11. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Middle American Affairs (Neal) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom)1
Washington
,
February 18,
1957
.
SUBJECT
- El Salvador: Lemus Government Continues Stable After Five Months in Office
After five months in office President Lemus has made a good impression on the public generally (although he has disappointed a number of former leaders in the dominant party—PRUD). There is no known opposition by either civilians or military figures which seems serious enough to threaten the stability of his government.
In a general survey of Lemus, his actions and prospects, the Embassy reports the following salient facts:
- 1.
- Lemus selected his Cabinet with only perfunctory, if any, consultation with former President Osorio and PRUD leaders. His Cabinet, made up of the best qualified men he could find, is widely approved. In general the top places are filled by non-Prudistas or by [Page 44] persons not intimately associated with the controlling group in PRUD.
- 2.
- The so-called anti-Communist law was rescinded and exiles permitted to return because Lemus reportedly disliked the arbitrary wording of the law and felt it violated constitutional guarantees.
- 3.
- Lemus recently vetoed a municipal tax bill despite prior approval of the bill by all levels of government including the Ministry of Finance; Lemus’ veto angered some PRUD deputies but it appears no attempt will be made to over-ride the veto.
- 4.
- There have been unconfirmed reports that Lemus wishes to replace PRUD with a new party to reflect the transition from a “revolutionary” to a more stable government. Down-grading of the 1948 Revolution might displease Osorio and his close adherents.
- 5.
- Lemus published an accounting of his personal wealth shortly after assuming office and urged other high officials to do likewise as an assurance of honest administration. This could be construed as a reflection on the previous administration.
- 6.
- Although the foregoing points might be vaguely disturbing, Lemus was Osorio’s choice for President and Osorio and the PRUD were responsible for his nomination, election and inauguration. Lemus is undoubtedly grateful for Osorio’s and PRUD’s support and the foregoing points may show only a tendency to be the President in his own right. Lemus stated in his inaugural address that he would continue the policies of the prior government subject to normal evolution. The Embassy feels that the principal difference between Lemus and Osorio is Lemus’ apparent willingness to go to greater efforts to cater to public opinion. The Embassy notes Lemus’ sincere desire to have an efficient and honest administration.
- 7.
- The Embassy does not wish to suggest that differences between Lemus and the PRUD are great enough to point to trouble and it feels that Osorio’s natural inclination would be to work for order and continuance of Lemus in office. However the Embassy notes that it is always possible that Osorio and his former associates might become aroused if Lemus should “abandon the Revolution” or drop the PRUD party and its policies, or if they became convinced that Lemus was seeking to break their influence. In case of serious difficulty the Embassy believes that the armed forces would be the controlling factor. The Embassy notes that “it seems doubtful that the loyalty of the armed forces has been completely transferred from Osorio to Lemus …”.2