Editorial Note

On July 22, 1950, disorders occasioned by anti-Government demonstrations began in Guatemala and continued until the 26th, when the Government declared a state of siege and temporarily gave police powers to the Army.

In the course of the disorders, university students and the Chamber of Commerce, both largely in opposition, declared a general strike. Most businesses closed. The Government on July 25 ordered them to reopen and stated the licenses of noncomplying foreign businesses would be canceled. Later the Government instead imposed fines on those which did not open, and, in the Embassy’s opinion, on some of those which did.

During the crisis the Embassy advised all United States citizens to do “everything possible and consistent personal safety comply law and abstain actions which might be interpreted as political.” (Telegram 48 from Guatemala City, July 24, 714.00/7–2450)

Officers of the Embassy believed that “in view of the suspension of [constitutional] guarantees [on July 23], business houses were justified in failing to open to avoid threats of violence by student groups.” (Memorandum by Ernest V. Siracusa, Assistant Officer in Charge of Central America and Panama Affairs, to Mr. Miller, July 31, 714.00/7–3150)

Mr. Miller expressed concern over the fines to Ambassador Goubaud on July 31. On instructions from the Department, Mr. Wells discussed the subject informally with the Foreign Office on August 7. He stressed the United States belief that Americans had not engaged [Page 911] in politics and that those American concerns which had closed had done so only for reasons of safety.

On August 10 the Embassy learned that fines would be forgiven when constitutional guarantees were restored. The constitution went back into effect on September 6. (File 714.00 for July–September 1950)