PARAGUAYAN POLITICAL CRISIS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02628708
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: July 9, 2021
• Case Number: F-2020-01817
• Publication Date: May 7, 1954

Approved for Release: 2021/07/08 CO2628708
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
4.
COUNTRY Paraguay REPORT NO.
SUBJECT Paraguayan Political Crisis DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
DATE OF INFO.
REQUIREMENT NO.
RD
PLACE ACQUIRED
REFERENCES
7:0417
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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7 May 1954
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SOURCE:
1. As a result of the recent political crisis in Paraguay, President
Federico CHAVES, Jose Antonio MORENO Gonzalez, Foreign Minister,
and Ezequiel GONZALEZ Alsina, Minister of Education, are now under
detention at the Colegio Militar. CHAVES has submitted his resig-
nation, Which probably will be accepted. The 2overning board of
the�Colorado Party was planning to meet to study the (W(1 )
situition. Firing has ceased, and approximately were killed to (b)(3)
date.
2. If CHAVESI resignation is accepted, strong candidates for the Para-
guaYin'Preeidency are Tomas ROMERO Pereira) former Minister of the
Interior, and Ramon MENDEZ Paiva) present Minister of the Interior.
3. Factions favoring Epifanio MENDEZ Fleitas, former president of the
Bank of Paraguay and Police Chief, had part in the recent events.
A military plane left Asuncion for San Pedro to take MENDEZ Fleitas
to Asuncion.
the present situation is not the result of any
organized plan or conspiracy, but the revolt developed spontaneously
as a result of orders from Nestor FERREIRA, Cavalry Commander, for
the arrest on 4 May of Major Virgilio CANDIA and other cavalry officers.
Following these arrests, CANDIA supporters started fighting at Cavalry
Headquarters, while in Asuncion Army Battalion 40 took over police head-
quarters, injuring several police officials and killing Roberto PETIT,
Police Chief,
C�1�2IN NTIA
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CONFIDENTIAL
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General Alfredo STROESSNER, .Chief of the Paraguayan Armed Forces,
reportedly broke with FERREIRA over the above-pentioned arrests, with
the result that FERREIRA is now under arrest. STROESSNER controls
the city of Asuncion, the police, and all the armed forces, with the
possible exception of the cavalry.
Comment. It is rumored that the cavalry may go to Asuncion
to attempt the release of FERREIRA.
CONFIDENTIAL
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Approved for Release: 2021/07/08 CO2628708