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Freedom of Information

and

Privacy Acts Release of

Subject: Luis Munoz-Marin

Section File 100-5745

Federal Bureau of Investigation

I Washington, D.C.

November 13, 1940

Director Federal Bureau o f Washington, D.C.

Re: LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

Dear Sir: t Special Agent J. as me

s advised him of Puerto Rico,

that a reliable informant

reputedly the ranking o f f i c i a l of the Communist Party in the West Indies and the Caribbean Sea area, is shortly scheduled t o v i s i t t h i s country as he house guest of Mrs. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT a t the

confidentially tha t

\ , / i f I

Senate; and is i n a position t o furnish valuable information relevant t o ac t iv i t i e s t o the FBI. ever that no contact be made with the

same i s deemed advisable by the-Bureau, and

t ruly

GUY HOTTEL Special Agent i n Charge

of of

Washington Field

Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C.

LUIS MUNOZ-MARIN

Dear Sir:

Special Agent J. CLARK NEWSON of t h i s office has that t o the Washington Field Office he prepared l e t t e r s t o for Special Agent in Charge HOTTEL'S signa-

ture regarding LUIS MUNOZ-MARIN, recently elected senator t o the Puerto Rican legislature, and on his forthcoming v i s i t t o the U n i t e d States as a guest of Mrs. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT a t the White House, Washington, D.C. the Communist leader for Puerto Rico but the ent i re Caribbean Sea area.

Senor MARIN i s reputedly

Special Agent NEWSOM has advised that issue of the magazine, NEWSWEEK published between the dates November 1, 1940 and December 12, 1940 contained a brief of Senor MARIN’S history. effor ts t o ascertain the date of this issue and to secure a copy at the in Houston have been

t ru ly yours,

Special Charge.

-.EL- I

Washington, D.C. March 14, 1941

Director Federal Bureau of Invest igat ion Washington D.C.

S i r : LUIS MUNOZ-MARIN In te rna l Securi ty C

i s made t o t h e l e t t e r dated January 5 , 1941 the Houston Office t o the Bureau, advising t h a t an

concerning t h e subject i n this case had been published magazine between November 1, 1940 and December 12,

For t h e information of the Bureau, please be t h a t a check of the Newsweek magazines a t the Congressional Library r e f l e c t s that i n t h e issue dated December 10, 1940 page an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d : i n P u e r t o R i c o appears as

:

"LUIS MUNOZ-MARIN, beleagued Puerto Rican e d i t o r and p o l i t i c a l l e der who w a s reared i n the United Sta tes and married MUNA LEE “Mississippi-born” feminist poet, ousted by h i s extremist dr ive f o r independence from the United S ta tes . Democratic Par ty and, l a s t month, ignored by scof f ing old-time po l i t i c i ans , campaigned among t h e impoverished peasants under t h e slogan of 'Land, Bread, Liber ty ' .

Liberty Party i n 1936 because of

Thereupon he organized t h e r ad ica l Popular

Last week, counting continued c r i e s of 'Fraud', MUNOZ-MARIN, assured of cont ro l of the i s land Senate with votes t o f o r t h e m o r e conservative, pro-statehood c o a l i t i o n i s t s , strengthened h is bloc i n t h e House of Representatives a s w e l l when a recount i n the Manitiy Barceloneta d i s t r i c t e lec ted by a scant f i v e votes CARZELO RODRIGUEZ, popular Democratic chauffeur, Superin- tendent of Elections CHARLES TERRY estimated that the

'

Direct o r LUIS MUNOZ-MARIN March 14, 1941

f ina l count would give House Seats t o MUNOZ-MARIN’S party, t h e same number t o t h e c o a l i t i o n i s t s and scat- t e r ing .

a majority i n the House. The Popular Democratic Leader confidently

MUNOZ-MARIN himself a Senator-elect, w a s s l a t e d t o become the upper president, t h e o f f i c e t h a t ranks next t o the Washington Governor. h i s superior, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT l a s t week unexpectedly se l ec t ed as Acting Governor, t o replace A d m i r a l LEAHY, Pue r to Rico’s native-born American-educated Commissioner of Education, JOSE M.GALLARDO.

A s

fu r the r reference t o t h e above it has been determined t h a t Confidential Informant i s believed t o be i n a posi t ion t o furnish considera information i n connection with t h i s matter, has been i n Puerto Rico f o r t h e pas t several months, is scheduled t o r e tu rn t o Washington i n t h e l a t e Spring. r i v a l i n Washington, he w i l l be contacted f o r t he f u l l d e t a i l s i n connection with matter.

Immediately upon h i s ar-

Special Agent in Charge

Washington D.C.

Director

Washington, D.C. LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

Securi ty C

S i r :

Reference i s made t o l e t t e r February 28, the matter.

Confidential Informant just returned where the

s i t ua t ion . closely three Communists as

:

subject th i s case i s

ELMER ELLSWORTH GEIGEL POLANCO, Member of the Puerto Rican

ANTONINI Member o f the House o f RAMOS Puerto Rico. The Informant f u r t h e r the

Senate m i t e r .

the LUIS MUNOZ MARIN they ac- t i v e l y i n Communist Party a c t i v i t i e s advocate the independence o f Puer to R ico the U n i t e d States; s ince t h e i r e l ec t ion t o they been influencing the

of Puer to Rico t o t h e i r food s t u f f s South America i n doing s o it i s they a

f o o d stuffs t o Puerto Rican Government; the U n i t e d States has the Puerto Rican government's such

COPIES DESTROYED

Director

April 26, 1941 LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

o f f i c e r s obtain f o r t h e i r par ty use. the t o use ; i t i s a the

o n o f

i s these diver ted

MARIN i n the Informant advised

t h i s i n o f one

Informant consider o f i t

t o i n Puer to Rico .

I n o f the Informant’s des i res i n t h i s no

i s being San Juan the the des i r e s i n to

the Communis t activities o f LUIS MUNOZ MARIN San Juan t o t ha t e f fec t .

I

othervise t o the f u r t h e r inves t iga t ion i s by of f ice .

Very

M A I L E D

P O F

ut

Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington,

SECURITY RE: LUIS MUNOZ MARIN;

Dear Sir

Reference is June 27, 1941, request

to Bureau letter dated vice as to what steps

have been taken to investigate captioned matter.

made

Please be advised that a report is being mailed this date, S a n J u a n , by Special Agent JACK O. PARKER,

V e r y truly yours,

AIR

Special Agent in Charge

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Juan, Puerto Rico

MADE AT WHEN MADE REPORT MADE WHICH MADE

CHARACTER OF CASE

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

SYNOPSIS OF FACTS:

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN, born San Juan , Puerto Rico, February 18, 1898, Popular Democratic of Puerto Rico, and President of the Puerto Rican Senate as r e su l t of t he Puerto Rico elections of November 1940. Investigation he i s a po l i t i ca l opportunist supported by radical po l i t i c ians desire Puerto Rico's independence the United States.

Is leader of

REFERENCE Bureau l e t t e r dated May 15, 1941.

DETAILS

MARIN on occasions, Although no specif ic put t o MUNOZ MARIN on these occasions he advised reporting agent t h a t he the Popular Democratic Party of Puer to R ico the l a t t e r part of 1939 or the early p a r t of 1940, and as f tom years of campaigning by himself and leaders of t h e Popular

Democratic Party, without funds, the Puerto Rico elections of November 1940, the Popular Democratic Party i n of

l eg is la ture of Puerto Rico.

U GOVERNMENT OFFICE : e

I

a. San Juan F i l e 100-302

Reporting Agent has observe with a generally referred t o as

that she the mistress of MUNOZ MARIN baby g i r l s by MUNOZ W I N , one months old and the other s i x months old.

MUNOZ MARIN resides MENDOZA It i s common

She has

of the and honor paid LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA by the c i t izens of Puerto Rico i s that nearly every c i t y and in Puerto Rico has a s t r ee t , a plaza, or a in honor of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA the first Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico t o Washington and he is said t o be responsible f o r the securing of United States cit izenship for t he Puerto Rican people.

advised that LUIS MUNOZ MARIN i s the son of LUIS MUNOZ 'RIVERA, a po l i t i c i an and statesman of Puerto Rico died in 1916.

About 1920, or fou r years after the death of LUIS MUNOZ

When LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA died there no money l e f t f o r h i s and h i s f r iends took up a pay fo r the support of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA'S family in the United States

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN has no profession. believed that in the United States f o r about one year.

a t the University of Puerto Rico. w e l l poetess of the United States,

This He has two grown chi l - marriage have taken about 1924.

dren of t h i s of this or of h i s family, and for years has not contributed

He has never the responsibi l i ty

o the support of MUNA LEE or his children.

s ta ted that MUNOZ MARIN is absolutely irresponsible f thinks of

He has money in h i s pockets and never

advised that about years ago MUNOZ MARIN contacted old friends of h i s and advised t h a t he was

San Juan F i l e 100-302

publishing a book on the l i f e of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA and was s o l i -

of publishing a on the l i f e of h i s father. Shortly MUNOZ MARIN had made these collections he observed with of h i s f r iends on a tour of the Island of Puerto Rico. It was said tha t MUNOZ MARIN and his f r iends had about i n one dol lar b i l l s which they carr ied in a s m a l l After a spree which las ted about four months and a l l of the money MUNOZ W I N had collected fo r t h e book he t o publish spent, he l e f t Puerto Rico and did not re turn f o r several years.

advised that the present leaders of t h e Popular De- mocratic Party are Senator VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO San JUAN SAMUEL QUINONES Speaker of the House of Representatives, Repre-

RAMOS ANTONINI and Senator BARRETO PEREZ of Ponce, Puerto Rico

advised that it was his opinion t h a t a l l of these individuals are former Nationalist a l l believe i n the independ- denae of Puerto Rico, and GEIGEL POLANCO and BARRETO PEREZ are probably connected with t h e Communist Party of Puerto Rico.

A great deal has been wr i t ten about LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA However, it is not possible fo r and h i s son LUIS MUNOZ MARIN.

Reporting Agent t o search l ib rary references fo r material regarding LUIS MUNOZ MARIN without disclosing t h a t an investigation

being conducted by t h e Federal Bureau of Investigation, because Special Agents of t he Federal Bureau of Investigation are

known by s ight i n Puerto Rico and specif ic inquiry made regarding LUIS MUNOZ MARIN would probably be immediately reported to him, he is popular with the poor c lass of Puerto Rican

advised that furnish a great deal of information regarding the background and a c t i v i t i e s of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and the aims and purposes of t he Popular Democratic Party.

advised that LUIS MUNOZ MARIN is the son of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA, a great Puerto Rican and a hero of Puerto R i c o

was the f i rs t Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico i n the United States and LUIS MUNOZ MARIN his father t o the United States when he was a s m a l l child, and the day a f t e r his fa ther died LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was in

i n a drunken condition.

LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA died i n 1916

Four years af ter h i s fa ther died LUIS MUNOZ MARIN entered pol i t ics , joining the po l i t i ca l group which had opposed h i s father. He has adopted or ideals i n and has been a member of four different his career. was instrumental i n bringing the Puerto Rico Emergency Relief Administration to Puerto Rico and w e l l r e=

at time by t he Democratic Administration of the United States

po l i t i ca l par t ies during

He has no moral character, he is absolutely irresponsible but i s probably the most b r i l l i a n t po l i t i c ian on the

po l i t i ca l horizon of Puerto R i c o advised t h a t there was not a pol i t ic ian i n Puerto Rico who could beat him in a general t i o n and tha t he probably control the Puerto Rico legis la ture

long as he was able t o fulfill the duties of leadership of the

which last f r o o r three days t o two or three weeks, and during these periods of drinking he w i l l take nothing t o unless he

forced t o by h i s friends.

advised that he goes on protracted Popular Party

His mistress, LA MENDOZA, i s ent i re ly supported by h i s

MUNOZ MARIN has contributed t o the support of MUNA LEE his legal and it has been necessary f o r her t o ever she married

San Juan Fi le 100-302

advised t h a t i f given time could furnish complete

regarding LUIS MUNOZ a c t i v i t i e s Of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

! which would indicate that t h e major aim and purpose of the Popular Party of Puerto Rico is t o es tab l i sh t h e independence of Puerto

furnish information t h a t could proceedings.

recontacted on June Agent a great deal of information re LUIS

believed e- MUNOZ W I N and other leaders of t h e Popular Party furnish a l l the information within t e next ten

be kept o r e su l t most unfavorably t o

advised t h a t LUIS MUNOZ MARIN has the RCA over since, 1935.

the sum of since 1935. Further t h a t he has owed the Condado Hotel

advised he record of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

PENDING

i

S a n Juan Fi le 100-302

SAN FIELD DIVISION

At San Juan, Puerto Rico

t

Sari Juan F i l e 100-302

I

Radio Corporation of America, San

Retail Credit company, San Juan, Puerto I

i

: 100-341

i

Director Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C.

In ternal Security LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

Dear S i r :

Reference i s made t o t h e l e t t e r of June 24, 1941 (100-5745) i n which it i s requested t h a t you be advised of t he s t a tus of t h i s invest i - gat ion at once.

This i s t o advise that t h e invest igat ion reques- t ed i n this matter set fo r th i n the le t te rs from t h e Washington Field Office t o the Bureau dated March

ad April 26, 1941 bearing t h e above caption.

Attention is a l s o called t o t h e l a s t paragraphs in t h e l e t t e r of April 26, 1941 wherein it was s t h a t in view of t he informant’s des i re i n t h i s

and t h i s matter i s being referred t o the a t ten t ion the San Juan Office. directed, no fur ther investigation i s being made by the Washington Field Office.

fur ther e f fo r t s are t o

It was a l so s ta ted tha t unless

Very truly yours,

Special Agent i n Charge

Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C.

RE: LUIS MUNOZ MARIN SECURITY C

Sir:

1941 which

Reference is made t o Bureau letter dated July 12, the above-captioned matter (Bureau f i l e 100-5745),

made reference t o Bureau letter dated June 24, 1941, and also requested t h a t the Bureau be advised mail what action had been taken this off ice t o conduct an investigation of MARIN, the subject of this case.

The a t ten t ion is respectful ly called t o our l e t t e r t o the Bureau dated July 8, 1941 bearing the above caption, l e t t e r set f o r t h the action that had been taken by t h i s office.

COPIES I

Direct or Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C.

Re: LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTERNAL SECURITY

Dear Sir:

Reference is made t o Bureau radiogram dated August 3, 1941 which requested complete de t a i l s regarding information furnished the Bureau by San Juan Division radiogram dated July 30, 1941, t h a t the San Juan of Military Intelligence Division was investigating LUIS MUNOZ W I N i n violat ion of the Delimitation Agreement.

Special Please be advised t h a t on July 30, 1941

JACK O. PARKER cal led Colonel EUGENE July 30, 1941 Special Agent

Colonel EUGENE T. CONWAY, Assistant Chief of Staff , G-2. Mil i ta ry In te l l igence Div is ion , San Juan, Puerto Rico, regarding another matte-,

Colonel CONWAY inquiry MENDOZA the mistress of MUNOZ MARIN Agent

Lieutenant

himself had interested in the a c t i v i t i e s of LUIS MUNOZ

then on LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was obvious Agent PARKER t h a t

of MUNOZ MARIN. He

Letter t o the Director 8/4/41

prepared which show the his tory of po l i t i c s i n Puerto Rico, the names of po l i t i ca l par t ies , and t h e i r leaders since

of the Island. Agent PARKER questioned h i s source t h a t Agent PARKER was interested

i d not disclose h i s source but i n MUNOZ MARIN. he had received s information an individual who had furnished Agent PARKER with regarding LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and t h a t t h i s had given t h i s information t o him of a friendship of long standing end the investigation of MUNOZ MARIN not outside of the confidential source and M.I.D.

Lieutenant a Puerto Rican by bir th , h i s being an descent and h i s mother-a

Puerto Rican Science a t the University of Puerto Rico and impressed Agent PARKER a s being an extremely in te l l igent individual, informed on conditions i n general i n Puerto Rico.

He was an inst ructor in Po l i t i ca l

On August 4, 1941 Colonel CONWAY called a t t he off ice of the San Juan Field Division for the regular weekly conference held with M.I.D. O.N.I., and the Federal Bureau of

A t t h i s time PARKER inquired Colonel CONWAY and Colonel CONWAY Y suggested tha t

and stated regarding Lieutenan Agent PARKER get tog t h a t they pushing t h e i r investigation. Agent CONWAY Lieutenant

Because of the loca l prominence of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and the p o l i t i c a l and diplomatic factors involved, t h i s inves- t i ga t ion must be conducted the utmost discret ion t o avoid complications might prove embarrassing.

must be noted, that the San Juan Field Division i s a very cordial relationship with the of f ice of M.I.D. a t San Juan. Colonel CONWAY and the employees under

Letter to the Director

his supervision are very cooperative. It is control

investigation of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN to by frequent contacts with Lieutenant

investigation becoming to LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

truly yours

100-302

D. L. McCormack Special Agent in Charge

MARIN The Popular Democratic purposes pa ra l l e l Communist

independence of Puerto plan i n

ps which may destroy Puerto connection of acre l a w t o es tab l i sh

Puerto Rico’s benefiting United S ta tes

cap i t a l invest sugar. He endorses h i s friend REXFORD o r of Puerto Rico was

connected C H A R L E S TAUSSIG, President, American Molasses Company. TAUSSIG

Report of Special Agent Jack O. Parker, San Juan, Puerto Rico July 7, 1941 en t i t l ed LUIS MUNOZ MARIN Internal Security-C.

