8Etnl/1'0 POIB!&H ll1SSJM 

STATE 

-·-'
DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE AND RESE·A~CH 

To 	. 
The Secretary
.
Thru 	. S/S ...hi• 
From . 
INR -Thomas L. Hughes ·l'\W Subject: Latin America and the Czech Intervention: Reactions and Implications 
Latin America's almost unanimous condemnation of the Soviet intervention inj~~~~ -KEENY t
Czechoslovakia is well summed up in what Jamaican Prime Minister Hugh Shearer 
-1.EONHART termed the "grave concern to small nations who are at all times exposed to _SAUND~ 
-TAYLOR 
aggressive assaults by the big powers." The only support for the Soviet move came 
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predictably from Mo8cow-line co..unist parties--some of whom are financially 
dependent on the Soviets~-and, perhaps less predictably, from Fidel Castro who 
termed the intervention illegal but politically necessary. Cheddi Jagan also 
issued a statement of measured support for the intervention. The Mexican govern­
ment, seeking to maintain a semblance of its traditional neutrality and, anxious 
to limit possible political reverberations for the Olympic Games, was cautious 
and vague in condemning the Soviets. Anti-Soviet demonstrations and other 
relatively minor incidents occurred in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. 
'!be trend in Latin America toward increased diplomatic and trade tieswi.th 
the USSR and other Eastern European countries is likely to be temporarily halted 
as a result of the Czech events. Several Latin American CPs, which owe their 
currently enhanced positions to increasingly nationalistic postures, are likely 
to suffer loss of preatige for their support for Moscow. International events 
scheduled for Latin American countries may also be affected. In addition to the 
October Olympics in Mexico City, delegations from some 70 nations, including 
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-4 ­at a time when student unrest has created various opportunities for communist exploitation. 
Communist parties in Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela--which have gained varying degrees of leverage by nurturing a nationalistic image--may well suffer tangible losses o prestige as a result of their pro-Moscow stance. A Chilean columnist predicts a strengthening of the political right as a result of the Czech events. The forth­coming December elections in Venezuela also seem likely to be affected. Unsolicited communist support for Luis B. Prieto, one of the leading presidential candidates, 



-5 ­
Venezuela's still unimplemented agreement of last May to exchange ambassadors 
with Prague. Venezuela is contemplating application of the Betancourt Doctrine, 
which bars recognition of non-constitutional regimes, to Czechoslovakia. The 
doctrine has never previously been applied outside of the Western Hemisphere. 
Argentina has also indicated that it would not recognize a puppet Czech govern­
ment. Cancellation of Juan Bosch's trip to the Soviet Union also seems likely as a result of the intervention. Bosch was hoping his visit would help promote trade and cultural ties between the DR and the USSR. He had requested and received permission from his Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) to accept an invitation from a Soviet writers group. Now, however, the PRD has cancelled its permission for the visit. It would be highly embarrassing for Bosch to be extending his hand of friendship to Moscow at any time in the foreseeable future. Those Latin American governments which have trade or diplomatic relations with the USSR are not likely to break relations with it or with the governments of any other invading Warsaw Pact country. In Costa Rica, however, the legisla­ture did pass a resolution requesting the government to break relations with Poland. At the time of the intervention, Soviet ambassadors in Brazil and Mexico presented explanatory notes to the governments of those countries. The USSR also sent a note 
to the Venezuelan government through the Venezuelan representative in the UN. Czech diplomatic and consular representatives in Mexico, Chile, and Brazil, meanwhile, acted staunchly in support of their government, though in most instances worded 
their statements with caution.