814.00/10–2344: Telegram
The Chargé in Guatemala (Affeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—1:17 a.m.]
711. I have just received the following communication dated October 22 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs27 appointed by the Revolutionary Junta:
“I have the honor to inform Your Honor that, as a result of the triumph of the revolutionary liberating movement, begun in the early hours of the 20th instant with the general good will of the people of Guatemala, a Revolutionary Junta, composed of Major Francisco Javier Arana, Captain Jacobo Arbenz and Don Jorge Toriello, has taken possession of the government of the Republic.
[Page 1142]I take pleasure of informing Your Honor that order and tranquillity have been reestablished throughout the country: that the liberating movement, as well as the installation of the Revolutionary Junta and the people who compose it, are absolutely accepted and have received already the unreserved adherence of civil and military authorities. The Government Junta is in a position to guarantee order in the country and the exercise of normal activities by the citizens.
It is a pleasure to state to Your Honor that the Revolutionary Junta maintains intact, and is willing to fulfill in their entirety all the international obligations of the Republic, especially those which associate it with the war effort of the United Nations, a cause to which it strongly adheres, and it will continue to give all possible cooperation by this country to the common war effort.
By disposition of the Revolutionary Junta, the Cabinet of the Government has been established with the following persons.” (Here insert names given in my telegram No. 702, October 2228 with the addition of Licenciado Rodrigo Robles Chinchilia, Secretary to the Presidency, and correcting title of Major Francisco Javier Arana to read “Delegate of the Junta in charge of the War Office”.)
“I must add that, within as short a time as possible, the country will be placed on a basis of constitutionality.”
Since this communication has just been received I shall not of course respond without instructions and I suspect that other Missions will wait until the promised constitutionality is restored before taking formal action.