The information was furnished by One:

Patr iot , LUIS MUNOZ was born San 1898 and

100-302

public and private schools of the Island. I n 1910 his father, LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA then leader of the Unionist Party of Puerto Rico was e lected Resident Commissioner t o Washington, D.C., a post he held unt i l h i s death i n 1916. A t this JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN years old and h i s mother he

h i s t o Washington. old, he was nevertheless appointed a Secretary t o h i s fa ther

the of f ice of the Resident Commissioner. University at Washington, D.C. from 1912 t o 1916, but it

cannot be established that he ever a univers i ty or t h a t he has a professional o r academic degree. set fo r th above can be ver i f ied Who's Who In America, 1937)

Although only years

He attended George-

The f a m i l y re la t ionship of his fa ther and mother w a s not good and h i s mother soon l e f t h i s fa ther and went t o l i v e re la t ives in New York City. His father, the Resident Commissioner s t i l l a t Washington, began l iv ing h i s Puerto Rican secretary whoa he had three daughters. MARIN’S fa ther had established excellent connections i n Washington and from the years 1912 t o 1916, there a great deal of ag i ta t ion for a reform of the Organic Act of Puerto Rico (For Aker Act) which culminated i n the passage of the Jones Act which a c t l ibera l ized the Government of Puerto Rico and granted American ci t izenship t o the Puerto Rican people. execution of t h i s act , it was necessary f o r the Resident Comm-

t o re turn t o Puerto Rico. i n Puerto Rico a sudden illness overtook and he on November 15, 1916. ship fo r the Puerto Rican people, LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA the fa ther of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was revered as the First Puerto Rican Patriot . Because of the prominence of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA and Latin custom, it was necessary f o r JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and his mother t o return t o Puerto Rico. on the Island a f e w days before the death and were present a t his funeral services. The Island of Puerto Rico never a equal t o tha t shown by the Puerto Rican public upon the occasion of the funeral MUNOZ RIVERA

refinery a t Santurce, Puerto Rico. He buried a t Barranquitas,

JOSE LUIS MUNOZ

In connection the

On September 20, 1916 while

Because of having obtained American citizen-

They arrived

He in the of DON EDUARDO GEORGETTI a quasi Puerto Rican millionaire and of a sugar

Puerto Rico was a l s o his birthplace,

--**---

A s the funeral procession proceeded Santurce t o Barranquitas, Puerto Rico by automobile, the road f o r a distance of miles by the common people of Puerto Rico who l i t e ra l ly covered the road flowers, A t this JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was years old and his fa thers funeral he indulged in excessive public places and qui te intoxicated, For marly t h e t a l k of San Juan was the unbecoming behavior of young JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN during the that the people of the Island were mourning the of his father,

LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA l e f t no estate whatever and EDUARDO GEORGETTI made established the economic s t a b i l i t y of the widow, son and of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA, Residential houses were b u i l t in Puerto Rico f o r the daughters and the ren ta l s received these houses were re- mitted t o the daughters who preferred t o res ide in Washington, D.C. GEORGETTI f the education of the children, Unionist Party of Puerto Rico which was supported by the sugar interests of the is land other wealth, appointed-CORDOBA DAVILA t o succeed as Resident Commissioner a t Washington, D.C. JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN then years of age appointed Sec- r e t a ry t o the new Resident Commissioner a t Washington, D.C. which post he hela from 1916 t o 1918.

Upon the death of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA the

On July 1, 1919, JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN married MUNA LEE Raymond, Mississippi of he has MUNITA an LUIS. MUNA LEE i s a w e l l poetess and has excellent connections i n Washington, D.C. She i s a l so connected with several organizations and i s the daughter of BENJAMIN FLOYD LEE and MARY McWILLIAMS She w a s a student a t Blue Mountain Mississippi College from 1909 t o 1910, the University of Oklahoma from 1 9 1 1 t o 1912, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mississippi in 1913; Director of t h e Bureau of Internat ional Relations of the University of Puerto Rico since 1927; on leave of absence

1931 t o 1933 t o act as Director of National a c t i v i t i e s of the National Woman’s Party of the United States; Committee of National Woman’s Party of the United States , 1928, the f i rs t

women were invi ted t o address t h i s congress; Honorary President Liga Social Sufragista, Cuba, 1928; Director Bureau of Public Relations Information; Inter-American Committee of member of society !:omen Geographers Poetry Society of America Ibero American Insti tute of the University of Puerto Rico; member of the Governing Board and lyr ic pr ize by the Poetry Magazine, Chicago, 1915. of t he following clubs: Puerto Rico; Author of "Sea Change" 1923; Translator, "Spanish American Anthology; of 1924. Editor

RICHARD PATTEE, "Modern Haiti" 1936; Contributor t o American Mercury New Yorker, Commonwealth, Hispanic-American H i s t o r i c Review, West Indian Review, La Nueva Democracia, Revista Bimestral Cubana. The s e t for th above be ver i f ied in ”Who’s Who in America, 1937

Poet's Club, 1924 t o 1927; Ateneo de

It i s believed t h a t MUNA LEE has frequently used her excellent connections in the United S ta tes t o fur ther the career of her JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN he has no appreciation f o r t h i s . JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN has his home and i s l iving with h i s mistress, INEZ MARIA MENDOZA extremely i n t e l l i g e n t young Puerto Rican high school teacher and a college graduate of he has two children t o this date. MUNA LEE MUNOZ has ra ised the son daughter of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and has paid fo r t h e i r education and has never intimated t o f r iends that her husband had deserted herself and the impression t h a t everything goes w e l l in her married life.

INEZ MARIA MENDOZA was employed as a teacher

During the las t six years

She gives

Number One has been advised by intimates of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN t h a t INEZ MARIA MENDOZA is writing a great

of his speeches and i s undoubtedly influencing h i s p o l i t i c a l policies.

JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN POLITICS

In 1919 o r 1920, JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN returned t o Puerto Rico from the United S ta tes and contrary t o general bel ief and expectation, the son of the great Patriot and popular i d o l did not join f a the r ' s Unionist Party but accepted a salary of a week from the Left Soc ia l i s t Party which w a s l e d by SANTIAGO IGLESIAS Puerto Rico speeches f o r Soc ia l i s t Party opposition t o the Unionist Party which had been established by h i s father. He explained t h a t his f a the r ' s party f o r t o conservative and was maintained i n by the vested in t e re s t s which he desired t o destroy, it being the party of absentee land and sugar ref iner ies . Therefore, t o a t t ack big business capital- i s t i c imperialism t o the labor cause, MUNOZ chose the Soc ia l i s t Party. He began his propaganda f o r t he Soc ia l i s t Party town of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. A t the this

w a s the great c igar factory center of the Island of Puerto Rico. attended by the a t Bayamon f o r they enjoyed seeing the son of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA who had supported the sugar interests and wealth of the Island, waving the Red f l a g and torch emblem of the Soc ia l i s t Party of Puerto Rico. a t t r a c t i v e to ' the but t o the educated class of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico, leaders of the Soc ia l i s t Party decided t o use him in the campaign of 1920. the Island, attacking the Unionist Party, denounced his fa ther ' s

and his language w a s always more rad ica l than t h a t of his S o c i a l i s t comrade. SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, the leader of the Soc ia l i s t Party had been h i s f a the r ' s b i t t e r e s t p o l i t i c a l enemy.

o go around the Island of

The p o l i t i c a l meetings held by MARIN a t Bayamon were w e l l

This was

After h i s excellent at Bayamon,

He spoke a t meetings throughout

T h e Socialist Pa r ty of Puerto Rico i n 1920 a labor party and despite the Red f lag and torch symbol of the party, it was a very Pro-American Party because of i t s a f f i l i a t i o n

100-302

the American Federation of Labor through the Federacion Libre holding a charter from the American Federation of Labor and being a labor organization controlled by SANTIAGO IGLESIAS leader of the Socia l i s t Party. a movement t o form a coal i t ion the Republican Party which was then controlled by JOSE TOUS SOTO. the Socia l i s t Party favored the coal i t ion idea because l i k e the Republican Party his party w a s Pro-American and although the Socia l i s t Par ty t rea ted problems of first importance i t s platform advocated the incorporation of Puerto Rico i n t o the United S ta tes and the extension of the Constitution of the United S ta tes t o the Island. JOSE TOUS SOTO always advocated statehood f o r the Island and main- ta ined that the economic had t o be solved t h e po l i t i - cal problems and emphasized the Americanization of Puerto Rico as preparation for statehood.

In 1920 the Soc ia l i s t Party had i n i t i a t e d

SANTIAGO IGLESIAS leader of

The Republican Party under

The Unionist Party under ANTONIO BARCELO ad f o r years favored the sugar in t e re s t s in Puerto Rico, but a t the

appealed t o the masses by American and advocated independence f o r Puerto Rico. However, in Washington they made no for independence, s t ressed the idea o f self Government Puerto Rico and supported the policy of Laissez-

f o r the American c a p i t a l invested i n Puerto Rico.

The coal i t ion of the Socia l i s t and Republican Par t ies as suggested by SANTIAGO IGLESIAS was designed t o f e a t Unionist Party the elections of 1920. MUNOZ MARIN although a very young man and the Soc ia l i s t Party for only a shor t time, attended a Soc ia l i s t Juan i n 1920 and opposed t h e coal i t ion

f a i l e d which resul ted an overwhelming victory f o r the Unionist Party i n the elect ions of 1920. Socialist Party was suppressed and corporations contributed a la rger share than ever before f o r the campaign funds which assured the Unionist Party victory.

JOSE LUIS

y meeting San by SANTIAGO IGLESIAS

Several. Soc ia l i s t leaders joined MUNOZ MARIN and the coa l i t ion

The use of the Red f l a g by t h e

After the defeat of the Socia l i s t Party in 1920, MUNOZ MARIN returned t o the United S ta tes and received an appoint-

from the Unionist Party t o represent Puerto Rico in a created Bureau i n New York City. He held t h i s posit ion f o r four

years and it believed a t the time the he received by the Unionist Party was his f o r causing the failure of the Socialist-Republican coal i t ion of 1920.

I n 1924 a s p l i t i n Republican Party of Puerto Rico which lead by JOSE TOUS SOTO and RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL, a Republican Party leader. group of Republicans out of the of JOSE TOUS SOTO in to a coa l i t ion with the Soc ia l i s t Party of Puerto Rico under SANTIAGO INGLESIAS who were lead by under t h e leadership of JOSE TOUS SOTO then a coal i t ion

the Unionist Party which l e d by ANTONIO BARCELO which coal i t ion w a s referred t o as Alianza Puertorriquena. The coa- l i t i o n formed by the Socia l i s t Party and t h e Republican Party under the leadership of MARTINEZ NADAL was referred t o as the electoral coalition. Party and the Republican Party under the leadership of JUAN TOUS SOTO won the elect ions of 1924 and MUNOZ MARIN received an appoint-

on an Economic Commission f o r the Insular Government of Puerto Rico a t New York City posit ion he held u n t i l 1928.

It took a large

Republicans remaining

The Alianza Puertorriquena up of the Unionist

It is in te res t ing t o note tha t he held these posit ions and given these in New York by the Unionist Par ty and the Alianza Puertorriquena which pa r t i e s he opposed i n the p o l i t i c a l campaign of 1920 as a member of the Soc ia l i s t Party.

During his stay i n the United S ta tes from 1920 t o 1928 he was closely connected rad ica l papers and Liberal groups

the United States. on the Puerto Rico problem t o the New Republic, The Nation, The American Mercury the of worker t he Pan-American Labor and he became intimately acquainted with ERNEST GRUENING l i b e r a l anti-Imperialist who believed independence f o r Puerto Rico and was managing edi tor of the New York Tribune and of t h e Nation. MUNOZ MARIN had radical incl inat ions and has them today.

During these years he contributed a r t i c l e s

H e was act ive his period

100-302

In 1917 he ser ies of a r t i c l e s in the Puerto Rican newspaper La Democracia was founded by his father, LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA at San Juan, Puerto Rico which a r t i c l e s

consolidated book form and published as Borrones. that same year lie a l so published Madre Haraposa which his f i rs t approach t o the problems of Puerto Rico. In 1924, ERNEST GRUENING edited a volume ent i t led, United

and MUNOZ MARIN contributed a chapter on Puerto Rico, American Colony, which i s one of the most

sources of his philosophy may through l igh t upon h is present plans. The work by ERNEST GRUENING These United

States, can be found in Second Series, Boni Liveright Publishers, New York 1924.

In

MUNOZ MARIN from Chapter Pages t o 393; Gods have made Puerto Rico the f i r s t colonial of the United States. The Americans came i n the of l i be r ty and democracy and destroyed the l i b e r a l Government wrested Spain by LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA two months before the outbreak of the a t t rac ted outside and l o c a l cap i ta l t o the cane f i e lds of the coast. several hundred primitive sugar mills which turned out around tons annually, belonging f o r t h e most part t o large absentee corporations, turning out six times tha t of tons. colonialists. Profit has been known t o surpass per cent per annum, and a very large share of it leaves the is land never t o return, That is the secre t glory of t he colonialists, And even this spectacle of wealth drained from a starving population in to the r ichest country on ear th is set down the reports as a favorable trade

They also the t a r i f f on sugar, which

Twenty-three years ago there were scattered over the i s land

In 1920 there were seventy-five modern factor ies ,

That i s the open glory of the

the Independence Issue quoted from Page 1904 fo r the first our his tory an enthusiast slipped

an independence clause i n t o the of a rul ing party, and i t s leaders f e l t compelled regretful ly t o leave it there. From t ha t time unt i l 1922 t h e clause went overboard tha t most earnest e f for t s were devoted t o placing independence in as innocuous a position as possible, a dream f o r the far future, the na tura l desire of peoples.

of the used. long the must be ascribed t o the persistence of JOSE

The last refuge of our dignity i f was kept a l ive so

de DIEGO, a man too strong t o override, t o hold tha t solution before the Puerto Rican people, but the f o r iridependence i s r e a l enough young fellows the common people, ana it only waits t o be organized by a po l i t i c i an some poetry in h is make up. that happens or not, the prospects f o r the future a re those of continued l i b e r a l p o l i t i c a l servitude, cautiously more Liberal the

Note: The independence clause he re fers t o i s undoubtedly one inser ted by JOSE de DIEGO, one of the more radical leaders the Unionist Par ty in 1904 t o 1916.

from Page the conf l ic t s between

I doubt i f a half dozen decent and in t e l l i gen t the United States and Latin America our sympathies are Latin America, Puerto Ricans could be smoothly for an expedition against, say, Mexico TRAVIESO a of the Puerto Rican Senate, w a s severely c r i t i c i zed for accepting an execu- t ive post under the American mi l i ta ry occupation of Santo Do- ming~. There i s r e l a t ive ly as much in t e re s t the e f f o r t of the Venezuelan people t o get r i d of the tyrant GOMEZ as i n of t h e American people t o Presidents. Our literature, which some branches is very copious, the general Latin-American currents it not nat ive or original traits. LLORENS our most popular and perhaps our greatest poet, i s Puerto Rico HOSTOS i s accepted by Latin America as one of i t s great thinkers; De Diego, w h i l e acting as speaker of our house, vigorously urged the of an Antillean Republic t o consist of Cuba, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico

The TRAVIESO referred t o by MUNOZ MARIN is presently an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.

Quoted from Page American Federation of Labor through my f r iend Santiago Inglesias is t rying hard t o Americanize Puerto Rico, but what Ig les ias by Americanism is a high standard of living, free speech, and f r ee press; we have the las t t o a greater extent than you have in the States, the first i s good ra ther than American

On the economic t i e s the United States, Page t i e s t ha t now bind us to the United States a re not

I n 1924 MUNOZ MARIN wrote this anti- American exaggerated chapter i n GRUENING’S book, Puerto Ricans were already American citizens. and s incer i ty t o the Nation during the F i r s t World War and were proud to have a which not a Puerto Rican organization but a part of the 65 th Infan t ry of the United States Army. then as today f e l t the American cause was theirs.

They had t h e i r loyal ty

I n a l l the war ac t iv i t i e s the Puerto Ricans

A t the MUNOZ MARIN wrote his chapter on Puerto Rico he had resided i n Puerto Rico about two years since he w a s years old and hardly competent t o re- mark upon the loyalty of Puerto Ricans t o the United States. H i s a t tack on corporations and absentee land may have been j u s t i f i e d but the problem of abuses and excesses was not unique t o colonial Puerto Rico.

On Page of GRUENING'S book there i s the data regarding JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN which must

have been furnished by "LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was born i n San Juan, Puerto Rico a months before- the outbreak of the Spanish American War. His people, Spanish and Italian, had resided on the Island about eighty years. He was first brought t o the United States when three years old, and since then divided his time Puerto Rico and the United States. (2 years Puerto Rico) public and private schools of Puerto Rico and i n the public schools of New York and at Georgetown University. He acted as secretary t o his father, who represented Puerto Rico in Congress, and, t o his successor office; and been a t different times editor, stump orator, lecturer, short s tory

and correspondent. LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA, t h e i r national

He studied in

Puerto Ricans consider his father,

TO PUERTO RICAN POLITICS, 1928 t o 1932

In 1928 LUIS MUNOZ MARIN returned t o Puerto Rico with his wife and children and established h is home

San Juan. That year MUNA LEE MUNOZ w a s appointed Director of the of International Relations of the University of Puerto Rico, now called the of Publications, a post which she s t i l l holds today. JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was a member of the Alianza Puertorriquena Party in 1928 and the Liberal Party i n 1932 and spent his back for th Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist t o Congress,

years 1934 t o 1936, through the influence of his fr iend ERNEST GRUENING he was an advisor on the Reconstruction Program f o r Puerto Rico.

of Inter ior f o r his refusal t o denounce the National- i s ts shooting of Colonel RIGGS, then Chief of Police of Puerto Rico and a personal friend of Senator MILLARD TYDINGS MUNOZ MARIN entered Puerto Rican po l i t i c s the most radical party which had as i t s symbol a f l a g re f lec t ing a yellow torch upon a red background, MUNOZ MARIN but he did not l i k e the of t he Socia l i s t Party the American Federation of Labor. t h a t the American Federation of Labor through SANTIAGO IGLESIAS was t rying t o Americanize Puerto Rico.

During

I n February 1936, he l o s t favor the

The Red flag have appealed t o

He has s t a t ed

The e lec tora l coal i t ion under the Soc ia l i s t leader, SANTIAGO GO IGLESIAS and the Republican Leader, RAFAEL MARTINEZ

SANTIAGO three senator ia l d i s t r i c t s and the Alianza Puerto- under JOSE TOUS SOTO and the Unionist leader, ANTONIO

BARCELO won four d i s t r ic t s . MUNOZ MARIN was a member of the Alianza Puertorriquena Party. The personal ambitions of the two party leaders i n the Alianza Puertorriquena, JOSE TOUS SOTO and ANTONIO BARCELO caused a s p l i t the Alianza Puertorriquena Party 1931, and ANTONIO BARCELO then founded the Liberal Party of Puerto Rico and MUNOZ MARIN joined the Liberal Party. t ions of 1932, the poss ib i l i ty of a coal i t ion victory w a s strengthened, f o r most of the Republicans had formerly been in the Alianza Puertorriquena Party under the leadership of JOSE TOUS SOTO, returned t o the old pure Republican Party and were accompanied by some Unionist Party leaders who with the pure Republicans under RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL founded the new party Union Republicana. coal i t ion the elect ions of 1932 was then up of the Soc ia l i s t Party and the Union Republicana under the leadership of RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL Po l i t i ca l leaders were formerly

of the Alianza Puertorriquena went over t o the Union Republicana w i t h JOSE TOUS SOTO were MIGUEL GARCIA

In the elections of 1928 JOSE LUIS

In the elec-

The e lec tora l

100-302

MENDEZ CELESTINO IRARTE and LEOPOLDO FIGUEROA ublicans remained under the leadership of ANTONIO BARCELO i n the new l i b e r a l party.

