Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Venezuela Antonio Martin Araujo, and Bainbridge Davis

5 5571 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 969 Memorandum of Conversation 173 DATE: May 22, 1952 Farewell Call of Venezuelan Ambassador SUBJECT: PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Dr. Antonio Martín Araujo, ex-Ambassador of Venezuela Bainbridge C. Davis, OSA COPIES TO: ARA Embassy, Caracas ARA Board u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Dr. Antonio Martín Araujo, who last week submitted his resignation as Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, called to say goodbye. He stated that he liked the United States, had enjoyed his period of service here and wanted me to know that the only reason for his resignation was his disagreement with the policies of his Government. I told Dr. Araujo that we would miss him and stated that I felt that he had contributed substantially to the good relations between our two countries, mentioning in this connection his travels throughout the United States. Ambassador Araujo indicated that there are more than 3,000 political prisoners in Venezuela at this time, that a rule of force prevails in his country, that there is dissension within the armed forces, and that the Government has closed the Central University, interrupting the studies of some 5,000 students and has exiled many professors, doctors, lawyers and farmers. Under these conditions Dr. Araujo felt that it would not be right for him to continue as Ambassador. He also referred to recent arrests of army officers explaining that they were not plotting against the Government but had just tried to tell the Junta that the military should step out of the Government where he alleged they now held 90 per cent of the top jobs. I expressed STAT NATION/ AL DECLASSIFIED ARCHIVES ANO RECORDS SERVICE' athority NLT 81 - 24 CONE IDANTIAL ANCHIVESA AND est SERVICES HC NLT Date 2-1f-13