821.85/9–1047: Telegram
The Chargé in Colombia ( Warner ) to the Secretary of State
586. ReEmbtel 585 September 10. Crowd of approximately 500 university students later augmented by others assembled in front of Embassy 11:30 a.m. this morning. They threw stones breaking windows, overturned one Embassy car, deflated tires of others, sang national anthem, yelled “down with Truman and with imperialism” and other epitaphs [epithets]. The few regular police present were apparently afraid take action. Although a students’ manifestation was announced in the morning press in support of the Gran Colombiana, no special police were in evidence. It took over 23 minutes to communicate with Foreign Office by telephone and when it was finally reached reinforcements and riot squad arrived within 5 minutes and streets were immediately cleared. Grace3 office sacked, employees escaped injury; United Fruit Office not attacked.
- W. R. Grace and Company.↩