Rep-

The Liberal Party of 1932 under the leadership of ANTONIO BARCELO and JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN adopted a radical

and independence was i t s goal. i n the elections of that year, the e lec tora l coali t ion swept the Island Winning of the seven Senatorial Distr ic ts , so in sp i t e of the precautions of the (sugar) the Liberal Pro-American groups of the Island as represented by the coali t ion won the general election f o r the first time since 1904.

JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN was elected Senator by the Liberal Party i n 1932 and took the lead preparing a rad ica l and economic program fo r the Party.

I n 1932 the new Administration i n t h e United States JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN’S old friend, E-WEST GRUENING Editor of the Nat ion, head of the Division of Terr i tor ies t o d i rec t the reconstruction program of Puerto Rico. Because ERNEST GRUENING was acquainted wi th LUIS MUNOZ MARIN he upon him for a great many things Puerto Rican. From 1932 t o 1936, and because of the apparent influence of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN Washington, he became the ac tua l leader of the Liberal Party. The administration has shown a great i n the solution of Caribbean problems, as ref lected by the good neighbor policy of the United States. Retirement of the U.S. Marines Central America and H a i t i i s evidence of this. The Tydings-McDuffie Bill of March 24, 1934 granted the Philippine Islands independence.

The abrogation of the Platt Amendment, the

1931 a volume appeared on the American scene which sponsored by the American Fund fo r public

studies i n American investments abroad, published by the Vanguard Press; a l so Studies i n A m e r i c a n Imperialims Puerto Rico, A Broken Pledge by Bailey W. and Justine Whit- f i e l d Diffie.

t

i

100-302

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN i s often quoted i n these publi-

There i s a chapter defending the Independence cations and was apparently considered an authority on Puerto Rican affairs, of Puerto Rico and i s a d i rec t a t tack on American imperialism. Some of the quotations of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN a re as follows:

American f l a g found Puerto Rico penniless and content. It now f l i e s over a prosperous factory by slaves who have l o s t t h e i r lands may soon lose t h e i r guitars and t h e i r

The Desire for Independence, Chapter Page the sharpest difference between Puerto Rican

development and tha t of the rest of Latin America l i e s i n the f ac t that there has never been a serious f o r independence. Such po l i t i ca l expression of a feeling f o r independence as we have had come, some say and

say naturally, under the American

Some a r t i c l e s authored by LUIS MUNOZ MARIN which fur ther r e f l e c t his a t t i t ude are, American i n Puerto R i c o New Republic, Volume Pages 151-153; “Porto Rico, The American Colony The Nation, Volume Pages 379-382;

Case f o r Puerto Rico American Mercury, Pages What Next i n Puerto Rico The Nation,

Pages “New SpanishEmpire” Review of Reviews, Volume Pages

One of the first steps taken by the Administra- t ion dealing Puerto Rico was t o take the administration of t h e Island from the War Department and place it under the Department of Interior. This action was favorably commented

i n Puerto Rico fo r the people believed tha t they were being placed under a more l i b e r a l department and tha t the W a r Department had been responsible f o r t h e maintenance of the


The period of terrorism i n Puerto Rico began i n 1933 with a two weeks strike of students a t the University of Puerto Rico, which was engineered by of the defeated Liberal Party of Puerto Rico, being recalled that the Liberal P a r t y was defeated i n the elect ions of 1932. A t t h i s time MUNOZ MARIN was a leader of this party and had been elected t o the Insular Senate. Among the students who were leaders i n the s t r i k e

a leader Secretary of the

Puerto Rico can be mentioned GUTIERREZ FRANQUIZ the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, Insular House of Representatives and MANUEL RODRIGUEZ RAMOS Assistant Attorney General and a Popular Democratic Party leader. Among the parents of students who supported the s t r ik ing students are RAMOS ANTONINI, now Popular Party leader Floor Leader of

University of

Insular House of Rep Representatives; GUSTAVO RAMIREZ PABON ISMAEL ISMAEL SOLDEVILA

The at University of Puerto Rico spread w i t h the able of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico t o a general s t r i k e against corporations, banks and ins t i tu - t ions which represented capitalism. Rico Telephone Building, the National City Bank and a s t r ike of public cars a l l t r a f f i c on the Island t o a due t o n a i l s spread upon the highways. Governor GORE not cope wi th the s i tua t ion and resigned.

Bombs were placed in the Puerto

It is in te res t ing to that the spread of terrorism in Puerto Rico actually s ta r ted a t the University of Puerto Rico under the leadership of members of MUNOZ MARIN’S l e f t of the Liberal Party. After the resignation of Governor GORE BLANTON WINSHIP Governor of Puerto Rico A t t h i s time the Puerto Rico emergency r e l i e f administration under the administration ERNEST GRUENING t r a t i o n of JAMES A. BOURNE being filled friends of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN. Details regarding terrorism in Puerto Rico are not discussed this they can be found i n the files of the Bureau in the case en t i t l ed NATIONALIST PARTY OF PUERTO RICO.


In 1934 Puerto Rico Emergency Relief t ra t ion was replaced by Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration and i n March of t h a t year ELEANOR ROOSEVELT accompanied by Assistant, Secretary of Agriculture REXFORD GUY TUGWELL and JOHN FRANKLIN CARTER v is i ted Puerto Rico. was to make a preliminary survey of the s i tua t ion inasmuch a s at tha t time the President was considering a permanent for the rehabi l i ta t ion of Puerto Rico MRS, ROOSEVELT impressed by t he social conditions of the masses and as a result of her influence the Eleanor Roosevelt Housing Project f o r Puerto Rico was prepared.

The object of t h e i r visit

MUNOZ MARIN by reason of his connections i n Washington was able to obtain advance of plans being developed fo r Puerto Rico and February of 1934 he announced that millions would soon be spent on the Is land. From 1934 to 1936 MUNOZ MARIN was an unoff ic ia l adviser t o the on all concerning Puerto Rico He became a leader of the Liberal Party and ousted ANTONIO BARCELO Puerto Rican pol i t ics ,

According t o an a r t i c l e t h e newspaper El Mundo San Juan, Puerto Rico, dated April 25, 1934, MUNOZ MARIN sai led

Puerto Rico and s ta ted Washington administration is cansidering measures for Puerto Rico, beneficial

t o bring about changes fo r the fanners, laborers and industries. t o know the masses appreciate those plans."

It is necessary for the administration

In May, 1934, the Chardon Committee was cal led Washington and fo r two they on the reconstruction p lan for the Island of Puerto Rico which called Chardon Plan. CHARDON had been Chancellor of University of Puerto Rico and for over ten Commissioner of Agriculture for Puerto Rico. I n July, 1934, President approved plan i n principal and in September ERNEST GRUENING appointed Director of Division of Territories.

of GRUENING’S best that be made by President Roosevelt hie (Gruening's) record as a l i b e r a l and anti-imperialist,

MUNOZ MARIN upon receiving


The CHARDON plan regarding the sugar industry met opposition because of a delimitation of the quotas assigned t o Puerto Rico which were established by the Costigan Jones Law. MUNOZ MARIN had an easy position, for in Washington he acted as a lobbyist defending the Cuban Sugar in t e re s t s a t tha t time were forcing independence on the Philippine Islands and were trying through the dislocation of the Puerto Rico t o press a way for the independence of Puerto Rico on the same basis as the Tydings McDuffy Bill of 1934 which was passed i n ten days and gave independence t o the Philippine Islands, It i s interest ing t o note the part the American Farm bloc and the Cuban Sugar i n t e re s t s played in the passage of the fo r the independence of the Philippine Islands. (See Kirk, The Philippine Independence, Pages t o 101).

The economic of the CHARDON plan i n 1934 was t o reduce the production of sugar Puerto Rico and plant

i t s stead food crops. MUNOZ MARIN and his group were then, i n 1934, preparing the Island for independence, The newspaper E l Mundo published a t San Juan, Puerto Rico for September 29, 1934, r e f l ec t s a l e t t e r of MUNOZ MARIN i s quoted as follows:

Chardon plan t o do away the exploita- t i o n of the Island and create economic independence needed. Under the present administration has re t i red Marines from H a i t i the and t o put an end t o

exploitation and create the necessary economic independence f o r Puerto Rico. attainment of our i d e a l of independence.

The Reconstruction plan i s no obstacle t o the

Further quoting MUNOZ MARIN from E l Mundo position respect t o the CHARDON plan i s clear,

plan proposes the acquisit ion by a public corporation of a l l the property of the sugar corporations and by the use of the marginal lands, reduce the tonnage production of sugar and s tab i l izes the sugar market as desired by the

The Tausig Plan (Charles E. Tausig, President of the American Molasses Company) as set for th i n News Week of July 28, 1941 Headache Sugar. United States Acts t o Veer Puerto Rico f r o m i t s single-crop economy.

J


Crowding than the t ion of New York State, i n t o an area only square the of Colorado, the West Indies provide only a bare existence fo r t h e i r predominantly Negro population. Their chief resource, the l a n d , i s devoted primarily t o ra is ing cane sugar, t h e i r main export and accordingly the islands, which once grew a l l of t h e i r own food, now such staples as flour, meat, r i c e and dairy products f r o m the mainland This land problem, coupled with the chronic indolence of the population, the enervating e f fec t of the

and other factors, tends t o perpetuate the undernourish- ment, overpopulation, disease, i l l i t e r a c y and illegitimacy, which have plagued the is lands ever since Europeans se t t led them. The solution of the West Indies economic is fur ther handi- capped today by the political division of the islands into the independent nations of Cuba, Haiti the Dominican Republic and t h e colonies of Britain Prances, the Netherlands and the United States.

To a l lev ia te t h i s economic dis t ress , Washington feels might provide a fe r t i l e f i e l d f o r Axis inroads i n an area v i t a l t o American defense, the Administration last week disclosed as predicted, a comprehensive plan fo r Anglo-American collabor- a t ion on Caribbean problems. and Charles W. Tausig, President of the American Molasses Company,

the f o r the President last winter, plan now being considered by the Brit ish, involves the creation of a j o i n t Anglo-American Advisory Commission proposed Union of the Bri t i sh and American islands i n the West Indies with t h e i r mother countries and a reorientation of their agriculture away from sugar and food crops. President i s opposed, because of economic headaches involved, t o taking over the Bri t i sh colonies, although t h i s is favored. Notwithstanding t h e Anglto-American plan may be extended t o cover the independent Dutch and French lands i n the Caribbean, a prospect that not w e l l liked Axis countries.

As proposed by President Roosevelt

This body study a

The

A s a prac t ica l matter t ra ted on put t ing i t s broad proposals into immediate e f f ec t in Puerto Rico. On t h i s angle the President conferred with REXFORD GUY TUGWELL, former Under Secretary of Agriculture, who w i l l soon report formally on his investigation of ways and of enforcing the l e g a l l i m i t of acres that can be owned by any corporation i n Puerto Rico.


Although on the books for years, t h i s law had no tee th t o enforce it, hamstrung by law suits corporate holdings grew t o acres was not finally up- held by the Supreme Court of t he United S ta tes u n t i l last year.

It i s obvious that the new plans of MUNOZ MARIN REXFORD GUY TUGWELL are the CHARDON

plan for the economic independence of the Island of Puerto Rico the economic independence of Puerto Rico i s established,

p o l i t i c a l independence would be practical , p o l i t i c a l opportunist. He supports the plan economic independence of Puerto Rico by from sugar cane t o food crops because i f the economic independence of Puerto Rico i s established, Puerto Rico be one s tep nearer t o p o l i t i c a l independence. i s being extended t o t h e Island of Puerto Rico because of the Administration's i n t e r e s t i n solving the economic

of the Island of Puerto Rico. were granted independence probably over the objections of t he War Navy Department.

MUNOZ MARIN i s a

The s p i r i t of the good neighbor policy

The Philippine Islands

In 1932 and 1934 MUNOZ MARIN was as a lobbyist i n Washington Jones Law l imited the sugar quota for Puerto Rico and the

He defended during these years the Costigan-

Philippine Islands. In 1935 he debated San German Puerto Rico against MIGUEL GARCIA MENDEZ House of Representatives, on the law t o Puerto Rico

FRANCIS RIGGS Chief of the Insular Police, was assassinated MUNOZ MARIN was i n Washington t o an a r t i c l e the newspaper E l Mundo S a n Juan, May 5 , 1937, he had t h i s t o say: repudiate publicly RIGG’S death. I f e l t t ha t since the aggressors were k i l l ed a t the Police Station, an open disavowal or rebuke of the assassination would have an accusation against a group of Puerto Ricans

Gruening asked me i f ' I was not going t o

MUNOZ MARIN’S refusal t o denounce the Nationalists i n the-death Colonel RIGGS was disastrous t o his good standing with the Administration. ANTONIO BARCELO f e l t tha t MUNOZ MARIN’S usefulness t o Puerto Rico i n Washington a t an end and recalled

Puerto R ico (See Puerto Rico Its People, by Trumbull White Page

During the period MUNOZ MARIN acted as a lobbyist Washington it he w a s supposed t o Puerto Rican sugar i n t e re s t s i n a period of about one year he spent of the money of Puerto Rican Sugar in t e re s t s defending low sugar quotas f o r Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands.

Colonel FRANCIS RIGGS a former American A r m y Officer, arid very popular with Puerto Rican people generally, was a close of Senator MILLARD TYDINGS his assassination, TYDINGS presented a b i l l providing fo r independence of Puerto Rico. It provided a p leb isc i te i n which the people of Puerto Rico were t o vote they independence o r t o continue under the American flag. There

also economic sanctions included in this b i l l . MUNOZ MARIN stated, t o an art icle i n the newspaper E l Mundo San Juan, May 5, 1937, that b i l l writ ten by ERNEST GRUENING

got TYDINGS t o present it, and s ta ted a t the t h a t the administration sponsoring the project. created i n Puerto Rico than the exis t ing terrorism. including Communists, continental American Communist Professors a t the University of Puerto Rico, the Nationalist Party of h e r t o Rico, and other anti-American groups who formed t h e United Front to prepare the way f o r the functioning of the new republic.

weeks a f t e r

The TYDINGS b i l l

The e f f ec t was the radical groups got together,

MUNOZ MARIN s ta ted t h a t the Department of In t e r io r declared violence would not be to le ra ted and that Puerto Rico could probably work f o r p o l i t i c a l s ta tus it thought convenient.


MUNOZ MARIN repudiated the TYDINGS b i l l and sa id it was drafted t o punish Puerto Rico economically because of the assassination of Colonel FRANCIS RIGGS. MUNOZ MARIN drafted a new b i l l for the independence of Puerto Rico and approached h i s f r iend Senator CARTWRIGHT presented the b i l l f o r him. b i l l provided for a p leb isc i te and t rade agreements the United S ta tes and Puerto Rico whereby economic sanctions

ana the plan would be acceptable t o Puerto Rico. MUNOZ MARIN asked the Liberal Party of h e r t o Rico to endorse t h e CARTWRIGHT Bill and ANTONIO BARCELO leader of Liberal Party, characterized the b i l l as impertinent t o th rus t independence the Island. He s t a t ed the of independence not been but had been stressed, t h a t first Puerto Rico t o seek economic independence by means of the construction program

This

(Puerto Rico and I ts People, Page 312)

DR. ERNEST GRUENING whose sympathies had been to- ward early independence Puerto Rico, a f t e r few months as administrator of the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Ad- ministration, made conclusions which were that independence would be f a t a l t o the Island’s welfare. (Puerto Rico Its People, Page

After episode of the CARTWRIGHT B i l l , MUNOZ MARIN returned t o Puerto Rico and upon returning he used the

Puerto Rico know of h i s urn t o the Island. LUIS H. RODRIGUEZ as he desired that no one in

Resident Commissioner SANTIAGO IGLESIAS returned t o Puerto Rico f o r 1936 campaign and it was not long u n t i l he wounded by a Nationalist f o r having denounced the assass- ina t ion of Colonel FRANCIS RIGGS MUNOZ MARIN had been repudiated by ANTONIO BARCELO, leader of the Liberal Party and, therefore, he

organization of all the rad ica l extremists and anti-American on the Island as the Accion Social Independentista, or ASI w a s supposed t o be a c iv i c association f o r soc ia l justice and independence.


MUNOZ MARIN to ld his in Liberal Party t h a t t h a t Party should not par t ic ipa te i n the elections of 1936, which same a t t i t ude of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico (!Ion-participation i n Elections) of Liberal Party sa id tha t the Liberal Party should par t ic ipate

MUNOZ MARIN was convinced a before the elections tha t his followers follow the Liberals. The e l ec to ra l coal i t ion composed of the Soc ia l i s t Party under SANTIAGO IGLESIAS and the Union Republicana under RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL won the elections of 1936. decided t o organize party and break i f necessary the BARCELO group. As a result, in 1937 he formed the Popular Democratic Party adopted the slogan “Pan, Tierra and Libertad”, bread, land and l iber ty . This party up of members of the Accion Social Independentista. Juan, September 19, 1936:

believe i n independence and the s o c i a l and economic ju s t i ce f o r Island. This organization i s not a p o l i t i c a l party, but is a pa t r io t i c and c iv ic organization.

The conservative

After the elections of 1936 MUNOZ MARIN

MUNOZ MARIN E l Mundo S a n ASI are a l l Puerto Ricans

He spent the years 1936 through 1940 disseminating propaganda in the r u r a l of the Island of Puerto Rico. and the people and he s t ressed economic ana soc ia l needs

He i s an excellent speaker and the country

It i s in te res t ing t o note t h a t the terrorism continued in Puerto Rico u n t i l 1938, long after ALBIZU been sentenced and sent t o Atlanta Penitentiary

of the lawyers who defended the Nationalist cases were bers of MUNOZ MARIN’S ASI I n the formation of the Partido Popular, the same radical extremists and anti-American formed the nucleus. Party was the promise of beneficial l eg i s l a t ion f o r t he farmers, chauffeurs and laborers. Popular Democratic Par ty during the 1941 session of t he leg is la ture is unconsti tutional and revolutionary insofar as the economic system is affected by it.

The party platform of the Popular Democratic

of the leg is la t ion passed by the


Although the Popular Democratic Party is of radical Communists, independentists and anti-American individuals, the i s sue of independence was conspicuously absent from the platform i n t h e campaigns of 1940. MUNOZ MARIN responsible f o r t h e absence of the independence issue in that he was far sighted enough to see t h a t the independence issue would not be popular a t t h i s time because of the national defense program, Because of the national defense Puerto Rico is being converted in to the Gibraltar of the Caribbean t o protect t he Panama C a n a l . Millions of United S ta tes dol lars are being spent i n Puerto R i c o

There are economic in t e re s t s i n the continental United S ta tes which were responsible f o r the creating of independence f o r the Phi l l ip ine Islands the refineries, molasses companies and corporations which have invested more money in Cuba than i n Puerto Rico. They have increasingly attempted during t he last eight years t o solve t h e po l i t i ca l and problems in Puerto Rico the same as it solved the Phillipine Islands and so-called plans with t h e i r hidden p o l i t i c a l implications are now considered by same i n t e re s t s who have large investments Cuban- sugar,

MUNOZ MARIN’S ambition is t o break t h e of Puerto Rico upon the United States economically by destroy- ing the sugar industry and up i t s stead small farms raising food crops. solve the problems of living on an Island miles by miles.

i n plana of the population problem or the disease problem in Puerto Rico. It is believed that the reorientation of agricul ture away sugar food lower a standard of living already too low Puerto Rico Any i n the economic d i s t r e s s Puerto Rico make Puerto Rico a breeding place f o r subversive ac t iv i t i e s , which w i l l t h e national defense.

