814.00/535

The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State

[Extract]
No. 168

Sir:

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1. The inauguration of President Carlos Herrera occured on March 15th and passed off without notable incident. There were many police in evidence and a policeman’s parade. There was also a considerable number of soldiers about the parks and public buildings. This was not an improper provision under all the circumstances.

For many days there had been reports circulated that there was going to be trouble in the city that day. It was even persistently rumored that there was to be an uprising of the lawless classes and that foreigners in general had been singled out and that the places of business of foreigners would be raided and sacked. Quite a number of Americans, disturbed by these rumors, came to the Legation for consultation and advice. A Congressman named Julio Samayoa, who is intensely against the foreign element, and also is antagonistic to the President, made a speech in Congress, a few days before the inauguration, which is said to have been decidedly inflammatory. He is reported to have gone so far as to exclaim, “What care we how badly off we are, provided the foreigners are worse off!”, and that the Unionista Party was against Herrera because he had not kept his promises. Other sensational statements along this line were made by him.

I told those who consulted me not to be disturbed—that if an effort was made at pillage and disorder I felt sure the Government had the power to put it down and would do it.

There is evidently an undercurrent among the more radical elements to give President Herrera trouble. This element seized upon an appointment recently made by the President to inflame the public against him. He appointed, as Chief of Staff in the army, General [Page 179] Ubico who had for a short time been Minister for Foreign Affairs under Estrada Cabrera, and who had also, before that, been Jefe Politico in one of the important Departments at Retahluleu. His appointment raised a great clamor. Thousands of the citizens in and about Retahluleu signed a protest against his appointment. Ubico felt that he had been given very little power with his appointment and therefore had responsibility without power and occupied a position dangerous to himself and useless to the Government, and he has resigned. He was so upset that I received very confidential information that he might feel constrained to seek asylum in this Legation.

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I have [etc.]

Benton McMillin