Office of the Historian

65. Draft Memorandum for the Record1

Washington, November 12, 1953.

SUBJECT

  • Program for PBSUCCESS

REFERENCES

A.
“Guatemala—General Plan of Action”, TS# dated 11 September 19532
B.
Project PBSUCCESS Status Report, dated 29 October 19533

A. Objectives

1.
To remove covertly, and without bloodshed if possible, the menace of the present Communist-controlled government of Guatemala.
2.
To install and sustain, covertly, a pro-US government in Guatemala.

B. Statement of the Problem

1.
The Communists have become strongly entrenched in Guatemala and in the Guatemalan government, thus constituting a threat to United States welfare in the Western Hemisphere.
2.
The Guatemalan non-Communist opposition has become disillusioned and disunited. However, a latent anti-Communist resistance potential is believed to exist.
3.
The resistance potential must be built up to the point where it can contribute materially to the accomplishment of the objectives of PBSUCCESS.
4.
In view of growing Communist strength and declining non-Communist cohesion in Guatemala, the implementation and successful completion of the objectives of PBSUCCESS must proceed without delay.
5.
It must be recognized that any major effort to dislodge the Communist-controlled government of Guatemala will probably be credited to the United States, and possibly on CIA. Covert accomplishment of the objectives of PBSUCCESS is therefore defined as meaning accomplishment with plausible denial of United States or CIA participation.

C. Plan of Operations

1.
Stage One—Staffing and Assessment—
a.
Assignment of Project Personnel.
b.
Field Survey by Communications Adviser.
c.
Briefing and despatch of Project field personnel.
d.
Assessment and analysis of friendly assets.
e.
Assessment and analysis of enemy assets.
f.
Preparation of detailed operational plans for Headquarters approval.
2.
Stage Two—Preliminary Conditioning (D–?)
a.
Project Headquarters moves to the field.
b.
Create dissension and defection within the target.
c.
Discredit target at home and abroad.
d.
Demonstrate inability of target regime to represent best interests of the people.
e.
Create hope and encourage patience among non-Communists.
f.
Complete military agreements with Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.
g.
Withdraw US military personnel from target at appropriate time.
h.
Begin economic pressure.
i.
Begin formation and training of a para-military force in exile.
j.
Assess accomplishments.
k.
Obtain Headquarters approval before proceeding to next stage.
2.
Stage Three—Build-Up (D–75)
a.
Create maximum antagonism to target regime.
b.
Fan passive will to resist.
c.
Apply internal and external economic pressure to create serious difficulties.
d.
In concert with majority of OAS members, apply diplomatic pressures.
e.
Demonstrate urgency by speeding military build-up of neighboring countries (not including Mexico).
f.
Accentuate para-military preparation.
g.
Initiate passive sabotage program.
h.
Assess accomplishments.
i.
Obtain Headquarters approval before proceeding to next stage.
4.
Stage Four—Critical Period (D–25)
a.
Apply maximum economic pressure.
b.
Accentuate divisionist activity within target.
c.
Intensive rumor campaign stimulating fear of war for the purpose of drawing enemy forces away from capital.
d.
Constitutional revolutionary forces claim support of people.
e.
Para-military force in readiness.
f.
Passive sabotage evident.
g.
Assess accomplishments.
h.
Obtain Headquarters approval before proceeding to next stage.
5.
Stage Five—Showdown (D–5)
a.
Implement aggressive sabotage plan against key targets.
b.
Constitutional leader claims capability to seize power by force and issues ultimatum to target regime to capitulate in order to avoid needless bloodshed.
c.
Populace is told to await target regime’s reply and further instructions from constitutional leader.
d.
If ultimatum fails, popular uprising begins; para-military force enters target country, proclaims authority, declares target regime null and void.
e.
Secure position and restore order.
6.
Stage Six—Consolidation (D–?)
a.
Roll-up of Communists and collaborators.
b.
Dramatic initial proclamations and edicts.
c.
Formation of government.
d.
Announcement of long-range domestic and foreign policy.
e.
OAS countries announce immediate recognition and support of new regime.
f.
United States offers aid.
g.
PBSUCCESS terminated.

D. Organization and Authority

1.
Priority
a.
“Top Operational Priority” given PBSUCCESS.
2.
Authority and Responsibility
a.
Primary field authority and responsibility is vested in the Officer in Charge, PBSUCCESS.
b.
This officer is designated “Special Deputy for PBSUCCESS, WHD.”
c.
The command channel will be direct from Special Deputy to CWH.
3.
Staff Requirements
a.
The following staff requirements for PBSUCCESS are believed to be the minimum for adequate implementation and control of the Plan of Operations envisaged herein. Additional personnel may be required for varying periods of TDY.
b.

The T/O outlined below is exclusive of WHD’s current T/O.

[Omitted here is a proposed Table of Organization with position titles and grades.]

7.
Finance
a.
Upon arrival of this program, financial accountability will be vested in CWH, under whose direction CWH/Ad will be the accountable disbursing officer for Headquarters expenditures. Under the general direction of the CWH, the Special Deputy for PBSUCCESS will be the accountable disbursing officer for Field expenditures.
b.
Procedures for allocation, disbursement, and accounting of funds will be in a manner acceptable to the DD/A, and as shall be arranged between him and the CWH/Ad.
[name not declassified]4
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–01025A, Box 76, Folder 2. Top Secret; Eyes Only.↩
  2. Document 51.↩
  3. Document 61.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature. The approval lines at the end for CC, CWH, and CD/P are all blank.↩