The land he emphasizes

MUNOZ MARIN makes no There are people

MUNOZ MARIN had remained i n Puerto Rico from 1936 until he sailed north i n July, 1941 Governor GUY SWOPE. He made t r i p north after receiving a telephone from REXFORD GUY TUGWELL which requested h i s presence in Washington.

San Juan File 100-302

POLITICAL PUERTO RICO

The extreme left Popular Democratic Party led by MUNOZ MARIN the electoral coalition composed of the Socialist Party led by BOLIVAR PAGAN

the Union Republicana, was led by RAFAEL MARTINEZ NADAL until his death on July 7, 1941 Tripartita, RIVERA MARTINEZ

coimmissioner to Washington,

Others are the Unificacion d of the Socialist Party, led by PRUDENCIA e Union Republicana Rebel Group, led by ANGEL

GARCIA MENDEZ the Liberals led by J. RAMIREZ SANTIBANEZ A review of the election results of November, 1940

discloses that the Popular Democratic Party received a total of votes.

representatives. The Electoral Coalition received a total of votes and were able to elect a total of nine senators

eighteen representatives. The Unificacion Tripartita received a t o t a l of votes able to elect only three representatives and no senators. The coalition elected the Resident Cormmissioner to Washington received eight thousand votes more than the Popular Democratic Party candidate. Popular Democratic Party controls the Senate of Puerto Rico by reason of having one Senator more than the coalition. They control the House of Representatives through the cooperation of the three Tripartita representatives.

They were able to elect ten senators eighteen

The


During the Spring of 1941 when REXFORD GUY TUGWELL in Puerto Rico holding hearings on the application of

Acre Law (Foraker Law) LUIS MUNOZ MARIN called JAIME BENITEZ, a Professor at the University Puerto Rico asked him t o bring his automobile around, he wanted BENITEZ t o drive him some place. JAIME BENITEZ up MUNOZ MARIN and REXFORD GUY TUGWELL and drove them t o a secluded spot i n Punta Las Marias. They spoke

old friends, as indeed are, and MUNOZ MARIN TUGWELL

University of Puerto Rico a t per year. marked being Governor of Puerto Rico?" and MUNOZ MARIN advised him very acceptable t o him i f TUGWELL

appointed Governor of Puerto Rico.

TUGWELL then re-

It then decided that i f MUNOZ MARIN appointed TUGWELL Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico at per year t h i s would indicate to the Administration i n Washington t h a t TUGWELL was acceptable to the people of Puerto Rico

the Administration hi8 appointment as Governor of Puerto Rico. MUNOZ advised TUGWELL et this t h a t i f he

able t o the appointment of Governor of Puerto Rico t h a t he give TUGWELL a leave of absence from the University of Puerto Rico this period.

The of TUGWELL’S a s Chan- c e l l o r of the University of Puerto Rico at a of a year caused a i n Puerto Rico as the Chan- cellor of the University of Puerto Rico has never received more than per

Popular Party leaders who taken the confidence of MUNOZ MARIN were loud i n t h e i r cr i t ic isms of this action. The Popular Party leaders c r i t i c i zed MUNOZ MARIN’S action appointing TUGWELL as Chancellor were not far sighted enough to see tha t this was a po l i t i ca l maneuver t o place i n line f o r the Governorship of the Island.

-a!+-


Of course, the event TUGWELL is appointed Gover- nor of Puerto Rico radical l eg is la t ion forced through the legislature of Puerto Rico by Popular Democratic Party probably receive the approval of the Governor i n every instance.

t o CARLOS CHARDON who has-been Venezuela fo r the past four years and who has previously been mentioned i n this report, i n which MUNOZ told CHARDON he should return t o Puerto Rico as he would be needing him in connection with his economic plans f o r Puerto Rico

Recent publications f Washington have reflected MUNOZ MARIN appeared i n behalf of REXFORD GUY TUGWELL a t

Congressional Hearings with his appointment as Governor of Puerto Rico. CHARLES E. TAUSIG, President of the American Molasses Company, had appeared before the Congressional Committee t o explain REXFORD GUY TUGWELL'S connections wi th his company, but not

as a w i t n e s s .

These publications also reflected that

The POPULAR PARTY OF PUERTO RICO COMMUNIST PARTY

A n intercepted communication addressed by ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ, President of t h e Communist Party of Puerto Rico t o CARLOS RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ of the Communist Party at Havana, Cuba, requested RODRIGUEZ t o support by vigorous propaganda t h e Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico inasmuch i t s aims and purposes paralleled the Communist Party Line. The slogan of the Popular Democratic Party, bread land and liberty, is the ident ica l slogan used by the Communist Party of Puerto Rico

Important leg is la t ion passed by the Poplar Demo- cratic Party during the l eg i s l a t ive session of the Spring of 1941 Communist


Act Number 26, approved April 12, 1941 page Laws of Puerto Rico 1941 i s set br ief :

An Act t o the welfare of t h e inhabitants of Puerto Rico through the f inancial s t ab i l i t y , soc ia l justice, and economic freedom of the farmers, laborers, and inhabitants in general of the rural districts of Puerto Rico, by providing an dist r ibut ion of agr icul tural wealth; t o es tab l i sh the LAND AUTHORITY OF PUERTO RICO i n the Department of Agricul- t u r e and Commerce; t o define i t s functions, powers, dut ies obligations; t o appropriate funds fo r the functioning thereof and f o r t h e rea l iza t ion of i t s purposes and the purposes of t h i s Act; t o and regulate the and sale of bonds of The People of Puerto Rico, pledging for the payment thereof the good f a i t h of The People of Puerto Rico and levying a special tax the assessed of real property i n Puerto Rico fo r t h e payment of the principal of and i n t e r e s t on said bonds; t o authorize and regulate the issuance and s a l e of bonds of the LAND AUTHORITY, fixing t h e conditions and authorizing the and providing f o r t h e payment and securi ty thereof; t o empower the Governor of Puerto Rico t o appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, members of the LAND AUTHORITY as are not ex of f i c io members thereof, and t o PER DIEMS f o r those who are not o f f i c i a l s and employees of the Government of Puerto Rico; t o create the o f f i ce of Executive Director of t h e Land Authority; to the facul t ies , duties, obligations and

of the off ice; t o authorize the Governor t o appoint the executive director by and w i t h the advice and consent of

the Senate; t o implement, f o r the purposes of i t s f u l l efficacy, the j o i n t resolution of t he Congress of the United States approved May 1, 1900, which t o five hundred the land holdings of corporations authorized t o engage i n agriculture; t o l i m i t t o five hundred the l and holdings of a r t i f i c i a l persons, partnerships and other corporative organizations of a private character, as same are defined in t h i s A c t ; t o authorize regulate condemnation proceedings f o r t he acquisition of land by the Authority; t o

land held by a r t i f i c i a l t o and establish the organization and of proportional prof i t as the same are defined and regulated by t h i s Act; t o stimulate and

San Juan F i l a 100-302

promote the creation of a s table agr icul ture by small landowners provide lots for AGREGADOS and persons who lack land whereon t o

t h e i r homes; t o promote agr icu l tura l rehabi l i ta t ion programs; to define and establ ish offenses and f ix penalties f o r the violation of the of t h i s Act, and f o r other purposes.

Act Number 28, approved April 12, 1941 page

An Act t o f i x a t eight ( 8 ) hours the day of the Insular Police; t o provide that the hours worked i n excess of t h e legal day s h a l l be f o r the of computing leaves of absence; t o increase the members of the Insular Police; t o appropriate therefor, and f o r other purposes

I n with this a c t it is in te res t ing t o note that Number advised reporting agent tha t four hundred new policemen had been appointed to the Insular Police, a l l of whom are members of the Popular Democratic Party, because of t h e application of the e igh t hour working day to Insular Police Department. He w a s advised by a member of the Board of Police Commissioners t h a t thir ty-f ive of newly appointed policemen were former members of the Liberating Army of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico.

Act Number April 14, 1941 An Act t o prohibit and prevent nepotism and other

pract ices inimical to a sound administrative morality; t o fix penalties for the violat ion hereof, and f o r other purposes.

This Act provides t h a t no family can receive finds of the Insular Government o r of municipal govern-

ment of Puerto Rico in the of salaries, per diems, wages or i n any other form of canpensation, income o r p r o f i t of a nature, a greater than hundred and f i f t y (250) dol la rs a month. included wi th in the th i rd degree of consanguinity and the second degree of aff ini ty .

be understood t o persons


It provides that every employee of the Insular Government o r of municipal government every person domiciled i n Puerto Rico who receives salary or from the Federal Government or from any of i ts agencies established

Puerto Rico shall submit t o the Civ i l Service Commission of Puerto Rico within the month following the date this Act takes effect , an af f idavi t t he position o r function t h a t he i s discharging i n any of said governments the pensation o r corresponding t o said position o r function, and the name, position, or and the compensation received f r o m the Insular Government, the municipal government and of any agency of the Federal Government t h a t may be located i n Puerto Rico o r by other members of h i s family, as defined

Act.

There are other provisions i n t h i s Act which are not being set out inasmuch as they are not pertinent.

Act Number approved April 15, 1 9 4 1 page

Act t o fix t h e gear of t w e l v e school months for the teachers of the public schools of Puerto Rico; t o provide f o r the of vacations f o r one school w i t h pay i n advance; t o direct the Commissioner of Education t o prepare and submit fo r the consideration of the Governor and of the Legis- lature of Puerto Rico a program of educational a c t i v i t i e s additional t o those of the regular school course which permit of t h e of public school teachers during the

period, as w e l l the u t i l i z i n g of the of teachers during the period f o r the exten-

sion, amplification, o r effect ive rea l iza t ion of such program, and for other

This Act the Commissioner of Education to prepare- and f o r consideration of Governor and of the Legislature of Puerto Rico a program of educational ties additional those of the regular school which

the employment of public schools teachers during the two additional school months of the period of the year 1942 and succeeding years, as as u t i l i z ing the services


of unemployed teachers during the necessary period f o r t he extension, amplification, o r effect ive realization of such program, provided that this program may cover following ac t iv i t ies :

this a c t so

A. Education of adult B. Teaching of workmen and industr ia l technical

training courses i n trades, and prof ea

C. Campaign against i l l i t e r acy . D. Special c lasses f o r elementary and high school

E, Sending of pedagogical missions t o r u r a l and

F. Courses of cul tura l divulgence. G. Ins t i t u t e of f r ee teaching. H, Divulgence of postulates, and prac-

I, Classes in cooperativism soc ia l security. J. Courses i n Spanish for members of the mili tary,

pupils and special classes f o r retarded children.

urban zones.

t i c e s covering democratic systems of government,

naval, and air forces of the United S ta tes stationed Puerto R i c o and f o r other ental c i t izens the Island.

K. Courses in English for students and adults interested i n extending o r perfecting t h e i r

of t h i s language. L. Other educational a c t i v i t i e s of a

character,

tha t it is the intention t o administer can be used t o disseminate Communist

propaganda the idea being t o classes throughout the Island of t o acquaint with t h e i r r i gh t t o

i n t o labor unions t o bargain col lect ively and t o acquaint them with social and duties.

San Juan Fi l e

An Act passed by the Puerto Rican Legislature which was introduced by Senator VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO and MUNOZ MARIN f o r the reorganization of the Department of Labor and the establishment therein of a Workers Education Bureau,

The above ac t was designed t o the teachers t o handle the idea of t h e proposed workers education bureau of t h e Department of Labor. However, the b i l l f o r t h e Department of Labor was vetoed by Governor SWOPE.

Act approved May 5, 1941 page

An Act t o appropriate t he of twenty-two thousand dol la rs t o cooperate with the Puerto Rico Reconstruction

Administration in clear ing the t i t l e s of t h e parcels acquired by sa id agency within i t s agricul tural rehabi l i ta t ion program; t o es tabl ish subsistence fo r laborers, and f o r other

A c t N u m b e r approved May 13, 1941, page

A n Act t o authorize the municipalities of Puerto Rico t o appropriate and up t o (6) per cent of t he t o t a l of the i r regular f o r each excluding t h e proportion f i x e d by other laws f o r specif ic i n t h e purchase, and urbanisation of l ands contiguous to the urban d i s t r i c t thereof; t o grant and l o t s on Said l ands , so le ly i n usufruct and exclusively t o heads of

who have no of t h e i r own nor property whose value exceeds one thousand dollars, or who have no other property than a home the cos t and value of which not exceed sa id amount and is s i t u a t e d i n slum of the urban d i s t r i c t of the municipality, t o t h e former for building on the l o t and t o t he f o r transferring thereto a dwelling house exclusively, the value and cos t of which does not exceed one thousand dollars; t o authorize the municipalities t o ce r t a in con- di t ions f o r the cession of said lots to expropriate lands

t o the urban d i s t r i c t i n o r d e r t o use them f o r the purposes set f o r t h in this Act, availing themselves of condemnation proceedings; t o declare of public necessity and con- venience the acquisition, expropriation, use for the

of all l a n d contiguous to the urban district t h a t the for s a i d purposes;


the houses b u i l t the r igh t of usufruct granted under the provisions of t h i s Act, and for other purposes.

The newspaper El Mundo f o r Saturday, September 12, 1936, r e f l e c t s MUNOZ MARIN had organized an assembly of h i s followers under the name “Accion Social Independista” and i n a speech he stated this f igh t is not only f o r independence and soc ia l just ice , but we w a n t t o es tab l i sh decency in pol i t ics

Puerto R i c o

On September 12, 1936, he stated Central Commit- tee of the Liberal Party and i t s majority of members, does not s tand f o r and does not believe the independence of Puerto Rico. of desired independence and social jus t ice , which i s i n the program of the Liberals. cause of independence t o organize a c iv i c which will gather the grea tes t volume of public i n Puerto Rico, also c i t izens who i n social j u s t i ce and independence, and can be a powerful of the L ibe ra l Party. w i l l guarantee independence i n the plebiscite.

It i s our sacred duty t o f i g h t f o r the ideals or principles

It i s essent ia l and highly convenient f o r the

Such public opinion

LEADERS WHO JOINED MUNOZ MARIN I N HIS "ACCION SOCIAL INDEPENDENTISTA :

FRANCISCO SUSONI JR., of Senator SUSONI of the Arecibo, Puerto Rico Dis t r ic t , the Board of Police Commissioners

Recently appointed a member of

JORGE FONT GALBIA Popular Democratic Party leader.

FONT ROMAN member of the Popular Demo- cratic Party and candidate f o r Judge of the Di s t r i c t Court, Caguas, Puerto Rico


The newspaper El Mundo, San Juan, March 5, 1936, reflects that Attorney ERNESTO RAMOS ANTONINI offered his professional services t o PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS, President of t he Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, when he was t o be t r i e d i n Federal Court. However, he d i d represent PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS because of disagreements with other defense attorneys. ERNESTO RAMOS ANTONINI is now the Vice President of t he Popular Democratic Party and Floor Leader of t h i s Party i n the Insular H o u s e o f Representatives

ANTONINI offered his services f ree of charge.

The E l Mundo of March 13, 1936, reflects t h a t VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO radio speech t o Lat in America

which he s t a t ed that the independence predominates Puerto Rico. Elections could not be taken a real expression of sentiments i n Puerto Rico because they are by a regime of t e r r o r and economic persecution. independentists; t ha t the United S ta t e s is opposed to Statehood for Puerto Rico, that the majority of the people i n Puerto Rico do not want it,

He said there is terror

VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO is leader of the Popular Party and Popular Party Floor Leader i n Insular Senate. This individual introduced the act which created a Bureau of Civil Liberties i n Puerto Rico. He introduced the A c t with MUNOZ MARIN which provided f o r the of t h e Department of Labor and the creation of a workers education

In the investigation of the case ent i t led Communist Party of Puerto Rico, Etal Internal Security it closed t h a t this individual is a close f r iend of FRANCISCO COLON GORDIANI, President of t h e Confederation General Trabajadores, which is a f f i l i a t e d wi th the CIO, and has been ident i f ied as a Communist Party member.


The newspaper E l Mundo f o r March 15, 1938, San Juan, Puerto Rico r e f l ec t s t h a t the home of PEDRO JUAN ROSALY a t Ponce, Puerto Rico, was dynamited and ANTONIO BUSCAGLIA and GUILLERMO HERNANDEZ were the Insular D i s t r i c t C o u r t at Ponce, Puerto Rico along w i t h ALEJANDRO MEDINA and CRUZ

These individuals were all members of the Nationalist

The Counsel for the defense of these was FELIPE COLON DIAZ, now Senator of t h e Popular Party of Puerto Rico, and RAFAEL BUSCAGLIA, now Treasurer of Puerto R i c o ANTONIO BUSCAGLIA, one of the Nationalists t h i s was the brother o f RAFAEL BUSCAGLIA and ANTONIO is incarcerated at t h i s i n the Insular Penitentiary a t Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico,

Newspaper El Mundo f o r September, 1936, r e f l ec t s t h a t the "Accion Social Independentista" held a meeting a t Cidra, Puerto Rico and among those present were: J. E. SOLTERO, recently appointed a member of the Insular Board of Tax Appeals; FRANCISCO SUSONI JR., a Police Commissioner; E. RAMOS ANTONINI Floor Leader of Popular Democratic Party, Insular House of Represen- ta t ives; SAMUEL R. QUINONES Speaker, Popular Democratic Party, and Speaker i n the House of Representatives; VICTOR GUTIERREZ FRANQUI, Secretary of House of Representatives Popular Party Leader.

A l l those present agreed t h a t they were convinced of the necessity of establishing independence and social economic ju s t i ce i n Puerto Rico.

The newspaper El Imparcial f o r February, 1938, reflects t h a t Attorneys defending the Nationalists who were involved the Ponce massacre RAMOS ANTONINI and GUTIERREZ FRANQUI Popular Party Floor Leader and Secretary of the H o u s e of Representatives respectively.


