199. Despatch From the Ambassador in Guatemala (Sparks) to the Department of State1
SUBJECT
- Communist Interference in Central American Affairs
During a liaison meeting the morning of April 20, Mr. Carlos Lemus G. gave the Embassy liaison officer a copy of a report on revolutionary activities in Central America. The report is submitted [Page 623] as an enclosure to this despatch.2 Mr. Lemus said that President Carlos Castillo Armas planned to make available a similar copy of the report to Ambassador Sparks on a trip to Esquintla the same day, which he did.
Mr. Lemus stated that he would be interested in receiving the Embassy liaison officer’s comments on the report. After reading it, the Embassy liaison officer said that he found the report very interesting but that he was not inclined to comment further as he wished to discuss it with Ambassador Sparks. Mr. Lemus agreed and suggested they meet again on April 23.
Mr. Lemus then exhibited the rifle, ammunition, and grenade referred to in paragraph 4 of the enclosed report. He said that this equipment, which he believed to have been shipped to Costa Rica from East Germany, had been purchased by a trusted Costa Rican informant … in Costa Rica recently. The Embassy liaison officer asked Mr. Lemus whether he deduced from the origin of the arms that the Communists were behind the arms shipments. Mr. Lemus replied that he believed this to be true, indicating that perhaps even ex-President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, whom he believed to be in Czechoslovakia, was implicated in the arms traffic. The Embassy liaison officer expressed great interest in this premise and suggested that he would be interested in receiving proof of such activity. Mr. Lemus replied that he would make available any evidence if it came into his possession. The April 20 meeting terminated on that note.
Before the April 23 meeting with Mr. Lemus, the Embassy liaison officer briefed Ambassador Sparks on the April 20 meeting and instituted a … check. The check … revealed that the information contained in the report had been previously reported in Guatemala or other Central American countries . . . . The only new aspect was the armament in Mr. Lemus’ possession. Since investigation on several occasions in Mexico by the Army Attaché and in Costa Rica … have failed to confirm the allegations contained in paragraph three of the enclosure, it was decided that the Embassy liaison officer should advise Dr. Lemus on 23 April that the information was interesting but inconclusive and suggest that he attempt to obtain more facts.
The Embassy liaison officer met Mr. Lemus on April 23 and opened the discussion of the report. As indicated above, he advised Mr. Lemus that the information was sketchy and that he, the liaison officer, was inclined to question the validity of paragraph three, concerning phantom ships making arms deliveries along the Atlantic Coast. To this Mr. Lemus replied that he was satisfied that arms were being transported in small fishing boats. He said the movement [Page 624] of this type craft was difficult to monitor, and that fishing vessels were able to move freely. As an example he stated the arms were landed clandestinely along the Pacific Coast of Guatemala after 7 o’clock at night when the beaches were deserted, and that although his agents heard rumors of the landings, they were unable to discover the caches. The liaison officer agreed that this was possible but stated that beach landings were rather difficult except under ideal conditions.
Mr. Lemus then went on to say that his government is deeply concerned over the political situation in Central America. He said in his opinion, the Communists, in conjunction with prominent Caribbean figures such as Romulo Betancourt, Carlos Prio Socorras, Jose Figueres, and Dr. Juan Jose Arevalo were in an excellent position to intervene successfully in Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama within the current year. He indicated that he is particularly concerned about Honduras, however, since the electoral situation there is particularly delicate. It was Mr. Lemus’ opinion that the Communists have the best chance of staging a Central American comeback in Honduras. When the liaison officer queried him as to the source of his information Mr. Lemus replied that he received reports from the countries of Central America which substantiated his statements. The Embassy liaison officer has actually seen a number of these reports during the liaison meetings. Usually the reports are vague, and sometimes from questionable sources. The buildup in the volume of information is such, however, that Mr. Lemus’ statements cannot be entirely discounted, particularly vis-à-vis Honduras.
… reports evidence the fact that the Guatemalan exiles continue to plot. They do not indicate, however, that the Arbencistas have any real capability to affect the stability of the Castillo regime. Insofar as the other countries of Central America are concerned, the Embassy is not sufficiently informed to express an authoritative opinion. Without question, though, Mr. Lemus’ point is well taken that the situation is favorable to dissident elements in those countries facing elections this year.
Second Secretary of Embassy