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ACTION ARA-17
INFO OCT-01 ADP-00 CIAE-00 PM-09 H-02 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00
NSC-10 PA-03 RSC-01 PRS-01 SS-15 USIA-12 OMB-01 RSR-01
/086 W
--------------------- 101766
P R 181500 Z MAY 73
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4472
INFO CINCSO
AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
DIA
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 1521
E. O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PINT, UY
SUBJECT: TENSION EASES IN ERRO CASE
REF: MONTEVIDEO 1508
1. LAST MINUTE EFFORT TO FIND AT LEAST TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO
ERRO CASE SUCCEEDED AT MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT ( MAY 18) IN AVERTING
IMMEDIATE SHOW- DOWN BETWEEN EXECUTIVE- MILITARY AND LEGISLATURE.
FOLLOWING INTENSE NEGOTIATIONS AND MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENT
AND LEADERS OF HIS " NATIONAL ACCORD" COALITION, COLORADO UNR DEPUTY
CARLOS FLEITAS SUBMITTED IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AGAINST ERRO IN LOWER
CHANBER. MOVE BY FLEITAS THEREUPON ENABLED SENATE TO APPROVE BY
NEAR
LY
UNANAMOUS VOTE RESOLUTION DECLARING THE SENATE " DECLINES
COMPETENCE"
TO RULE ON EXECUTIVE' S REQUEST THAT IT LIFT ERRO' S CONGRESSIONAL
IMMUNITIES.
2. IMPEACHMENT CHARGES MUST NOW BE INVESTIGATED BY CHAMBER OF
DEPUTIES WHICH CAN APPROVE THEM BY SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE. CASE
THEN MOVED TO SENATE FOR " TRIAL". TWO- THIRDS VOTE IN THAT
BODY WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR GUILTY VERDICT AND
REMOVAL OF ERRO FROM SENATE MAKING HIS SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION FOR
SEDITION.
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3. COMMENT: IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF CONGRESSIONAL MOVE LAST NIGHT
IS TO BUY ADDITIONAL TIME IN CONSIDERATION OF ERRO CASE. PRESS TODAY
COMMENTING THAT THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT ACTION ON
IMPEACHMENT
CHARGES WILL BE TAKEN " EXPEDITIOUSLY", WHICH MOST TAKE TO MEAN TWO
TO THREE WEEKS. ACTION ALSO TENDS TO REFOCUS ATTENTION OF ERRO,
RATH
ER
THAN ON BROADER ISSURE OF CONGRESSIONAL AUTONOMY. MUCH OF THE
OPPOSITION TO AND CRITICISM OF MILITARY- INSPIRED REQUEST FOR ACTION
AGAINST ERRO HAS BEEN BASED ON IDEA THAT ERRO IS SIMPLY PRETEXT BY
MDMED FORCES TO DOWNGRADE
AND DESTROY LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. NOW, HOWEVER,
CONGRESS WILL
UNDERTAKE ITS OWN INVESTIGATION AND AVIVE AT A RESULT BASED UPON ITS
OWN ANALYSIS OF ERRO' S ACTIONS. OPPOSITION SENATOR FERREIRA
ALDUNATE
WARNED LAST NIGHT THAT HIS SECTOR' S APPROVAL OF SENATE RESOLUTION
DID NOT REPRESENT ANY " PROMISE" WITH REGARD TO EVENTUAL VOTE ON
IMPEACHMENT. HOWEVER, FACT THAT INITIATIVE IN ERRO MATTER HAS NOW
PASSED FROM EXECUTIVE TO CONGRESS COULD RESULT IN SOFTENING
OF HIS OPPOSITION. FINALLY, IT APPEARS THAT THREATENED RUPTURE IN
PRESIDENT' S " NATIONAL ACCORD" COALITION HAS BEEN PUT OFF, AT LEAST
FOR THE MOMENT. ALL PRESS ACCOUNTS TODAY CARRY TONE OF ALMOST
VISIBLE RELIEF, WITH LEFTIST DAILIES HAILING RESULT AS " GREAT
VICTORY" FOR THEM.
4. UNKNOWN FACTOR AT THIS MOMENT IS THE REACTION OF THE ARMED
FORCES TO LAST NIGHT' S EVENTS. THROUGHOUT THIS THREE- WEEK CRISIS,
MILITARY CHIEFS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINED THAT THEY
WOULD ARREST ERRO REGARDLESS OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
HAVING PUBLICLY DECLARED THEIR TOLERANCE WITH CONGRESS
TO BE NEARLY AT AN END, THEY HAVE CLEARLY PUT THEIR
PRESTIGE ON THE LINE. THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER DELAY IN THE
ERRO CASE WILL PROBABLY EVOKE A STRONG REACTION WITHIN MILITARY
RANKS
FROM THOSE " HARD LINERS" WHO ALREADY FEEL THAT TOO MUCH TIME HAS
BEEN
WASTED. CLAIMS OF " VICTORY" BY THE LEFT WILL EXACERBATE THESE
FEELINGS. THE NEXT FEW DAYS SHOULD SERVE TO CLARIFY HOW
FAR THE ARMED FORCES BELIEVE THEY CAN GO IN ACCOMODATING TO
THE SEARCH BY CIVILIAN POLITICAL LEADERS FOR SOME GRACEFUL EXIT TO
THIS VEXING AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
ORTIZ
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NMAFVVZCZ
*** Current Handling Restrictions *** n/a
*** Current Classification *** CONFIDENTIAL