POSITION OF THE NATIONALIST PARTY OF CHILE IN RELATION TO THE AGRARIAN LABOR PARTY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002600620005-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 20, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

.- Approved For Release 1999tbE]lW &DP82-00457R002600620005~4 ~'
CLASSIFICATION h_e+ TT=
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO. ift
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Chile
DATE DISTR. 20 April 1949
SUBJECT Position of the Nationalist Party of Chile in \ NO. OF PAGES 2
Relation to the Agrarian Labor Party
` C
AnUI R ED Rai
h~o~V
DATE OF INFO.
REPORT NO.
0
25X1A
1. A meeting of the Executive Council of the Nationalist party of Chile was held
on 16' March 1949 in the party's Calle Huerfanos 11611 headquarters. During
this meeting, the party president, Hedilberto BizamaMerino, stated that the
great electoral gains achieved by the Agrarian Labor party in. the recent
6 March elections should be regarded as both a potential danger and a real
opportunity for the Nationalist party. According to Bizama Merino, members of
the Nationalist party acted correctly in supporting the Agrarian Labor party
in the recent elections since the Nationalist party was not legally inscribed
and had not presented any candidates of its own. Hover, he pointed out
that with the success of the Agrarian Labor party, many former Nationalists
are now deserting in favor of the Agrarian Labor party. As an example of
this defection, he pointed out the cases of Javier Lira Merino, ;Marcos A.
Salun, Arnaldo Rodriguez Lazo, and Julio Von Mullenbrock Lira.. These in-
dividuals, although members of the Nationalist party, ran for office on the
Agrarian Labor ticket and have renounced their Nationalist party membership
since they won the election.
2. Bizama Merino pointed out that the presence of many Nationalists as members
of the Agrarian Labor party offered the Nationalist party a wonderful op-
portunity to infiltrate and eventually dominate the Agrarian Labor party.
HHover, he stressed the danger of the less fanatical Nationalists abandoning
their dual role as both Agrarian Laborites and Nationalists in favor of the
Agrarian Labor party alone.
3. Bizama Merino commented unhappily on the fact that the Agrarian Labor party
had refused membership to such outstanding Nationalist party leaders as
himsaif, Olaf Ulloa Perez, Federico Mujica Canales, Gaston Alejandro Acuna
McLean and Luis Callis because their Nationalist ideology is too well known,
According to Bizama Merino, it is unfortunate that the Agrarian Labor party
has apparently decided to follow a comparatively democratic line of opposition
to the present government.
4. During an executive meeting held on 25 March, Eduardo Borne Sandoval stated
that Agrarian Labor party Deputy-elect Arnaldo Rodriguez Lazo claimed that
more than 20,000 individuals had requested membership in the Agrarian Labor
party. Rodriguez Lazo stated that the Agrarian Labor party intended tc re-
fuse membership to those applicants suspected of Communist sympathies, to
those widely known for their rabid nationalistic tendencies, and also
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CONE"IDENTIATT'
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
to those believed to be merely attempting to obtain a seat on the bandwagon
of the recently successful Agrarian Labor party. According to Borne Sandoval,
Rothig aA Lazo estimated that approximately 20 per cent of the applicants
would be turned down.
Borne Sandoval also stated that Rodriguez Lazo and Agrarian Labor party
Deputy-elect Javier Lira Merino had declared that the Agrarian Labor party
intended to follow a Leftist line but would not enter into any agreements with
Coramiunist or pro-revolutionary elements or parties. Rodriguez Lazo and
Lira Merino also allegedly stated that the United States looks with suspicion
upon this party and that it would be necessary for the Agrarian Labor party to
give assurances to the United States with zespect to the pro-democratic policy
?&hich it intended to carry out. Both Rodriguez Lazo and Lira Morino assert
that no Chilean political party can hope to maintain itself in power, even if
it manages to obtain control of the government, if this party is opposed by
the government of the United States,
6. At the end of the meeting, Hedilberto Bizama Merino suggested that 5 April.,
the date of the founding of this party, be celebrated by giving a dinner to
ithich will be invited Genera]. Ibanez and all the 1grarian Labor party Con-
gressmen, as well as a selected group of leaders of other parties. This
suggestion was accepted and Eduardo Borne Sandoval, Victor Hidalgo and Orlando
Espinoza were entrusted with making the necessary arrangements,
CORPTDENTIAZ
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R002600620005-4