A. CECIL SNYDER, United States Attorney, San Juan, Puerto Rico, recently advised reporting agent MUNOZ MARIN recently called on him a t his off ices i n the Federal Building and t h a t in a discussion which followed MUNOZ MARIN asked h i m i f he thought the Federal Government have any objections the appointment of ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ t o a pos i t ion in the Insular Department of Labor. MR. SNYDER understood that MUNOZ MARIN was actual ly SANCHEZ f o r the posit ion of Commissioner of Labor of Puerto Rico. MR. SNYDER informed MUNOZ MARIN that he did believe such an

be looked upon with favor by the Federal Government inasmuch as ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ admitted he was President of the Communist Party of Puerto Rico. MUNOZ MARIN then asked MR. SNYDER Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Juan, P u e r t o Rico had made any investigation of ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ and MR. SNYDER replied that ALBERTO E, SANCHEZ probably knew

he did i f he being

Investigation the case "Communist

Number advised MUNOZ MARIN appointed five Professors formerly of the University of Madrid, who Spanish Republican Refugees, t o posit ions the University of Puerto Rico. of these professors are self-admitted Communists


Separate cases will be opened those individuals carr ied i n t h i s report other than MUNOZ MARIN where the information indicates that investigation of these individuals is warranted

The following information was obtained f r o m the newspaper El Imparcial, dated February 10, 1941

SENATORS TO THE POPULAR PARTY ELECTED I N NOVEMBER 1940:

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN, son of LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA who twenty-five years ago was a po l i t i ca l chief of Puerto Rico, started career i n p o l i t i c s under the leadership of SANTIAGO IGLESIAS, President of t he Socia l i s t Party of Puerto Rice. MARIN l e f t t h e Socialist Party when it formed a coa l i t ion with the Republican Party, which was dominated by the money i n t e r e s t s in Puerto Rico. that he always f o r the proletar ian interests .

gears MUNOZ MARIN dedicated his l i f e the study of poetry and cu l tu ra l subjects outside of Puerto Rico, mainly i n New York City, where his great personality was fully developed.

time away his nat ive s o i l he never l o s t contact with the p o l i t i c a l s i t ua t ion in Puerto Rico. He t o Puerto Rico

1932 and assumed control of t h e newspaper La Democracia. He then helped in the of a new po l i t i ca l party cal led Partido Liberal Puertorriquena and leadership of t h i s party j o in t ly with ANTONIO R. BARCELO. this party MUNOZ

MARIN formed his own party, the Partido Popular Democratico, I n less than th ree this the s t rongest party t h a t has ever i n Puerto Rico which the elect ions on November 5 , 1940 was victorious over a combination of all t he other political parties and received a great e l ec to ra l

MUNOZ

His reason f o r leaving t h e Socialist Party was Then f o r

I n s p i t e of the f a c t t h a t MUNOZ MARIN spent much


majority and was able to dominate the Senate, controll ing seats i n the House of Representatives. power i n Puerto Rico s igni f ies the beginning of a new era i n po l i t i c s and economic ju s t i ce f o r t he proletarian masses.

MUNOZ MARIN’S rise t o

DR. FRANCISCO M. SUSONI:

DR. FRANCISCO M. SUSONI was born of Hatillo, Puerto Rico and received his f i r s t instruct ions under- NARCISO VARONA, great Puerto Rican Educator. He graduated 1896 with an A.B. Degree from the Ins t i t u to Provincial de San Juan. i n Medical Surgery f r o m the University of Santiago de Galicia i n the year 1900. Puerto Rico Arecibo 1912. DR, SUSONI was a member of F i r s t Insular Senate and has been a well known f igure p o l i t i c s ever since. c r a t i c Party since i t s and i s a Senator D i s t r i c t of Arecibo f o r that Party.

He immediately went t o Spain where he received a degree

SUSONI established the first hospital in

DR. SUSONI has been a p i l l a r of t he Popular Demo-

Number advised that this i s the Father of FRANCISCO SUSONI JR,, Popular Party Leader and member of the Insular Board of Police Commissioners, who is credited with employment of new policemen on the Insular Police Force who are members of the Popular Democratic Party, of whom were former members of the Liberating Army of the Nationalist Party of Puerto R i c o a

VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO

VICENTE GEIGEL POLANCO was born in 1904 i n town of Isabela, Puerto Rico. of Puerto Rico i n 1926 with a degree and worked as lawyer fo r various Insular Government agencies from 1926 until. 1933 when he became President of the Seccion de Historia de Puerto Rico, Vice President from 1937 t o 1938, and President from 1939

He graduated from the University

1941

I

San Juan Fi l e 100-302

He a l s o is t he author of various labor l eg i s l a t ion projects and cooperated wi th the Department of Jus t ice i n jud ic ia l defense of the law establishing an eight hour day i n Puerto Rico. reporter f o r various newspapers and on the Island of Puerto Rico.

POLANCO has a l s o been very active as a wri te r and

Other information regarding t h i s individual has previously been set fo r th i n t h i s report.

SANTIAGO R. PALMER

SANTIAGO R. PALMER was born i n San German, Puerto Rico i n 1893. PALMER received no education other than grade school. When he was years of age he s t a r t e d his p o l i t i c a l f i r s t being member of the Municipal Assembly of San German, Puerto Rico and 1928 he was elected Mayor of San German, Puerto Rico, posit ion he held Unt i l the y e a r 1932. In 1932 he was defeated f o r this position.

He did not come back i n t o active par t ic ipat ion i n p o l i t i c s un t i l the of the Part ido Popular Democratico, when he was and elected a Senator fo r the Mayaguez D i s t r i c t of Puerto Rico

JUAN DAVILA DIAZ

JUAN DAVILA DIAZ i n Manati, Puerto Rico i n 1892 where he studied fo r a time and then went t o Baltimore,

he l e f t school without completing his re- to Puerto Rico and dedicated his time t o

DIAZ has long been i n Puerto Rico career in 1912 under the of DR, FRANCISCO SUSONI.

He has been a t one time o r a member of various p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s Puerto Rico but has had a of importance unti l he was elected the Senate of Puerto Rico the Popular Democratic Party i n 1940.


DOMINGO BONET SANTOS:

SANTOS was born i n 1834 in the tom of Rincon, Puerto was very elementary and a t the age of he began t o as a belonged t o p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a liberal nature i n Puerto Rico. Popular Democratic Party and was elected t o the Senate of tho Puerto Rico i n the Dis t r i c t of Mayaguez. interested i n civic Mayaguez and has decidedly cooperated with any movement f o r the of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. a Director of the Asociacion de Agricultores,

He has always

However, he held no e lec tora l o f f ice u n t i l he joined t h e

SANTOS has always

He i s a Mason and a member of the Rotary Club and

FELIPE COLON DIAZ is Senator for the Popular Demo- c r a t i c Party f o r the Di s t r i c t of Ponce, Puerto Rico. DIAZ has not i n p o l i t i c s un t i l the Popular Party was formed. Senator f r o m Ponce is around sixty years old and his only pre- occupation i s t o with the of the Popular Party and t o Puerto Rico.

LORENZO ISERN APONTE Senator from the D i s t r i c t of Guayama, Puerto Rico, is of the Popular Democratic Party, with no previous p o l i t i c a l no

RAMON BERETO PEREZ

RAMON BERETO PEREZ is Senator f r o m t h e Ponce District and is a Popular Party leader. the Chauffeurs Association of Puerto Rico and was born at Carolina,

He is an l eader

Rico on August 30, 1898, He the of DON MANUAL and PRUDENCIA PEREZ H e attended grade school for


eight years, and when he was fourteen years of age he l e f t school to go to work, He worked in a commercial establishment he was and i n the 1920 he became Insular Police- man i n the Insular Police Department where he obtained the rank of corporal. In 1924 he to duty i n San Juan and Juana Diaz. He voluntarily resigned from the Police Department

1 9 2 8 He worked as a contractor i n the Department of Inter ior , with Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration, and i n the Division of Employment and Transportation, Insular Government of Puerto Rico, He has been President of the Local Union of Chauffeurs in Ponce from 1934 u n t i l the present t i m e .

He has been Dis t r i c t Director of the Association of Veterans of the Insular Police Department from 1938 un t i l the present time. He is publicity Secretary of the General Confed- eration, Party until the present time, now being a of the Popular Democratic Party.

He was formerly a member of the Union Party, the Liberal

Investigation in the case en t i t l ed “Communist Party of Puerto Rico, E t a l ; Internal Security r e f l ec t s that this individual acting President of the General Confederation of Labor of Puerto Rico, a f f i l i a t e d with the C I O and closely with the Communist Party. This a close fr iend of ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ, President of the Communist Party of Puerto Rico

A addressed by RAMON BERETO PEREZ to ALBERTO E. SANCHEZ, President of the Communist Party of Puerto Rico which was f r o m a confidential r e f l ec t s that PEREZ would attend a meeting of the Chauffeurs Association of Puerto Rico which t o be held i n San Juan, Puerto Rico night of Friday, A u g u s t 15, 1941


LUIS MUNOZ MARIN i s presently Director of daily newspaper La Democracia published i n San Juan, Puerto Rico T h i s newspaper was first father, LUIS MUNOZ RIVERA.

LUIS MUNOZ MARIN on record in his Department.


SAN JUAN

A t SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO:

contacts with confidential sources of information the San Juan Field Division, report the current activities of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and the Popular Democratic Party.

Number verified the set forth in this report, which was obtained from Number 1.

Federal Bureau of Washington, D. C.

OF PUERTO RICO SECURITY C

Dear Sir:

The at tent ion of the Bureau is respectfully directed to the report of Special Agent Jack O. Parker made at San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 16, 1941 i n the above captioned matter, which contains regarding t h e background and ac t iv i t i e s of JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN and t h e POPULAR DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF PUERTO RICO

It his previous and present connections with REXFORD GUY TUGWELL who has recently been appointed a s Governor of Puerto Rico, upon whose appointment a Con- gressional Committee i s presently holding hearings. of the Congressional Hearings presently held on the

Because

appointment of REXFORD GUY TUGWELL might desire t o have t h i s

thought the Bureau at t h i s

Please be advised tha t copies of t h i s report w e r e inadvertently omitted f o r the of f ices of ONI and MID San Juan. The Bureau is advised that copies of t h i s report a r e being furnished these off ices since they have expressed an i n t e re s t cas

100-302

Your at tent ion i s respectfully directed t o the report of Special Agent Jack O. Parker made at San Juan, Puerto Rico, August 16, 1941 in the above captioned case,

which was obtained from the following individuals who were designated as informants:

Number

Insular Police Department, Sen Juan Puerto Rico

Number

Letter t o the Director August 16, 1941

extremely confidential nature.

It is for this reason that the Bureau is being advised of identity of the informants in t h i s case by t h i s means.

100-302

MAIL SPECIAL

ROGER F. GLEASON Special Agent in Charge

i

..I

FBI S A N J U A N

D I R E C T O R

I N R E F E R E N C E T O

P O P U L A R P A R T Y

W H I C H REXFORD

GOVERNOR O F P U E R T O R I C O R E C E N T A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y I

O P P O S I T I O N T O T U G W E L L H O L D I N G B O T H P O S I T I O N S N E W S P A P E R S P U B L I S H

L O C A L L Y H A V E B E E N S U P P O R T I N G T H I S O P P O S I T I O N , C O N F I D E N T I A L I N F O

F A C T T H A T F O U R F O R M E R S T U D E N T $ t

P R E S E N T L Y L I S T E D A S N A T I O N A L I S T S H A V E E N G I N E E R E D A R R A N G E M E N T S i

W H E R E B Y T H E Y E L E C T E D T O P O S I T I O N S I N T H E S T U D E N T

S E V E R A L Y E A R S AGO AND P R E S E N T L Y E N R O L L E D FOR O N E C O U R S E . T H E A B O V E

M E N T I O N E D L E A D E R S OF T H E S T U D E N T BODY A R E A L L E G E D TO BE A T T E M P T I N G

T O C A L L A S T U D E N T S T R I K E A G A I N S T T U G W E L L H O L D I N G T H E P O S I T I O N O F

C H A N C E L L O R . U N V E R I F I E D I N F O R M A T I O N R E C E I V E D A T O F F I C E FROM S O U R C E

GOVERNOR T U G W E L L

P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T F O R A N A T I O N A L I S S A T

B E F O R E T A K I N G ANY A C T I O N NO R E Q U E S T R E C E I V E D T H I S U N I V E R S I T Y ,

TO DATE FROM GOVERNOR POLICE DEPARTMENT FILES OF

OF MOVEMENT A T T

PAGE TWO

OUST TUGWELL EL IMPARCIAL, LOCAL NEWSPAPER, G

THAT A FEDERAL IS

RICO THE OF STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

OPPOSITION TO NEWLY DESIGNATED GOVERNOR AS CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVER-

SITY. ARTICLE APPEARED SEPTEMBER FIFTH L SECTION IS "LAST NIGHT WE

INFORMED THAT THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY HAVE F I L E S

OF INTERESTING DATA ABOUT THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF FIFTEEN OF THE

LEADERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE UNIVERSITY MOVEMENT". REPORTER FOR THIS

NEWSPAPER CONTACTED SPECIAL AGENT E. H. A D K I N S I N MY ABSENCE TO

INQUIRE WHETHER BUREAU I S INVESTIGATING MOVEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY

TO OUST TUGWELL. NO COMMENT WAS MADE ON THE REQUEST. REPORTER ALSO

INQUIRED WHETHER F B I INVESTIGATES NATIONALISTS. INFORMED INVESTIGATIVE

JURISDICTION LIMITED TO VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL STATUTES INCLUDING

NATIONAL DEFENSE NO STATEMENT FURNISHED ON UNIVERSITY SITUATION

SUBSEQUENTLY SEPTEMBER SIXTH EL MUNDO LOCAL EDITORIAL

G-MEN "SITUATION THE UNIVERSITY G THREATENED

S T U D E N T MOVEMENT VS TUGWELL TUGWELL I S ONE

NATIONALIST COMMUNIST O R I G I N TENDENCY QUOTING UNIVERSITY

AND STATE FEDERAL INVESTIGATIVE AUTHOR HAVE ALREADY

THE THE STATEMENT JUST ABOVE WAS EL

IMPARCIAL IN EL MUNDO I N ABOVE ARTICLE. INDICATES

AVAILABLE I N FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION OFFICE"

A N D CONES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT FEDERAL POLICE ARE CHECKING UP

THE THE CRIME OF H A V I N G DARED TO QUESTION OF

P A G E T H R E E

MAKING T U G W E L L GOVERNOR AND C H A N C E L L O R . F U R T H E R " T H I S

C R E A T E S A SO T O C H A R A C T E R I Z E T H A T WE CAN HARDLY

B E L I E V E I T I S T R U E T H A T T H E G-MEN H A V E ALLOWED T H E M S E L V E S S N I P E

D U P E D I N P O L I T I C A L MANEUVERS A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y . I T WOULD R A T H E R

A P P E A R T H A T T H E H I G H O F F I C I A L S A T T H E U N I V E R S I T Y HAVE R E C E I V E D A

F A L S E V E R S I O N HAS B E E N P R E P A R E D D E L I B E R A T E L Y FOR T H E P U R P O S E S

OF C O N F U S I N G AND T E R R O R I Z I N G T H E S T U D E N T S " . I S MY S U G G E S T I O N

T H I S S I T U A T I O N T H A T I F U R N I S H T H E L O C A L N E W S P A P E R S W I T H A

T H A T T H E FBI I S N O T I N T E R E S T E D I N ANY L O C A L P O L I T I C A L S I T U A T I O N A S

S U C H P R E S E N T S I T U A T I O N A T U N I V E R S I T Y , T H A T T H E FBI

I S O N L Y I N T E R E S T E D I N S E C U R I N G C O M P L E T E F A C T S R E G A R D I N G I N F O R M A T I O N

R E G A R D I N G P O S S I B L E V I O L A T I O N O F F E D E R A L S T A T U T E S W I T H I N ITS

J U R I S D I C T I O N AND NO COMMENT CAN BE G I V E N ON A N Y P E N D I N G I N V E S T I G A T I O N

BUREAU A D V I C E A S T O WHAT I N F O R M A T I O N S H O U L D BE G I V E N

GOVERNOR FROM T H I S O F F I C E I N T H I S M A T T E R I F R E Q U E S T I S MADE.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

E. A.

in

COPIES

Per

Washington, D. C.

Dear Si r :

ACTIVITIES AT UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO

\ Reference i s t o the radiogram from the San Juan

Field Division dated September 6, 1941 received at the Bureau September 7, 1941, and from the Bureau t o the San Juan Field Division dated September 8, 1941 outlining the publicity

w a s given t o this si tuat ion by the San Juan press. lowing a r t i c l e s and ed i tor ia l s appeared:

August 28, 1941 an ed i to r i a l appeared i n El Mundo ent i t led, PHANTOM CHANCELLOR opening an at tack against DR. REXFORD G. TUGWELL, recently appointed Chancellor of the Univer- s i t y of Puerto Rico. This s ta ted in part t h a t DOCTOR TUGWELL going t o take h is oath of office, take up h i s as Chancellor f o r a weeks, and then take leave of from the University in order t o become Governor of Puerto Rico f o r an indefini te period of t i m e . the University be ruled by an Acting Chancellor, acting only insofar as DOCTOR TUGWELL’S whim or his need t o return t o the University might per-

Will have a “Phantom Chancellor” who wi l l speak through La Forta- leza, ( the Governor's Palace) a t San Juan, Puerto Rico, W i l l have def in i te authority neither over the students nor the faculty. l i f e l e s s body, chained t o the material l i f e of i t s budget. w h i l e the Governor of Puerto Rico, i s the Chancellor of the University, w i l l appoint the members of the Board of Trustees and a l s o appoint the members of the Governor's Cabinet, who according t o law, have the r igh t t o enter the affairs of the University. After s ta t ing these facts , the editor- i a l suggested that DR. TUGWELL resign his position as Chancellor

\

The e d i t o r i a l fur ther s ta ted the University of Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico continue t o

of the University and thus possible the much needed at the University.

i

i

e-

:" *

Letter t o the Director September 10, 1941

The above ed i to r i a l and a thereof are enclosed with this letter.

On September 5 , 1941 an a r t i c l e appeared El Impar- ent i t led, “NATIONALIST-COMMUNIST MOVEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY

OF PUERTO RICO INVESTIGATION This a r t i c l e s t a t ed tha t a Federal investigative agency, not spec i f ica l ly the Bureau, was reported t o be an investigation of the movement which had begun among the students of the University t o force the resignation of DOCTOR TUGWELL as Chancellor. The a r t i c l e s ta ted t h a t one of the high of f i c i a l s of the University termed

one or" Communist-Nationalist origin and tendencies, and added t h a t investigative authori t ies already have begun s t ra tegy i s t o maintain i n the University a group of ag i ta tors as special students, (students have registered for only one course)

The a r t i c l e also claimed that Nationalist

in order t ha t they might not lose any t o spread propa- are l i s t e d CARLOS

HERNANDEZ The a r t i c l e s t a t ed addition

it had been informed that the Federal investigative authori t ies have files of data concerning the p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s of some of the leaders of the present University fur ther states, Federal authori t ies have refused t o enter i n t o discussion as t o whether or not they are d i rec t ly o r ind i rec t ly investigating the University movement. sources indicated t h a t possibly some Agents are conducting investigation of this act ivi ty , but u n t i l this no law has been vio- lated.

a r t i c l e

Nevertheless well informed

The above newspaper a r t i c l e and a t ranslat ion thereof are being enclosed this letter.

