acting Director,
Center for Policy Support
Dee 14 January 1977
FORM101 PlOgims
Approved for Release: 2019/01/25 C03158038