814.00/7–1444
The Ambassador in Guatemala (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch no. 1282 of July 4, 1944, giving a chronological record of the principal political developments since June 30. No further chronological reports have been submitted since that time due to the relative tranquility which has prevailed, the principal political developments having been reported in separate despatches and telegrams.
For convenient reference I list below the principal steps in the restitution of constitutional government in Guatemala:
July 4. On this date Congress accepted the resignation of the former Delegates and elected new Presidential Designates. In a separate legislative decree the resignation of President Ubico was accepted and General Federico Ponce V., as newly elected First Designate, was declared Provisional President. General Ponce proceeded at once to take the oath of office before Congress. These steps were reported in my telegrams no. 471 of July 4, no. 474 of July 5, 1:00 p.m. [a.m.], and no. 481 of July 7, 2 p.m.13 In addition, despatch no. 1287 of July 7,14 transmitted to the Department the texts of the legislative decrees in question.
July 7. I received a note from the Minister for Foreign Affairs dated July 5,14 officially informing the Embassy of the installation of General Ponce as Provisional President and of the disappearance of the interregnum Military Junta. This note was reported to the Department in my telegram no. 480 of July 7, 11:00 a.m. and the text of the note was transmitted with my despatch no. 1286 of July 7.13
July 8. In accordance with the authorization contained in the Department’s telegram No. 392 July 7, 5:00 p.m. I addressed a communication to Dr. Salazar15 acknowledging his communications of July 1 and July 516 and informed him that I had been authorized to continue relations with the Guatemalan Government. This was reported in my telegram no. 486 of July 8, 5 p.m.14 and the text of my note was forwarded with despatch no. 1286 of July 7.
In view of the undoubted importance to the Provisional Government of our decision to continue relations with it, and the effect which it would have on public opinion in strengthening its support of the new régime, I called on General Ponce, accompanied by the principal [Page 1138] members of my staff, and in his presence delivered the note in question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. General Ponce made appropriate remarks of appreciation for our action and expressed his intention to cooperate in every way possible in the prosecution of the war effort. One unusual feature of this informal ceremony, which would have been inconceivable under the previous administration, was the presence in the Presidential office of a large group of newspaper reporters and photographers. The ceremony was given considerable publicity in local newspapers the following day.
During the period of approximately ten days which has elapsed since the inauguration of General Ponce in the Provisional Presidency, public support and confidence in his administration has increased perceptibly. As previously reported to the Department, there was some tendency, particularly among members of the legal profession, to question the constitutionality of his designation and accession to office. Apparently more sober judgment prevailed, however, and I am not aware of any disposition on the part of the public to question the legality of the Provisional Government. It is realized by the public that any effort to remove him from office would have resulted in serious internal strife and might have led to chaotic conditions.
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The new administration has already given indications of a desire to cooperate closely with the United States. The Department has been informed, in a separate communication, of its expressed intention to ratify the decrees expropriating coffee properties which were adopted during the last days of the previous administration.19 The Department was informed in my telegram no. 503, July 13, 6:00 p.m.,20 of the intention of the new government to negotiate an agreement for a pedagogical mission from the Inter-American Educational Foundation, including a committment on its part to contribute the sum of $50,000 over a three-year period. The Embassy has also been informed that President Ponce is favorably disposed toward renewed mahogany extraction in the Petén21 if requested by us for our war requirements.
In my personal contacts with General Ponce, I have found him eager to familiarize himself with problems pending between the two governments and anxious to cooperate with us in every way. The President has naturally been besieged by the public and is heavily burdened by affairs of government. I have, nevertheless, found him very approachable and, on the basis of the brief experience we have had with the new government, I incline to be optimistic regarding the nature of our relations during the Provisional Presidency of General Ponce, if public order is preserved.
[Page 1139]The most serious cloud on the horizon is the rising cost of living which has already resulted in threatened strikes on the properties of the United Fruit Company and in the International Railways of Central America. (See despatch No. 1307, July 14, 194422).
As previously reported to the Department, the former regulations restricting the slaughtering and marketing of meat have been cancelled by this Government and apparently an increase in the cost of meat to the consuming public has resulted. This has accentuated the rise in the cost of living which has been taking place over a considerable period of time and it is feared that public dissatisfaction may result in demands for increased wages and salaries. The Provisional Government seems to be alive to the situation and is endeavoring to take steps to prevent inflation.
The period of transition from the iron-clad rule of General Ubico to the relatively liberal administration under General Ponce, has taken place with remarkably little disorder. The machinery of government is continuing to function smoothly and the outward life of the country has apparently settled back to normal. The newspapers are enjoying their first taste of freedom in many years. With minor exceptions, they have not yet displayed a tendency to abuse their new liberties. Miscellaneous new political groups and parties are forming almost daily, but they have not yet settled into a cohesive pattern. It is anticipated that the next five months will see intensified political activities and considerable state of political ferment. If the Provisional Administration continues its present liberal policies accompanied by tolerance of popular political activities, there are grounds to hope that the electoral period may be free of serious disorders. While it is obviously impossible to make predictions, it may at least be stated that developments during the first ten days of the new Government augur well for the future.
Respectfully yours,