PRESIDENT PINOCHET IS PREPARING TO MAKE THE FIRST CHANGE IN THE RULING JUNTA

Created: 3/15/1976

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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MESSAGE

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2. hile: president pinochet is preparing to make thc first change in the ruling junta. there also are indications that he is considering mays to ensure the army's preeminent position in the government/^|

//admiral merino* pinochet's designated successor understatutes. apparently intends to resign because of poor health. rtCRIONOeart attack in mid-february and has

extended leave

admiral carvajal will be named merino's successor on the four-man junta.

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OUTGOING MESSAGE

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//CARVAJAL'S APPOINTMENT UOULP NOT CHANGE THC NAVY'SVOICE IN THE RULING BODY, AND HIS CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP 1IITH PINOCHET WOULD PROBABLY FJRTHER STRENGTHEN THC LATTER'STHE NAVY HAS BEEN DISSATISFIED WITH MERINO'S FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

ITS OPINIONS AND CONCERNS TO THE PRESIDENT. AND CARVAJAL IS EXPECTED

TO FACILITATE SHOOTHER

//BOTH NAVY AND AIR FORCE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DISGRUNTLED BY

THE DECLINING INFLUENCE OF THEIR SERVICES. BUT NEITHER HAS BEEN WILLING TO RISK THE UNITY OF THE ARMED FORCES TO KEEP PINOCHET FROM GAINING MORE

//HERIN"

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GENERALFPECUENT CRITIC OF PINOCHET'S POLICIESTO THE

SENIOR POSITION. RAKING HIM NEXT IN LINE TO HEAD TrtE JUNTA - THIS PROSPECT WOULD MAKE PINOCHET EVEN MORE DISSATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF ROTATING THE PRESIDENCY TO THE SENIOR MEMBER. WHICH AT LEAST IN THEORY WOULD STRIP THE ARMY OF ITS DOMINANT ROLE IN THE EVENT OF HIS INCAPACITATION.It

OUTGOING MESSAGE

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//to avoid any such possibility, pinochet uill probably try to chang; the present provisions. he mght even attempt to dispense with the cumbersode junta structure altogether- the major constraint in taking this step now would be fcak that it would KflXSE hew criticism at home and abroad that pinochet is bent onersonal dictatorship.

1JC

Original document.

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