814.00/1033: Telegram
The Minister in Guatemala (Whitehouse) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
126. President Chacon was to have resigned this afternoon but, owing to the absence of the Chief Justice whom he desired as a witness to his signature, the act is postponed till Monday10 morning. Congress is to meet on Tuesday. No agreement yet reached as to who is to be Provisional ‘President, but the names mentioned are General Reyes, Reina Andrade, who is a deputy, and General Arisa, who is apparently a candidate of the opponents of Ubico.
[Paraphrase.] Everything seems to be headed towards a peaceful and constitutional settlement of the crisis, but the place is a powder mine and there are many careless smokers. I should appreciate [Page 189] instructions as to recognition of the new Provisional President, and I venture to suggest, in case anything unexpected occurs, that I be given discretion as to the time of recognition because it might be advisable to delay the same until he has actually issued the call for new elections. [End paraphrase.]
- December 29.↩