24. Memorandum for the Record1
Washington, October 8, 1952, 10
p.m.
SUBJECT
- Central American Situation
- 1.
- At 10 p.m. on 8 October 1952, a meeting was held in the offices of [initials not declassified]. Present were [3 initials not declassified], K2 and [initials not declassified].
- 2.
- K informed the group that as a result of a policy decision by State yesterday opposing the shipment of machinery as planned, this decision being precipitated by indiscretions of Somoza, all of the action planned in support of the opposition was off. K explained that Tachito Somoza had indiscreetly approached Assistant Secretary Miller in Panama and asked him where was the machinery, and both the Nicaraguan and Dominican Ambassadors had called on Mr. Mann at the Department of State to discuss the same matter. This confirmed our general belief that no Latin American can be trusted to keep his mouth shut. [initials not declassified] raised the question of the feeding of the men who are already mobilized, and pointed out that even though no further action is taken, RUFUS must have money to liquidate his forces if he is not completely to lose face; that approximately $3,000 per week [Page 36] are RUFUS’ present requirements. The possibility was discussed of using the ship arriving in New Orleans on Monday for shipment of machinery to our own place. [initials not declassified] said this could be done without difficulty if there were no trouble in getting the machinery on board. He was sure he could re-route his ship and have it go direct to our own place.