September 6, 1941 an ed i to r i a l appeared in El Mundo ent i t led, AT THE UNIVERSITY

BY THE refers t o the previously mentioned art icle published El Imparcial on September 5, 1941 and states that: press ea r ly t h i s the Administrative Office of the University under DOCTOR TUGWELL had not denied the given t o the press by of i t s highest Yesterday afternoon one of the reporters from El Mundo inquired about this report the of f ice of the Federal Agents, and they refused t o The report therefore, remains i n status quo. Accordingly, therefore, the Federal Police are up on some of the students f o r the crime of having dared t o question the wisdom of DOCTOR TUGWELL both Governor and Chancellor. knew about t h a t l i t t l e

wri t ten by LUIS RECHANI AGRAIT This ed i to r i a l

t o the time we went t o


gang of professors are interested i n pol i t ics and slipping from one thing t o another i n the University budget, and which f i l l e d the Wednesday student assembly. t h a t those f i g u r e s which have been moving around s i l en t ly in the shadows would even pretend t o put the Federal Agents on the trail of those who were too strong t o bow t o t h e i r wishes.

the report which we quote, a reign of te r ror has been introduced a t the University. double position of Chancellor and Governor, or we must submit t o an investigation by Federal Police. creates a si tuation which i s so hard to characterize that we can hardly believe tha t it is true tha t the G-Men have allowed themselves t o be duped in to taking part in these maneuvers. It would rather appear that t ha t

o f f i c i a l at the University" has received a fa l se version which has been prepared deliberately for the purpose of confusing and terrorizing the students."

we never thought

accordance

must t o DOCTOR TUGWELL the

The or iginal ed i to r i a l and a t ranslat ion of same enclosed with th i s l e t t e r .

September 4, 1941, pr ior t o the appearance of the above mentioned a r t i c l e i n El Imparcial on September 5 , 1941, RAMON DIAZ a reporter f o r t ha t newspaper appeared a t the San Juan Field Office and made as t o whether the Bureau conducting an investigation in to the s i tuat ion a t the University, and no was by this office. Bureau does not investigate Nationalists, and he was informed tha t the Bureau i s interested i n all subversive organizations a t t h i s time.

He then asked i f the

On September 5, 1941, subsequent t o the edition of t he 'El I m p a r c i a l carrying the a r t i c l e mentioned above, NATHANIEL

SOLTERO a newspaper reporter from El Mundo appeared a t the San SOLTERO Juan Office and a lso requested comment as t o o r not the Bureau w a s the s i tuat ion a t the University. was a lso advised that no comment could be this situation. El Imparcial on September 5, 1941 and s ta ted he thought the matter was false and unfounded.

He

SOLTERO referred t o the a r t i c l e which appeared in t h e

September 5, 1941, ALYCE i SHUPPER, of the E l -par- c i a l newspaper was interviewed by Special Agent JACK O. PARKER in connection w i t h other matters, and the the a r t i c l e

appeared i n paper concerning the University of Puerto Rico became a matter for Agent PARKER asked MISS


SHUPPER if DIAZ had any specif ic information as a basis fo r the a r t i c l e which appeared in the El Imparcial September 5, 1941, and she s ta ted that she believed DIAZ was guessing when he wrote the a r t i c l e and did so i n an attempt t o make a story.

had asked Colonel ENRIQUE DE ORBETA, Chief of Insular Police, San Juan, Puerto Rico t o make up a l i s t of the individuals organized the ac t iv i ty at the University of Puerto Rico, ac t iv i ty was a t the Governor resign his position as Chancellor of the University s ta ted Governor TUGWELL alleged there were a number of Nationalists a t the gathering

trouble and wanted ORBETA t o see i f he had any records of these individuals being Nationalists o r connected with the 1936 Nationalist uprising.

For the information of the Bureau, impressed the San Juan Office as having a complex and a t times has been a nuisance t o Agents of t h i s office

Investigative Agency" by the San Juan press, reference radiogram was directed t o the Bureau on September 6, 1941 asmuch as the a r t i c l e s the San Juan press indicated that a possibi l i ty existed that the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, through members of that party placed in the University,

In view of the cr i t ic ism directed against the "Federal

However, in-

informant i n Nationalist matters t o the San Juan Field Division for months.

the University student body there a re six individuals who are known t o have Nationalist tendencies or t o have been engaged in Nationalist ac t iv i t i e s in the past. These six individuals graduated the University approximately eight o r ten years ago and are a t the present time enrolled as students by vir tue of the f ac t that they are one course each. They have f o r several years continued t o remain enrolled in this capacity, It i s the belief of our informant that they remain in the University for the purpose of retaining control of the student governing body i n which they hold executive positions. It is a lso


believed that these individuals were instructed by ALBIZU CAMPOS the President of the Nationalist Party, i s presently incarcerated i n a United States Penitentiary, t o remain in the Uni- vers i ty i n order t ha t they might re ta in the University as a center f o r the Nationalist Party in his absence.

The a re the names of t h e above mentioned individuals together a short background of each:

CARLOS CARRERA BENITEZ, a Pharmacist who graduated from the Loyola University 1936 and who a t present a drug store in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Rico i n 1931, ten years ago. the Nationalist group a t the University and to be the most of them al l . Congress held in Poughkeepsie, New York two years ago.

He entered the University of Puerto CARRERA is reported t o be the leader of

He was a delegate t o the convention of the National Youth

REVEREND DOMINGO MARRERO entered the University of Puerto MARRERO is also reported t o have Rico 1927 and graduated in 1932.

been a delegate t o the National Youth Congress a t Poughkeepsie, New York.

REVEREND JUAN HERNANDEZ VALLES a Protestant Minister member of the Resolutions Committee of the Student Governing Body Reported t o have been involved i n the so-called Ponce massacre in 1936 in which several Nationalists were killed.

REVEREND ISIDRO DIAZ LOPEZ, President of the Student Council, Over years of age.

MRS. CARMEN J U L I A MARCHAND DE MIRANDA ARCHILLA first at the University 1930. A member of the Resolu-

t ions Committee of the Student Governing Body. She comes from a of individuals who have been involved in several incidents

of violence connected Nationalist uprisings in which on one occasion a ments of Nationalist tendencies.

She has frequently made state-

HERNANDEZ VARGAS graduated from the Law College a t the University of Puerto Rico 1940, and is taking a post-graduate

leading t o a of A r t s degree Spanish.

other individual, GEIGEL POLANCO was original ly

Subsequent reported to t h i s off ice from a informant t o be the leader of this of Nationalists a t the University.

Letter t o t he Director September 10, 1941

information however, indicates t h a t he i s Senator of the Populist Party in the Puerto Rican Senate and a po l i t i ca l leader on the University campus. meeting of the students of t he University, and the name of the Populist Party outlined the reforms which the party proposed t o e f fec t i n the University administration. It i s believed a t the present t i m e t h a t he does not entertain Nationalist tendencies, but might possibly be taking advantage of the present situation t o fur ther his po l i t i ca l end.

In t h i s connection he spoke a t the most recent

September 3, 1941, the students of the University of Puerto Rico assembled t o e l ec t the off icers of the Student Council t o govern them throughout the present school year. t h i s meeting the six above individuals succeeded in

themselves placed in executive positions which would en- able them t o control all meetings of the student body f o r the school year 1941-42.

A t

A t the speeches were made threatening tha t a s t r ike the students should be called in order t o force the resignation of Chancellor TUGWELL because the Nationalists t o have a Puerto Rican as President of the University. LUIS MUNOZ MARIN a t tha t in Washington, D. C., directed a telegram t o the University students w a s read a t the assembly i n which he requested that they refrain from unt i l he could speak t o them. As a re su l t of t h i s no s t r ike cal led a t the t i m e . However, rumors pers i s t a t the University that a s t r ike may be cal led despite the wishes of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

which there i s a strong poss ib i l i ty t ha t incidents of violence might

I n conclusion this confidential informant of the S a n Juan Office s t a t e s t h a t he believes the en t i re matter appears t o be a po l i t i ca l on the part of this small group which wishes t o see the resignation of TUGWELL However, t h e informant believes that t h i s matter should not be considered solely pol i t ica l , and tha t the San Juan Field Office should be kept apprised of the s i tuat ion as it a t the University since there i s a pos- s i b i l i t y t ha t incidents of violence could occur when and if a s t r ike i s called.

a informant of the San


In reference radiogram of September 7, 1941 directed t o the Bureau by the San Juan Field Division, a request made t h a t the Bureau authorize t h i s off ice t o furnish the loca l newspapers with a statement t o t h e e f fec t the Bureau i s not interested i n any l o c a l p o l i t i c a l s i tuat ion as such, particu- lar ly the present s i tuat ion a t the University.

I n conformance authorization granted by Bureau radiogram dated September 8

given t o the press September 9

connection the recent publicity concerning ac t iv i t i e s a t the University of Puerto Rico, t h i s i s t o state t h a t the San Juan Division or the Federal Bureau of Investigation is not conducting any inquiry in to the activities of students a t the University of Puerto Rico concerning in te rna l affairs there, nor i s the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducting any investigation i n t o the po l i t i ca l a c t i v i t i e s Puerto Rico a t t h i s The FBI i s limited in i t s investigative jur isdict ion t o violations of federal s ta tu tes including criminal and national defense connection national defense investigations t h i s off ice does conduct inquir ies on complaints connection might be engaged in a c t i v i t i e s contrary t o the l a w s above mentioned. In these investigations the FBI i s interested i n obtaining fac ts which serve t o c lear up the complaint proving it negative, o r proving tha t a violation of federal s t a tu t e has

In

Subsequently on September 10, 1941, the loca l press pub- l ished a r t i c l e s covering the issued by the San Juan Field Division. These a r t i c l e s are enclosed t h i s let ter.

Very t ruly yours,

ROGER F. GLEASON Special Agent in Charge

Recent events tha t have occurred i n connection with The protest the University have shaken it t o i ts very core.

i s not voiced. Silence reigns within the o l d walls of our educational center as though i n fear tha t i f it uttered the sound might soar a l o f t t o the be l l tower and be wafted t o the four corners of the earth. l i f e of the ins t i tu t ion the protest ex is t s and i s act ive and gathering strength as goes on.

deep down i n the heart and

As a matter of fact , the University had been anxiously awaiting a change, hopeful t h a t t h i s would and consecrate

it t o higher ideals.

The University wished t o be f r ee from t he rule of po l i t i c s that has b e l i t t l e d it so long; it wished t o free from the pet ty personal in te res t s t h a t imprison it.

When the change in regime the University rejoiced because it believed t h a t the pinnacle of i t s hopes had been attained. It waited i n patience and sadness as the months passed and nothing happened. The University began t o think it had been forgotten, but it d i d not lo se i t s f a i t h or give up i t s ideals. followed by uncertainty. The resignation of Chancellor Soto

followed by the appointment of Rexford Guy Tugwell, the who had been pointed out several weeks before a s the next gover- nor of Puerto Rico. Did Doctor Tugwell rea l ly intend t o become Chancellor? O r was he planning t o become Governor? Doctor Tugwell himself cleared t h i s matter up only t o create a major dilemma. He would serve the people in both positions t o the best of h i s ab i l i ty . Doctor Tugwell could not aspire t o the impossible. by and a s no denial or explanation was forthcoming our ed i tor ia l

Chancellor or Governor, but tha t he should not, under any c i r - cumstances, be both. Shortly afterwards it was announced Washington that Doctor Tugwell would take leave of absence from his posit ion as Chancellor of the University i n order t o become Governor of Puerto Rico. The remained. The Island was s t i l l dissat isf ied. for Puerto Rico, news was received from Miami t ha t Dr . Tugwell

The tu rn of events came suddenly and was

The people thought there was some mistake. Days went

column expressed the opinion tha t Doctor Tugwell should be e i ther

Finally, before Dr . Tugwell sai led

would f rom h is posit ion as Chancellor of the University in order t o devote a l l of h i s time t o the Governorship. Tugwell arr ived i n San Juan and the matter again unsettled because it soon became tha t Doctor Tugwell was not planning t o resign from h i s posit ion as Chancellor.

h i s oath of office, take up h i s duties as Chancellor f o r a f e w weeks, and then leave of absence University i n order t o become Governor f o r an indefini te period of time.

Doctor

He was going t o

the University would be ruled by an Acting Chancellor, acting only insofar a s Doctor Tugwell's or h i s need t o re turn t o the University m i g h t permit.

So, the University f ee l s more b e l i t t l e d than ever, it fee l s l i ke a child which i s unable t o take a step and crawls around on i t s hands and knees. The long hoped for reform had become a provisional posit ion without a t i m e l i m i t and without hope of r e l i e f .

The Island w i l l have a t the helm of i t s University a who has h i s hands t ied , unable t o enter into the duties of

a new undertaking with enthusiasm because of the uncertainty of h i s tenure of office. The University of Puerto Rico w i l l have a Phanton Chancellor w i l l speak through La Fortaleza, and

who w i l l have definite authority neither over the students nor the faculty. The hope for resurrection i s dead. The University of Puerto Rico w i l l continue t o be a l ifeless body, chained t o the material l i f e of i t s budget.

the Governor of Puerto Rico, who is the Chancellor-in-Name of t h e University, w i l l appoint t he members of the Board of Trustees and w i l l a l so appoint the members of the Governor's cabinet, who according t o law, have the r ight t o enter i n to the affairs of t he University. Our University, the University fo r which we have so dreams of an independent and unit, f ree of po l i t i ca l has become a mere po l i t i ca l pawn, subject t o the whims of the Gover-

Palace.

too, while Doctor Tugwell i s Governor of Puerto Rico, and while the Acting Chancellor i s a phantom whose

name w e s t i l l do not know, time w i l l pass and we w i l l s t i l l be held i n the of the dilemma of a people who do not have a a t the helm of our highest center of learning.

been anything l i ke th i s . Guy Tugwell should retain the Chancellorship of the University.

are s t i l l hoping t h a t he w i l l resign and thus make possible the much needed reform a t the University. Gossip says tha t i n a l l of t h i s affair there are hidden motives tha t have not

t o the surface. We hes i ta te t o believe that it i s too but i f those motives do exis t , they should be brought

t o l ight.

In a l l the his tory of Puerto Rico there has never We are s t i l l t h a t Rexford

EL CANCILLER FANTASMA La Universidad de Puerto Rico

Las de entre

del de de y

y en la de la Universidad.

De la Universidad la re- la consagrase. La Universidad

en la y en la de interests

el de la Universidad que la de y

de Transcurrieron en expectan- La Universidad pens6 que

no y la

A la del canciller Soto si- el nombramiento de Rexford Guy Tugwell, el

desde para la nación de Puerto Rico. el doctor Tug- well la cancillería? para la

El doctor Tugwell la para mayor: cargos a lo de El pais que de error. E l doc-

:or Tugwell no podia pretender, y no

a de "Prensa Unida" editorial y

que el doctor Tugwell Can-

El Mundo San Juan, Puer to Rico August 28, 1941

c i l l e r Gobernador a la desde Washington el doctor Tugwell

la de la Universidad. Isla no Fi-

en de Puerto Rico et doc- or Tugwell, inform6 desde Miami

\

Junto de Universidad, hombre con sin de est

en propiedad del doctor Puerto Rico Can

en Fortaleza y sin y en la facultad. Las

de fallidas. La Universidad de Puerto Rico muerto, a la material del

En el interregno, el Gobernador de Puerto Rico y Can- ciller-propietario de la Universidad, a

a de Gabinete que de ley en de

la Universidad. Universidad, la Universidad que du- rante y

de y de la una de Fortaleza y instrumento d

de gobierno. Y en el interregno sea Gobernador

Puerto Rico el doctor Tugwell y Canciller

el de capacidad, el de pueblo que no

para en propiedad primer centro de y a el cargo. pais

en el dolor de la Universidad de Put Rico.

En de Puerto Rico no hay una que le par a la que le

nos sentimos que Rexford Guy Tugwell la Cancillería de

la de que la

en que en hay que no pais. Nos resist

m existiesen, de que a de la a de con de

I

EL IMPARCIAL San Juan, Puerto Rico

September 5, 1941

NATIONALIST-COMMUNIST MOVEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO R I C O INVESTIGATION

The report t h a t the work of t he recent University assembly was controlled by Nationalist-Communist individuals has been brought t o the at tent ion of the investigative authori t ies located in Puerto Rico, are keeping themselves informed on the a c t i v i t i e s a t the University.

tendencies and the presence in t h i s meeting of persons who a re not regularly enrolled as students, are the fac ts pointed out as being of greatest in te res t t o t h e investigative authorit ies.

The f ac t that the Resolutions Committee made up f o r the most par t of students with radical

Photographs have been taken of the Resolutions Committee and of the President and w i l l be used as a basis f o r the po l i t i ca l history of these individuals f o r the l a s t s i x years.

One of the highest o f f i c i a l s of the University with whom we talked yesterday, pointed out the s tudent movement as of Nationalist-Communist origin and tendencies:

indicate t h a t t h e federal investigative have taken steps i n the

Later

NATIONALIST TACTICS

Generally informed sources indicated last night "that it appears t h a t t h e Na t iona l i s t strategy is t o maintain a t the University a group of agi ta tors only one course) i n order that they may not lose any opportunity t o spread propaganda.

(generally students taking

the Nationalist leaders who are i n t h i s groups these sources mentioned CARLOS CARRERA BENITEZ, the Reverend JUAN

' - . - e

HERNANDEZ VALLES, FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ VARGAS the Reverend DOMINGO MARRERO and others.

Last night we informed tha t the Federal investiga- t i v e au thor i t ies have in t h e i r f i l e s "interesting data concerning the po l i t i ca l a c t i v i t i e s of some of those leaders i n the present University movement

Federal authori t ies have refused t o enter in to any d i s - cussion as t o whether or not they a re takin,: any steps i n an investigation o f the events a t t h e University.

Nevertheless, w e l l informed sources indicated tha t "pos- s ib ly some agents are keeping a close watch on a l l the ac t iv i t i e s a t the University," but tha t "up t o the present no l a w s have been broken

VERSION

Another version which has circulated indicates as another possible point of i n t e re s t for the federal authori t ies , the report published by the press yesterday t o the e f fec t tha t law student MANUEL A. MOREDA had publicly accused CARLOS CARRERA BENITEZ be- f o r e the assembly of being a Nationalist leader" and requested the resignation of the President of the student

The resolutions proposed a t the open by MARCELINO FLORES RODRIGUEZ and LUIS D. MIRANDA tha t t h e assembly was dominated by a group of f ive o r s i x University students was

t o mean t ha t the Nationalists are in control i n view of the f a c t t h a t CARLOS CARRERA BENITEZ was presiding, and other leaders mentioned above, take act ive par t i n the meetings.

