INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM-INSTABILITY IN BRAZIL-MEMO ALSO MENTIONS-THE DEVELOPMEN

Created: 9/1/1969

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE

elligence Memorandum

INSTABILITY IN BRAZIL

Approved lo* Reluse.

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Directorate of Intelligence9

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

Instability in Bra ill

int.-oduction

The developments of tha last ten daysilva'i debilitating stroma, tha Kidnapingbassador ElbricK by left-wing terrorists, and growing militarywith the governnent--have combined to aggravate military disunity and thus threaten the stability of the government ^

Background:

1. President Arthur dallvaevere stroke onugust. The Brazilianwhich has been the locus of power since4 revolution that ousted leftist President Jcao Goulart, decided to bypass the constitution and"caretaker" direction of the government. The three military ministersriumvirate to qovern during the President'* "temporarythe authority of Institutionalhich they1 August, and of all previousacts and the constitution. The Act expressly states that the President will resume pcwe. upon recovering.

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c-ribassador

the triumvirate had any chance to rising nilitary discontent, it was risis that night have strained decision-making machine. US C. Burke Elbrick was kidnaped byeptember. The kidnapersanifesto stating conditions for his release. These included tha manifesto, whichitter and anti-US diatribe, ln the usually and subsequently releasing.IS polit-to another country. If their condi-met, the abductors vowed to "execute"

Movement

manifesto was signed by thectober nd the National Liberation

Action ttJM) . Theerrorist groupmostly of students; it reportedly has linksdissident Comrnunist and otherorganizations. Many of its mexbers,engaged in successful bank robberies,up by Brazilian security forces thisthey could implement their, plan to

r probable involvement in *Pin9account

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for the assassination of US Arrry Captain Chandler in Sao Paulo in

10. After prolonged discussion, tht government agreed to the Kidnapers' terns. Therisoners whose release was demanded turned out to be some of the military's most prized captives and included proninent extremist student leaders,errorists,ixed bag of other left-wing radicals. Even had the prisoners not been notorious, many in the military would have opposed the ransom dealumiliating sell-out to the forces they most fervently opposed.

broad powers

Many

suspected of being involved in the kidnapingU^dor Elbrick. Many leftists and oppositi

Almost certainly there willide-ranging crackdown on anyone who appears evensubversive. The government has armed itself yitn to "guarantee the national security, arrests have been made, including some persons

Many

mbassador Elbrick. Many

to

leaders hive taken cover in the expectation of an ever, wider purge. The government is notift its curbs on the press, nor is it likely to tolerate criticism from opposition groups such as the church, students, or workers.

nay

ce persons previously unwilling to risk punishment to turn to one of the severalxtremist groupsen out et for tf.it opoosi

{eft-wing terrorism invites countertes

moreover, it contributes to military

18. One result of the government's tough line" be to force

w

tion

from the right; .

well

disunity because officers cannot agree on how it should be controlled. Despite the government's best efforts, continued incidents of terrorism are likely to occur. Government and military leaders as as US citirens reportedly are tarcats.

Original document.

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