THE SITUATION IN BOLIVIA

Created: 11/5/1964

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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intelligence memorandum

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THE SITUATION IN BOLIVIA

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Office of Current Intelligence

CONTAINS INFORMATIONTHEUXTieSIALiDEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANWG^OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS,SC. SECTIONS TJErTHiCi^tM THEOR REVELATION OFTO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PHOHIBITeTTTWJJWV,

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Current4

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

The Situation lo Bolivia*

(S)

the noo effectivebeen established in Bolivia, althoughcontinually refer to a General Alfredo Ovando Candia, theIn chief of the Bolivian armed forces,heads the "Junta." Brigadier GeneralGuzman, commanding general of thehas announced that he villember"junta," but his status is unclear. Rene Barrientos, the leading figuremilitary overthrow of Paz, was scheduledin La Paz this morning to confer with Ovando

' Bar-

ins toandidate for the presidency when elections are held.

absence of any effectivetho resultant violence and lawlessnessnew opportunity for elements inimical to USsuch as Communists and extremeexert their Influence even on Ovando. former vice president and head of theLeftist Revolutionary Partyasmade an attempt to force his inclusion in So far he appears to have failed, butcan be expected to be important in the

mamma

memorandum has bean coordinated with the Department of State

considerations of those who will organize angovernment. The growth of Communistcan be controlled only by the imposition of strong silitary rule ln the initial stages of the now govornment.

nation's tin Miners, wbo areand extreme loftlat leadership forpart, areorce to be reckonedmine leaders announced yesterday thatfight the army if necessary unlessImportant role In the government.

Ovandoapable,who Is highly regarded by his fellow He leans toward tbe right politically and

la very favorably disposed toward the US. His main disadvantage is his lack of widespread popular For this reason, tho participation of Bar-rlentoa in an interim government or at leaat his open support of it is desirable, anile Barrientos bas had dealings with loftlat elements, there is no evidence that these peraons have significant Influence on him. His lack of politicalhowovor, makes him vulnerable toby opportunistic politicians, including those of the extroso left.

Original document.

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