I ON

9-9-41

de

‘de y nacionalistas

Informes

compañero

que de in-

to* en

Táctica nacionalista

táctica nacionalista la la Universidad

Carlos

THE AT THE UNIVERSITY

THREATENED BY G-MEN \

By Luis Rechani Agrait

One of the highest o f f i c i a l s of the University, with whom

Informa- we ta lking privately yesterday, pointed t o t h e student movement a s one of "nationalist-communist or igin and t i o n obtained l a t e r by a fellow reporter indicates t h a t the investigative authori t ies have already taken par t i n the EL IMPARCIAL, September 5, 1941.

Up t o the time we went t o press ear ly t h i s morning the administra- t i v e off ice of t he University, under Doctor TUGWELL, had not denied the information given t o the Press by "one of i t s highest

Yesterday afternoon, one of t h e reporters from EL MUNDO inquired about t h i s report i n t he office of the federal agents, and they refused t o c

The report , therefore, remains in s ta tus Accordingly, therefore, t he federal police are checking up on some of the students f o r the crime of having dared t o question the wisdom of making Doctor TUGWELL both Governor and Chancellor.

knew about that l i t t l e gang of professors who are interested i n playing po l i t i c s and slipping one thing t o another i n the university budget, and f i l l e d the Wednesday student assembly. about...

around s i l e n t l y the would even pretend t o put the federal agents on the trail of those who were t o o strong t o t o t h e i r

B u t never thought t ha t those figures which have been moving

In accordance with the report which quote, a reign of t e r ro r has been introduced a t the University.

"One of the highest o f f i c i a l s of the University" has taken it upon himself t o give the voice of alarm.

must t o Doctor TUGWELL i n the double posit ion of Chancellor and Governor, or we must submit t o an investigation by federal police.

This creates a s i tuat ion which is so hard t o that we can hardly believe t h a t it i s t rue t h a t the G-Men have allowed themselves t o be duped in to taking par t i n these It would rather appear t ha t t h a t "high o f f i c i a l a t the University" has received a f a l se version which has been prepared deliberately for the purpose of confusing and te r ror iz ing the students

Whoever made up t h a t t a l e must have a very poor of psychology i f they thought t ha t coarse threa t would win for them a single vote i n favor of D t . Tugwell.

Threats may have effect on a starving aspirant t o a higher they w i l l never reach the point where they w i l l

have before them those have even the normal pride i n t h e i r con- victions..............

And verdict of the people would be too strong and too hard t o take i f order t o j u s t i fy or impose tha t i l l e g a l i t y it was necessary t o c a l l in the federal police............

i

9-6-41

“El Imparcial”, de

de la Universidad, el doctor Tugwell, no dado nota a la

“uno de altos tarde, uno de redactores de EL MUNDO

en la de agentes federales, y a

que ha en la la del terror. de-loa altos funcionarios de Universidad”

de la vox Hay que que el doctor Tugwell sea Canciller

o hay que a una

tan in que sea que G-Men

.para

con el fin de la y

e- __,.,

que el doctor Tugwell que a a

lea NO con amenazas para par-

tido paca una causa. No con el terror que a universitarios.

No son que que de De

No hay que una de la ley en crisis q

amenazas que el en pie

Y amenazas tarde en am

No con la de persecuciones y de cárceles.

modo

ha Y la hombre cargos incompatibles.

una arista: Gobernador o Canciller.

tan en el si el señor Tugwell deja en

n de ha en en

i

OF INVESTIGATION

In connection with the recent publ ic i ty concerning a c t i v i t i e s a t t he University of Puerto Rico t h i s i s t o s t a t e that t h e S a n Juan Division of t h e Federal Bureau of Investiga- t i o n i s not conducting any inquiry in to the a c t i v i t i e s of students at the University of Puerto Rico concerning in te rna l affairs nor i s the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducting any invest igat ion i n t o t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s in Puerto Rico a t t h i s The F.B.I. is l imited in i ts invest igat ive ju r i sd i c t ion t o violat ions of federal s t a t u t e s including criminal and n a t i o n a l defense laws. nat ional defense investigations t h i s of f ice does conduct inquir ies on complaints i n connection with individuals who might be engaged

a c t i v i t i e s contrary t o the l a w s above mentioned. investigations the F.B.I. i s in te res ted in obtaining which

t o clear up the complaint proving it negative, or proving that a v io la t ion of some federal s t a t u t e has

In connection w i t h

In

ROGER F. GLEASON AGENT

September 10, 1941

G-MEN MOT INVESTIGATING INTERNAL AFFAIRS AT UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO R I C O

Lawyer ROGER F. GLEASON, Special Agent i n Charge of t h e San Juan Division of t he Federal Bureau of Invest igat ion issued the following statement t o t he press yesterday:

In connection with t h e recent publ ic i ty concerning a c t i v i t i e s a t t h e University of Puerto Rico, t h i s i s t o s t a t e t h a t the San Juan Division of t h e Federal Bureau of Investiga- t i o n i s not conducting any inquiry in to the a c t i v i t i e s of students a t the University of Puerto Rico concerning in te rna l affairs there , nor i s the Federal Bureau of Invest igat ion conducting any investigation i n t o the p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s i n Puerto Rico a t t h i s time. The F.B.I. i s l imited i n i t s in-

j u r i sd i c t ion t o violat ions of federal s t a tu t e s including criminal and n a t i o n a l defense In connection with national invest igat ions t h i s of f ice does conduct inqui r ies on complaints i n connection with individuals who night be engaged in a c t i v i t i e s contrary t o t h e laws above men-

In these invest igat ions the F.B.I. i s in te res ted in obtaining f ac t s which serve t o c l ea r up the complaint proving it negative, o r proving that a v io la t ion of federal statute has

Mr. GLEASON a l s o s t a t ed t h a t up t o t h e present time he has not received any request members of t h e Faculty of t he University or from any other o f f i c i a l s i n connection with t h i s matter.

Mr. GLEASON’S statement t o the press yesterday was issued f o r t h e purpose o f denying t h e report published

by El Imparcial t o the e f f e c t t h a t an investigation of Nationalist

and Communist activities was being conducted at University. El Imparcial never stated that the G-Men were conducting these investigations.

conducting this investigation in spite no violation had occurred up to that time. Rico at the present time several federal agencies conducting secret investigations connection with all kinds of activities, and as had reports to the effect that an investigation was being conducted, we gave this information to our readers. was El Mundo which, in attempt to rectify our report, published an article entitled they are being threatened with the G-Men," which leads one to believe that the G-Men were conducting an investigation at the University.

We only said that federal-investigative agents

There are in Puerto

It

TRANSLATION 9-10-41

de actividades políticas

G-MEN ARE NOT INVESTIGATING THE AFFAIR UNIVERSITY

STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT WAS YESTERDAY BY SPECIAL AGENT I N GLEASON. AN ATTEMPT AT COERCION

The San Juan Division of t h e Federal Bureau of Investi- gation issued t h e following statement yesterday:

connection with t h e recent publ ic i ty concerning a c t i v i t i e s a t t h e University of Puerto Rico, t h i s is t o

state t h a t the San Juan Division of t h e Federal Bureau of Invest igat ion i s not conducting any inquiry i n t o t h e ac t iv i - t i e s of students a t t he University of Puerto Rico concerning in te rna l affairs there , nor i s the Federal Bureau of Inves- t i g a t i o n conducting any invest igat ion in to t h e p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t i e s i n Puerto Rico a t t h i s time.

The F.B.I. i s l imited i n i t s invest igat ive juris- d ic t ion t o violat ions of federal statutes including criminal and nat ional defense laws. In connection with nat ional defense invest igat ions t h i s o f f i ce does conduct inqui r ies on complaints in connection with individuals who might be engaged i n a c t i v i t i e s contrary t o the laws above mentioned. In these invest igat ions the F.B.I. i s in te res ted i n obtaining f a c t s which serve t o c l ea r up the canplaint it nega- t i ve , or proving t h a t a v io la t ion of some federa l s t a t u t e has occurred.

GLEASON A QUESTION

A t t h e press conference held yesterday by Mr. GLEASON, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, one of our repor te rs asked t h e following question:

one from the University, o r any other person, requested your of f ice t o conduct an investigation i n connection with the a c t i v i t i e s of t h e students i n the confl ic t connected with the Chancellor?

To which Mr. GLEASON replied: "No." And added tha t he had not received any request f o r any invest igat ion i n t h i s matter.

WAS BEHIND THIS REPORT?

As our readers w i l l r eca l l , a San Juan paper printed las t Friday under f ront headlines, a report which s ta ted,

other things, t h a t "One of t he highest o f f i c i a l s of t h e University with whom we t a lked pr iva te ly yesterday pointed t o the student movement as 'one of Nationalist-Communist o r ig in and tendencies.' indicates ' t ha t federal invest igat ive au tho r i t i e s are already taking s teps i n t h i s matter'."

Later information obtained by one of our reporters

t h a t same day asked t h i s matter a t the o f f i ces of t he FBI a t S a n Juan but they refused t o comment. I n s p i t e of t he f a c t t h a t they did not deny the report we were of the opinion that what was occurring was t h a t someone had made up t h e s t o r y i n order t o t r y t o confuse and coerce tho student body. ed i to r s , LUIS RECHANI AGRAIT, i n a signed ed i to r i a l . Succeed- ing events prove t h i s t o be a fact . a r e any invest igat ion of t he referred t o .

This opinion was expressed i n El Mundo by one of our

The G-Men deny t h a t they

i s responsible for t h i s story? What t h e purpose behind the s tory i f it was not t o coerce t h e student body? Who is t he high o f f i c i a l of the University t o whom t he report re fers? What does the Administrative Office of t h e University have t o say about t h i s high o f f i c i a l ?

We believe that a l l of these points should be cleared

ace de oficina de investigaciones, Glea-

m de San Juan del Ne- de lnvestigaciones

la

on la a

Universidad Puerto Rico. para que la n San Juan el

de Investigacion in-

actividades. de de la Universidad

Puerto Rico en

actividades Rico en

Federal de Investigaciones

En ones el Negociado Federal

o para ha violación de

federal.”

Gleason una

En la conferencia de el Sr. Gleason,

la Oficina Federal de Investigaciones redactor le

lo

de la Universidad, maestros, u o

persona solicit6 de oficina (la de G-Men) una

actividades de estudiantes, en el re-

lacionado con la Cancillería? El Sr. Gleason

que no de para

de la recordari el lector, el vier-

uno de de San Juan. en plana

una que entre de altos fun

de la Universidad con la 16)

G-MEN E de la

nos estudiantil

nacionalistas-comunistas

la FBI en San Juan, la a

A que

the appointment of Gov. Rexford GUY Tugwell as chancellor

Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation as been it

by Robert F. Gleason, agent in charge of 'the San

Juan office of the FBI. F.B.I. in-

Jurisdiction fo of federal statutes,

criminal and defense Gleason explained. 'We- conducting any inquiry into the activities of students a t the University

I

Not Under B. I.

J . ,

Says Gleason

' I

n

FBI S A N JUAN 9-12-41 FROM

NATIONALIST ACTIVITIES UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO R I C O . REFERENCE LETTER

SAN J U A N DIVISION TO BUREAU SEPTEMBER TENTH LAST STUDENT

CALLED ON SEPTEMBER ELEVEN LAST TO SPEECH OF MUNOZ M A R I N

OUTLINING REASONS FOR RETAINING TUGWELL UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SPEECH ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT HUNDRED STUDENTS LED

BY ISIDRO D I A Z LOPEZ A N D HERNANDEZ VARGAS PASSED RESOLUTION

REQUESTING RESIGNATION OF TUGWELL, THEM ABOUT FIVE STUDENTS

WALKED OUTSIDE OF ASSEMBLY HALL AND GATHERED OUTSIDE WHERE THEY

PASSED RESOLUTION NULLIFYING THOSE OF MAJORITY AND REQUESTING

RETAINING TUGWELL INFORMANT OF ABOVE MENTIONED INFORMATION

TUGWELL RESIGN CHANCELLORSHIP WITHIN THE NEXT

of San Juan, Puerto Rico

September 12, 1941

100-302

Direct or, Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D. C.

Re: LUIS MUNOZ MARIN; '

S i r :

Reference made t o Bureau letter dated August 25, 1941 outlining instruct ions regarding t h e poss ib i l i t y t h e Military Intell igence Division San Juan the delimitation agreement i n t h i s par t icu lar case.

f I have looked i n t o t h i s matter ra ther and

believe tha t there has been no t o infr inge on the Bureau’s

par t icu lar ly due t o the fact t h a t a t the present time i s progress a complete change in p o l i t i c a l control and the party

i s under the reins of the subject of case.

ju r i sd ic t ion in the matter. Of course, the Army have a great deal of i n t e r e s t general conditions on

I have conferred Colonel CONWAY concerning the in a diplomatic manner, and he informs me that f o r a

of years the Army author i t ies here have been in-

of the fact t h a t they the A r m y ' s work

has material on the matter and would be very glad t o it avai lable t o t h i s o f f i ce i n connection with the

of this case. I have arranged for Special Agent, JACK O. PARKER who is handling the case, t o confer the Army

o f f i c e r most familiar with t he matter so that Bureau f i l e s would be complete. I f e e l t ha t the matter has

formation on political conditions i n Puerto Rico because

In this connection Colonel CONWAY advised me that he

over and I do not believe there is any attempt in t par t icu lar case t o overstep the

regard t o the by Special Agent, JACK O. PARKER dated August 16 the extremely confident ia l nature of the matter

COPIES


aspects of the subject, I arranged t o make a copy of t h i s report available t o Colonel CONWAY and the Commanding General., and the report has been returned t o me. Colonel CONWAY that only he and the Commanding General should be cognizant of the the report exists. t h e same procedure the Navy, a copy of the report avai lable to Commander WALKER f o r t he at tent ion of the Admiral only.

I spec i f ica l ly requested

I have followed

Investigation of t h i s matter i s being handled very discreet ly due t o the prominence of the subject, i f any information i s developed that he may be t i e d up with Communist groups or in any way involved i n violat ions of Federal Statutes, it w i l l be reported t o the Bureau.

Very truly yours

;IT ROGER F. GLEASON

Agent i n Charge

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 100-302 San Juan, Puerto Rico

REPORT BY

NIXON-BUTT, JR.

SECURITY C DETENTION

JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN president Puerto Rican Senate, alleged to have used Communist Party principles and leaders t o gain political power during elections of 1940 since then, f o r

reasons, has not aligned himself with Communists. Described by reliable informants to be intellectual with bad case of "Puerto Rican inferiority complex," which results in anti-American tendencies. He is nut considered dangerous to point of acts against United States.

completely irresponsible; reported by reliable informants to be heavy drinker and narcotics addict.

Is known to be

P

100-5745. Puerto Rico, dated 8-16-41

Report of Special Agent JACK O. PARKER, San Juan,

DETAILS

about JAIME SALDANA for a of in te res t , a t the present time ERNESTO RAMOS-ANTONINI r h o is the of Internal Security C in the San Juan Field Division settlement negotiated by JAIME SALDANA suing the American Railway of Puerto Rico f o r the difference

the between MUNOZ MARIN and SALDANA bo of the and the total of the

that the president of the Puerto Rican Senate, MUNOZ MARIN SALDANA’S

For about minutes in a general r ay of MUNOZ MARIN’S l i f e and

MARIN receives e great mount of money but probable with SALDANA in American R a i l -

t ha t the b i l l for alone of the a year.

not bel ief of that

a t the present time MUNOZ MARIN a sui te of a t Normandie Hotel i n San Juan. t o this he had an apartment at

Escambron Beach Club in San Juan, he ran up a b i l l of about the of the Escambron Beach Club upon MUNOZ MARIN and

they expect regard t o th is - bill., told t o forget it it Off a

t o t he of t he Escambron that they would probably be able ge t a deduction for this on

MUNOZ MARIN which involved their acquaintanceship pr ior t o the time Mr. TUGWELL sent by t h e Department of Inter ior t o the Island in 1941 as a representative t o deal with the "five hundred acre" proposed on sugar land held by one person or by one corporation. This proposed favored by MUNOZ MARIN Later in 1941 MUNOZ MARIN had Mr. TUGWELL appointed Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico a t a salary of reportedly a year. Further MUNOZ MARIN as it had wanted t o continue t o

Mr. Governor of Puerto Rico Chancellor of University of Puerto Rico. not except for a short period

MUNOZ MARIN However, MUNOZ MARIN

gave a brief history of the relationship Governor TUGWELL

t o Mr. TUGWELL received the office of Governor of Puerto Rico almost en t i re ly t o the efforts of MUNOZ MARIN pressure on Governor TUGWELL grew stranger unt i l a t the present time the only influential i s real ly standing by Governor TUGWELL is MUNOZ MARIN according to

time passed,


informed this naturally created a s i tuat ion which has made Governor TUGWELL almost totally dependent upon MUNOZ MARIN According t o during the l a t t e r part of December, 1942, there was e Colonel FLANNAGAN

Governor TUGWELL’S t o almost anything, and that i n rea l i ty MUNOZ MARIN exercising the functions of the office of the Governor Puerto Rico as the functions of the office of president of the Puerto Rican Senate.

as Governor of Puerto Rico or there were a change i n any manner i n the Governor of Puerto Rico, he expected MUNOZ MARIN t o take care of Governor TUGWELL by again a s Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico,

who i s t o be exceedingly rel iable , stated MUNOZ MARIN was a member of the intel lectuals who predominated i n the leadership of the Popular Party, each of has a bad case of "Puerto Rican infer ior i ty s ta ted MUNOZ MARIN anti-American as a resul t of t h i s feeling of infer ior i ty , but

not dangerous t o United States insofar as any against the United States were

the elections of 1940 courted the favor of COMMUNIST leaders and had certainly incorporated in Popular Party COMMUNIST ideals. B u t , according t o MUNOZ MARIN, for reasons, has since the elections steered clear of the COMMUNIST PARTY. completely and thoroughly irresponsible in h i s personal l i f e ,

stated i n his opinion if Governor TUGWELL forced t o

In the of another investigation and a very general manner,

He advised it was well known by him that MUNOZ MARIN had,

described MUNOZ MARIN as being

confidentially advised Special Agent CARL E. STANFORD of the San Juan Office he had learned that MUNOZ MARIN involved i n an important narcotics case, but nothing being about this inasmuch as MUNOZ MARIN would f i r e a l l members of the Insular Government Narcotics Bureau if proseoution were even stated the Customs Service, U. S. Treasury Department, San Juan, Puerto Rico, had been informed of the existence of MUNOZ MARIN’S participation in t he narcotics

who i s considered rel iable by the San Juan Office, stated he


during the course of lunch one gave t h e wr i te r casual infornation concerning MUNOZ MARIN Washington newspaper correspondent, is the i l l eg i t imate ha l f - s i s te r of MUNOZ W I N . MARIN and of a mistress he had while he was Resident Commissioner i n Washington, D. C. from 1910 t o 1916. Apartment Hotel, Washington, D. C., h i s room being d i r ec t ly across the ha l l

t h a t of MUNOZ MARIN apartment as h i s guest. thinking he was alone i n h i s shorts and RUBY BLACK was s i t t i n g a chair , t a lk ing t o h i m . This fami l ia r i ty of conduct, according t o strengthened h i s opinion that RUBY BLACK might be the i l l eg i t imate ha l f - s i s te r of MUNOZ MARIN

has long heard tha t RUBY BLACK

It 'seems she i s t he daughter of LUIS MUNOZ-RIVERA fa the r of MUNOZ

During 1936 staying a t the Dupont Circle

Frequently MUNOZ MARIN would have RUBY BLACK at h i s On one occasion over t o see MUNOZ MARIN

MUNOZ MARIN was lying on t h e bed i n h i s

Around the middle of February, 1943, heard what he said he considered r e l i a b l e source, t h a t MUNOZ W I N around the f i r s t of February, 1943, had gotten thoroughly drunk i n company with VICENTE GEIGEL-POLANCO, the Majority Leader i n the Senate of Puerto Rico, t he being i n f ron t of t he Normandie Hotel i n San Juan. a state, went t o him and asked if he could do anything fo r him. answered by cursing the policeman and t e l l i n g him t o , " G e t t he away from here." Evidently MUNOZ MARIN reconsidered f o r in a f e w moments he cal led the policeman and t o l d him t o immediately get Insular car. policeman went over t o the chauffeur of the car waiting f o r the Director of

of Puerto Rico and t o l d him that MUNOZ MARIN wanted t o use an Insular Government car. The chauffeur said he could not drive MUNOZ MARIN i n that car as he had been instructed by t h e Director of Education t o w a i t unti l t he Director of Education came out of the Normandie Hotel. MUNOZ MARIN seeing there was some delay, went over t o t he car , got in , and ordered the chauffeur t o dr ive him and GEIGEL-POLANCO; t h i s the chauffeur, i n protest , was forced t o do.

