252. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles 1
TELEPHONE CALL TO MR. ALLEN DULLES
The Sec. asked if there is anything new, and AWD said there are a lot of messages—with several very good ones from Peurifoy. AWD doesn’t like Diaz—he was put in by Arbenz.2 They are maneuvering to get him out and get a better army officer in. They are trying to keep our own forces intact and not get too deeply engaged. They are sending out propaganda to the effect that officers in the field better go home quick or they will be taken. They have superior forces—the other side—and our side must use more air power. There may be a bombing attack on the radio. The bombing has been excellent and effective. AWD said he is looking into the British ship matter.3 No authority was given for this. However, we can’t say it. AWD said he will try to make it appear that Arbenz’ boys thought this might get us involved.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, John Foster Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations, Box 2, A67-28. No classification marking. Transcribed by Phyllis Bernau.↩
- Among other reasons, the CIA was critical of Díaz for allowing Arbenz to make a farewell broadcast in which he blamed the United States for the crisis and said “US aviators and other mercenaries had unleashed fire and death on civilians.” (Telegram 1125 from Guatemala City, June 28, 1954; Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–01025A, Box 175, Folder 1)↩
- On June 27 the rebel air force mistakenly sank a British freighter carrying coffee and cotton. See Gleijeses, Shattered Hope, p. 340.↩