814.00/7–444
The Ambassador in Guatemala (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8.]
Sir: Continuing recent political reports from this Embassy, I have the honor to submit for the Department’s information the following [Page 1135] chronological record of outstanding events since my last despatch, No. 1269 of June 30.8
The despatch referred to covered the situation up to the late afternoon of June 30. At about 10 a.m. the following morning news reached the Embassy that the President had resigned, turning over the power to a Military Junta and that Army officers and ranking members of the Government were filing into his office in the National Palace to say farewell. Shortly thereafter, the Government broadcasting station went on the air to read the manifesto from the Military Junta which was reported in my Telegram No. 458 of July l.8 The immediate reaction of the populace was one of restrained jubilation, cheering throngs parading the principal streets of the city. President Ubico left the Palace about noon and is understood to have proceeded first to his official residence, where he collected his personal effects, and since then has been living at his private residence on 14th Street. There are no indications at present that General Ubico intends to leave the country, although he was contemplating departing for the United States at first.
The Military Junta, composed of Generals Eduardo Villagrán Ariza, Buenaventura Pineda and Federico Ponce V., promptly took up the reins of Government and named a Cabinet composed of the following persons:
[Here follows a list of incoming Cabinet members and a brief summary of action taken by the Military Junta in the change of military leadership and the relaxation of economic regulation.]
From the foregoing it appears that the Military Junta, instead of acting as a passive stop-gap between the Ubico Administration and the installation of a constitutional President, intends to take positive action in the governmental field.
While I have had no contact as yet with members of the Junta or the new Cabinet, a private citizen called yesterday at the Embassy, claiming to be an unofficial emissary from the Junta. He stated that the Junta wished to assure us of its pro-democratic and pro-American sentiments, as well as its desire to cooperate with the Embassy. The visitor, whose bona fides were subsequently established to our satisfaction, also said that the Junta realized that we could not recognize it officially as the Government of Guatemala.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On July 2 the Military Junta published a decree revoking Decree No. 3114 of June 22 suspending constitutional guarantees. The following day the Permanent Commission of the Legislature convoked an extraordinary session of the National Assembly to receive the resignations of the President and the three Presidential Designates, all [Page 1136] of whom are reported to have declined to accept the provisional presidency. The decree also provided for the election of new Presidential Designates.
In accordance with this decree, Congress assembled July 3 at 5 p.m. Invitations were telephoned to members of the Diplomatic Corps by the Foreign Office, and were spoken of as “optional” invitations. I naturally did not attend the opening session and I understand that most of my colleagues in the Diplomatic Corps also abstained. The stormy session of Congress was summarized in my Telegram No. 468 of July 4.9
I am transmitting to the Department as Enclosure No. 1 a memorandum of a conversation9 held this morning with a group of Guatemalan citizens purporting to speak for the general public.
The constant stream of callers suggests that the situation is again pretty tense and the Nuncio is expected to call a meeting of the Diplomatic Corps to consider some of the problems.
Respectfully yours,