EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64B00346R000500080037-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2005
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: May 19, 1961
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2005/01/27 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000500080037-3
S E C R E T
DCI BRIEFING 19 May 1961
EL SALVADOR
I. El Salvador's strongly anti-Communist provisional regime is con-
trolled by army officers vigorously committed to basic socio-
economic reform program.
A. Gulf between wealthy few and impoverished majority in El Salvador
probably is greater than in any other Latin American country.
B. El Salvador's three-month experience with Communist-influenced
regime overthrown by present government leaders last January
jolted many Salvadorans into recognition that reforms must be
implemented quickly to stem Communist gains.
II. Armed forces officers on Active duty appear, at least on surface,
united in support of government's program.
A. Dominant officer group is composed largely of relatively
young and mid-grade officers.
III. Last month's government changes eliminating certain officials not
wholly supporting reform program reduced ruling civil-military di-
rectorate to three members, and reshuffled cabinet.
35-1
S E C R E T
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S E C R E T 19 May 1961
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Although regime voices its intention to relinquish power to
elected government by end of year, armed forces are unlikely
to give up control until reform program seems assured.
IV. First reforms--reduction in rents for low-income housing and paid
day of rest on Sundays for agricultural workers--aroused considerable
upper class resistance which government is seeking to counter.
7FXi A
r which also is promoting reforms,
recently described upper classes as "stunned" by reversal
of historic position of army and churchowhich had been their
traditional allies.
S E C R E T
Approved For Release 2005/01/27 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000500080037-3
 Approved For Release 2005/01/27 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000500080037-3
CONFIDENTIAL
TABLE OF CONTENT
S
Current
Soviet Foreign Policy 18.
Iran
2.
Strateg
ic Attack
25X1
19A.
UAR-USSR
3.
Air Def
ense
25X1
20A
Iraq
4.
Submari
.
nes
25X1
5.
Soviet
Ground Forces 22.
Ethiopia
6.
Soviet
Space 23.
Angola
7.
Berlin
24.
Congo
8.
Soviet
Internal
Ghana
9.
Soviet
Economic
25X1
10.
Bloc Economic Aid 27.
France-Algeria
11,
Sino-Soviet
LA Reaction to Cuban Situation
25X
1
.
2
Chinese Internal 29.
Bloc Relations with Cuba
I
30.
Brazil
14.
Laos 31.
Dominican Republic
15.
South Vietnam
Venezuela
16.
Indonesia 33.
Bolivia
17.
South Asia
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2005/01/27 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000500080037-3