Approved for Release: 2025/06/11 C07177588
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FIELD INFORMATION REPORT
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REPORT NO. 405-1245
DATE OF INFO 17 August 1956
DATE OF REPORT 16 August 1956
PLACE ACQUIRED San Jose, Costa Rica
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SOURCE EVALUATION, APPRAISAL OF CONTENT
High Level Central American exile (C); Appraisal of content - 1.
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1. On Wednesday, 1 August 1956, prior to the attack on the Cuartel San Francisco in Tegucigalpa by a group of Honduran Liberal Party supporters, Ramon VILLADA Morales, ardent Liberal leader, stated that it was planned to attack an arms deposit in the capital. The arms obtained were to be distributed to the public, which was then to conduct attacks on key forts in Tegucigalpa. VILLADA stated that he had connections with the "boca" (secret) of Carlos Pello Boccares and the Honduran Democratic Party of Venezuela. He stated that he planned to use Costa Rican President José FIGUEROA FERRER to aid in overthrowing the present Honduran Government.
2. On the same date, *Diario Frio*, Honduran newspaper, reported together with VILLADA that the north coast and San Pedro Sula areas of Honduras are ready to rise in favor of VILLADA, and that only a small amount of arms are needed, since they already have bazookas, rifles, and even submachine-guns in Honduras. The group included: Lic. José Pérez, Sandelio Bermúdez, J.L. Yar, and Orlando M. Yáñez (confirmed with FLORES). They afterwards stated that they were prepared to support the Honduran Liberals and take VILLADA with them by force if he continued to hesitate in starting the uprising.
3. On 4 August 1956, Francisco SÁNCHEZ Reyes and OMEZ Pérez conferred. They were later joined by Francisco and Juan MILLA Bermúdez, and the group decided to await reports on the situation in Honduras before starting the revolt. They again stated that VILLADA had been hesitant to start the revolt, and that if necessary they will act without his authorization. Word has been received by the group that Frank R. Reyes will provide the Liberals with arms on condition that SÁNCHEZ Reyes be given command of the rebel forces.
4. On 5 August, an unidentified source arrived from Tegucigalpa. According to SÁNCHEZ Reyes, she told VILLADA that the attack on the Cuartel San Francisco was merely to obtain arms, and that the participants not accounted for among the prisoners, dead, and wounded had escaped with several truckloads of arms from the post. The survivors are reportedly concentrating in the Lasí area and are receiving support from Nicaragua.
5. On 7 August, SÁNCHEZ and the MILLA brothers stated that they were ready to take
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PAGE NO. 51-58 PREVIOUS EDITIONS MAY BE USED.
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Approved for Release: 2025/06/11 C07177588