An Insular Policeman, seeing Munoz Marin i n such MUNOZ WIN

The


determined in a d iscree t manner that MUNOZ MARIN i s regis tered Select ive Service Local Board 97, Santurce, Puerto Rico.

By memorandum dated October 3, 1941 Special Agent JACK O. PARKER formerly of the San Juan Office, submitted the following information.

meet them a t t h e Escambron Beach Club a t

MUNOZ MARIN arr ived a t about and ordered drinks and they began t h e i r discussion. They asked him a of questions regarding soc ia l conditions i n P Upon learning that Russian economy

MUNOZ remarked that t h e e of Russia were doing

A few minutes l a t e r something =de him angry and he swept a l l the drinks from the t a b l e with h i s arm and h i s f r iends who were standing nearby came over t o the t a b l e and suggested he go home and he a t them and t o l d them t o keep t h e i r place t h a t he would s tay as long a s he pleased and it before and her f r iend were able t o leave MUNOZ He became so intoxicated he was hardly able t o walk when they left the place.

The above information was obtained casual ly by reporting agent agent asked no questions of which would indicate any i n t e r e s t i n MUNOZ

dated October 3, 1941 Special Agent PARKER submitted t h e following information.

advised t h a t when REXFORD GUY TUGWELL was i n Puerto Rico during t h e spring of 1941 holding hearings on t h e f i v e hundred l aw, he w a s reading

plan which had been advanced by h i s commission and EDMUNDO COLON, an Agriculture Engineer and Insular Cammissioner of Agriculture who i s presently employed a t the Central Mercidita interrupted t h e reading and sa id he had read t h e plan which being read by TUGWELL verbatim KROPATRIN's book, KROPATRIN being a Russian C o m m u n i s t

The following a r t i c l e appeared "La Democracia" Spanish, September 3, 1942:


SHOULD BE TO APPROVE A

"MUNOZ W I N RESTATES HIS THAT IS OVER D E F I N I T E STATUS PUERTO R I C O BE I N WITH THE ATLANTIC CHARTER.

In h i s f irst conference granted t o t h e press i n the las t the President of t he Senate, don LUIS MUNOZ MARIN, s ta ted he i s confident that a s soon as the war i s over, Puerto Ricans w i l l be given an f r ee ly approve a const i tut ion f o r the de f in i t e solut ion of t he p o l i t i c a l of t h e Island. as follows

In reply t o questioning, t h e President of the Senate expressed himself

Puerto Rico has advanced fu r the r t he last year a solut ion of i t s po l i t i ca l s t a tus than ever before. "status" i n view of t h e fact the Popular e lec tora te did not vote e i ther i n favor

against a determined p o l i t i c a l "status" of any kind, but towards putting an end t o the colonial s i tua t ion i n accordance with the w i l l of the people of Puerto Rico. I am confident t h a t an opportunity t o put an end t o t h e colonial system in accordance with the Atlant ic Charter signed by Roosevelt and Churchill w i l l not be delayed beyond the establishment of peace, t o t h e of the democracies i n t h e present w a r

Not a determined po l i t i ca l

Questioned i n connection with t h e matter of an e lec t ive governor, Senator MUNOZ MARIN stated as

'The matter of an Elective Governor i s an indisputably progressive s tep, but what w i l l solve the s t a tus def in i te ly f o r both t h e United States and f o r Puerto Rico, i s the f r e e adoption of a const i tut ion by t h e people of Puerto Rico themselves."

Questioned about the conditions, which i n his opinion, the new Chancellor of t he University should have, MUNOZ W I N s a i d

my opinion, the Chancellor of t he University, whoever he may be, should be f u l l y aware, without any shadow of doubt, of t he developments which are occurring i n the world and i n Puerto Rico, besides having the professional requirements peculiar t o t h e posit ion. '

He was questioned about t h e opposition of Attorney General MALCOLM and Auditor FITZSIMMONS t o ce r t a in l a w s approved by the Legislature. MARIN made the following comment

MUNOZ

t he opposition of a public servant t o l eg i s l a t ion which has the democratic backing of the people, were systematic opposition, and the desire t o make a personal opinion prevai l against t h e w i l l of t he people, it i s evident t h a t e i ther t he public servant m u s t go, or the people must go. people cannot and should not go, t he conclusion t o be drawn i s evident. were not t h i s way t h e people could not understand c l ea r ly the deep and noble motives of t h i s

And as the If it


t h e president of the Senate was questioned t o whether h i s conclusions i n connection with the so-called invest igat ion of t he four mill ion dol la rs fraud were final s t a t ed

would have preferred the collaboration of a l l t he members of the commission, including tha t of the other pa r t i e s , t o formulate conclusions, deriving them from the evidence submitted, which would have been the r e su l t of a j o i n t study of the matter. Due t o d i f f i c u l t i e s encountered i n proceeding towards a jo in t study, I presented my own ten ta t ive conclusions, subject t o change i n the event t he members present an in te rpre ta t ion , within t h i r t y days, which w i l l j u s t i f y a of my t en ta t ive conclusions. I have made a careful study of the evidence. I nei ther have nor have any in t e re s t i n it but an opinion which i s j u s t i f i e d by that evidence. What would be of greatest i n t e r e s t t o me i s that, having made charges before the people of Puerto Rico, that t h e evidence would prove those charges t o be correct. duty t o do what would in t e re s t me t he most, it i s my duty t o a c t i n accordance with t h e t r u t h which i s borne o u t by the evidence i n the the President of t h e Senate and of t he Popular Democratic Party concluded by saying."

But it i s not

It i s t o be noted LUIS MUNOZ MARIN i s the d i rec tor or edi tor of LA DEMOCRACIA.

In a pamphlet dis t r ibuted i n S a n Juan, Puerto Rico during October 1942 appears a picture of MUNOZ MARIN and a wealthy Puerto Rican PEDRO JUAN SERRALLES, standing before the mirror i n w h a t i s alleged t o be " H a l l of Mirrors" i n La Fortaleza, the Governor's Palace, San Juan, Puerto Rico. MUNOZ MARIN and SERRALLES have glasses t o each other i n a toast . appear the following words:

In t h i s same a r t i c l e

"PUERTO RICAN COUNTRY PEOPLE" THIS PHOTOGRAPH I S TO BE THE MUNOZ MARIN TABLET

"The President o t he Popular Party, LUIS MUNOZ MARIN f ra ternizes with PEDRO JUAN SERRALLES, ra i s ing t h e i r glasses i n a t o a s t i n an ostentatious a t the Fortaleza i n the Salon of the Mirrors.

The Academic Redemptor, LUIS MUNOZ W I N , clinks h i s glass mil l ionaire PEDRO JUAN SERRALLES, he attacked crue l ly pr ior t o the last e lect ions, celebrating t h e triumph of perfidy and deceit t o the harmony of music in atmosphere of perfumed aristocracy. The up in the mountains await bread with t h e i r mouths open, and i n t h e i r humble the return of t he man, who at their ra i sed glasses with them i n a toast, talking of social jus t ice .

Irony of destiny. t o e lect ions, BREAD, and were constantly rung i n the ears of t he country people. a r i s t o c r a t i c champagne, music, flowers, and against misery has been converted into an understanding with the c a p i t a l i s t s and in to a t o a s t t o the permanent bread, and material comfort of MUNOZ MARIN

After the elections, The


and his group of t h e o r i s t s and academic wise men."

MARINO, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 24, 1942: The a r t i c l e concerning MUNOZ MARIN in LA VOZ DE

"Don LUIS MUNOZ MARIN

Governor TUGWELL i n the great task of ruining Puerto Rico and creating confusion and panic i n industry, and banking, i n order t o take advantage of t h i s panic and s t a t e of national emergency and conduct t he ideological experiments i n preparation f o r t h e Communist Republic, which cards w i l l be played by the Popular Party a f t e r t he 1944 elections. has begun t o rea l ize these po l i t i ca l s t ra teg ies Congressional Committee w i l l come t o Puerto Rico t o investigate and de and who speculate on democracy i n an attempt t ideological change which w i l l r e s u l t i n

Rico, t h e issue of June, 1939:

The most outstanding leader of in Puerto Rico, a l l y of

appears that the National Administration

f o r centuries.

The following was taken from t h e "Economic view", S a n Juan, Puerto

"Son of t he Puerto Rican leader President of t h e Popular Democratic Party. Writer and journal is t . Divided the Liberal Par ty , founded by don ANTONIO BARCELO, and carr ied the majority of t h e e lec tora l vote of t ha t group. In two years has accomplished the extraordinary task of founding, organizing, and leading in to a new p o l i t i c a l group, an accomplishment which i s without pa ra l l e l i n our history. having approved a l l fundamental l eg is la t ion which was object of debate and public offers i n t h e last elections, but he a l s o succeeded in having this leg is la t ion made i n t o l a w s by obtaining Governor SWOPE's signature. i s radical . independence i n the Liberal Party and a t the beginning of t h e Popular Democratic Party. of Puerto Rico. persuasion. Saxon race. personal economic problems. Is apparently not ambitious about Whatever t h e f ina l outcome of h i s pol ic ies w i l l be, t he less fortunate classes in Puerto Rico w i l l him an invaluable measure of defense and support.

these classes are, especially, teachers, police, chauffeurs, and a l l workers. He i s an enemy of the cap i t a l i s t s . working a t t h e University of Puerto Rico.

President of t he Senate Puerto Rico. In h i s youth, a poet.

In the last leg is la ture , he not only succeeded i n

His social ideology H i s p o l i t i c a l ideology, insofar as Puerto Rico is concerned, was for

A t the present time he has silenced a l l reference t o t h e po l i t i ca l s ta tus

In s p i t e of h i s Latin her i tage, he displays the coldness of the English as w e l l as he does Spanish.

He has a b r i l l i a n t and mind, with rare powers of

Does not about

He married t o an American i s

The following a re excerpts from a speech given by MUNOZ MARIN January The speech was made over several loca l radio s ta t ions i n Puerto Rico. 17, 1943.

San Juan Fi l e 100-302

"WHILST hordes, as Hitler i s referred t o by Vice-President WALLACE, are being held back, Satan attempts i n f i l t r a t i o n in to the Congress of t he United States in order t o hold back the Democratic forces i n Puerto Rico. But l e t us not be unjust even with Congressman CRAWFORD who was t he individual who presented the resolution I ta lking about. of t he Nazi-Fascist, anti-Democratic forces i n Puerto Rico. CRAWFORD did not invent t h a t resolution. I do not want t o re l ieve Mr. CRAWFORD of h i s responsi- b i l i t y i n the matter. of each individual t o be clear t o the people of Puerto Rico."

CRAWFORD i s an instrument

Because he i s responsible. I want the responsibi l i ty

"Representative CRAWFORD i s par t of a high Democratic organization which i s d i rec t ing the struggle for Democracy. presented h i s resolut ion against democracy i n Puerto Rico, he i s responsible fo r r isking t h e of democracy i n Latin America and i n t h e world; he i s responsible for t h e fact that people may think t h a t i s a farce. Those who induced Representative CRAWFORD t o a c t as he has a r e producing two potent ia l r e s u l t s contradict i n Puerto Rico t h e postulates of f o r democracy i n the minds of Latin America and of t he world.........

Because of t he f a c t that he has

"......the same as if you, who are l i s ten ing t o did not ex is t ; t h e same as if your wishes were as ineffectual a s the howling of a dog, o r of t h e wishes of a German faced with Hi t le r ' s tyranny. What t h e reactionary forces want according t o the resolut ion presented through CRAWFORD i s t o s p i t on your democratic dignity. want, according t o t h e i r resolution presented through CRAWFORD, i s t o s p i t on your democratic dignity. resolut ion presented through CRAWFORD, is f o r t he democratic e f f o r t s t o come t o an end."

The mask has been removed.

the reactionary forces

What the reactionary forces want, according t o t h e i r

The following information is taken a signed statement given by CRISTOBAL VEGA ROSARIO, member of t he Central Committee of t he Communist Par ty of Puerto Rico pertaining t o the Confederacion General de Trabajadores (CGT)-(General Confederation of Workers)

"I have not ye t mentioned as I should we worked t o swing the vote over t o the Popular Democratic Party. propaganda among the i n order t o bring t h e i n t o power.

i n accordance with a Party resolution.

t h e Communists, were t o conduct This

connection with the Popular Party was so close t h a t we, t he Communists, attended a l l of t h e i r meetings and assemblies, and s k i l l f u l l y took advantage of every opportunity t o pass resolutions of a character," and t o conduct t he appropriate propaganda with the more progressive members of the Popular Party in an attempt t o get them t o j o i n our ranks."

"The General Confederation of Labor (CGT) was the main support of the


Communist Party end a s such was used f o r propaganda purposes f o r the Popular Democratic Party. Our cry f o r BREAD, LAND, LIBERTY; has always been a pa r t of the l i t e r a t u r e of the C o m m u n i s t Party of Puerto Rico,

so t h a t everyone may know t h i s , and so that Mr. LUIS MUNOZ MARIN know it a lso , I want t o say here tha t those three words were brought i n t o Puerto Rico by the Communists, and not by Mr. LUIS MUNOZ MARIN. That war-cry of BREAD, LAND, and LIBERTY was l en t t o t h e Popular Democratic Party by t h e Communist Par ty and they usurped it. w i l l say that they do not mean the same thing? Democratic and Popular was the united f ron t of the ant i - imperial is t ic struggle o f t he Communist Party.

DEMOCRATIC POPULAR PARTY POPULAR DEMOCRATIC PARTY who

was from t h i s united f ront with i t s watchword of BREAD, LAND, LIBERTY that LUIS MUNOZ MARIN got the name of h i s Party, and par t of the program of t h e Communist Party was used by MUNOZ MARIN a s a decoy t o a t t r a c t t he Puerto Rican worker. T h a t the time, as ALBERTO SANCHEZ would t e l l a short time ago, when Mr. LUIS MUNOZ MARIN would c a l l the General Headquarters of the Communist Party a t S t r ee t , San Juan, every once i n a while. We, t he Communists, were the ones the greatest amount of daring i n the form- a t ion of the new Popular Democratic Party, and taught the masses t o l i s t e n t o the of LUIS MUNOZ MARIN. In a l l the where small groups of the Communist Party members existed, these same groups would be found on the l i s t of of f icers of t he Popular Democratic Party of t h a t The used our tactics and our work t o take over our people, and then threw our members out. would be f r e e of t he corporations and which would belong t o t h e people, were tremendous and there is no doubt t h a t t h e Communists were the ones who worked t he hardest t he success of the Popular Democratic Party."

1940 p o l i t i c a l campaign of t he Popular Party. ROLON (President of the Municipal Committee of the Communist Party i n Ponce, Puerto Rico), and ELMER ELLSWORTH of Cidra, Puerto Rico, owner of t he recreation center known as "Treasure Island" and an intimate f r iend of LUIS MUNOZ W I N , president of the Popular Party. mentioned place owned by ELLSWORTH, who i s a secret member and fel low t rave ler of t h e Communist Party."

Our a c t i v i t i e s and w i l l t o f igh t t o give our people a party

"Following t h i s policy, prominent communist leaders took par t in t he Among them were Dr . JOSE A. LANAUZE

MUNOZ MARIN very frequently v i s i t ed the above-


SAN JUAN FIELD

AT SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO:

for additional

I

San Juan Puerto Rico.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

SYNOPSIS OF FACTS: MUNOZ MARIN, President Puerto Rico Senate. on 6-18-43 i n statement t o newspapers t ha t the Congress of the U.S. had

r ight to send Congressional In- vestigating Cammittee o r any t o Puerto Rico t o conditions i n P. H. Informant believes might be first step on MUNOZ in a campaign to independence for P. R. informant states t h a t independence issue will probably be MUNOZ MARIN’S platform i n his p o l i t i c a l campaign of 1944,

Fi le 100-5745. Report of Special Agent NIXON BUTT, JR. dated 4-1-43 at San Juan, Puerto Rico,

to be re e loyal, stated t h a t on June 18, 1943, JOSE LUIS MUNOZ MARIN, President of tho Puerto Rican Senate, had issued a to the newspapers of Puerto Rico had sent a note BELL COMMITTEE t o the effect that t h e Congress of United States had right t o send an investigating committee of

A

kind t o Puerto Rice to investigate conditions i n Puerto

In of fact that invest igat ion has been in being no act ive

t h i s case is in a closed t ha t of received i n t h e

future, be kept

In

freedom of informationnovella.mhhe.com/sites/dl/free/6071513022/1125392/... · mocratic samuel...

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