Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Guatemala

71. Memorandum for the Record¹

New York, November 20, 1953.

SUBJECT

• PBSUCCESS—[less than 1 line of source text not declassified]

1. A meeting was held with Mr. [name not declassified], Special Assistant to Mr. [name not declassified], President of [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], in his office at [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], New York City, at 1615 on 20 November 1953. Present were Mr. [name not declassified] and Col. King.

2. The meeting was arranged by Mr. [name not declassified] as the result of information received from Mr. [name not declassified] to the effect that our [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], Mr. [name not declassified], although a distinguished member of the company and a loyal American, has been [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] and should no longer be relied upon. After Mr. [name not declassified] had promised to disclose to no one except President [name not declassified], without prior authorization, the matters to be discussed, he was asked if it were practical to reduce their oil stocks in Guatemala within a period of a few months from the present level of 30–40 days, to 15 days, and if so, who, in his company, would need to be informed. Also, if for a period of approximately three weeks all shipments could be stopped so as to reduce the Company’s Guatamalan stocks to zero.

3. Mr. [name not declassified] replied that the first step was possible providing the other oil companies² doing business in Guatemala also went along, and that it could be done through normal channels without arousing undue suspicion, if two other officers of the Company in addition to himself were informed—the President, Mr. [name not declassified], and the officer in charge of all marketing arrangements, Mr. [name not declassified], of [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]; with a weekend residence at [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]. Mr. [name not declassified] said that Mr. [name not declassified] had served with the U.S. Navy in England during World War II and that he was a discreet, thoroughly loyal and absolutely trustworthy individual; and that [name not declassified] would vouch for him in this instance. The operation would have to be laid on through [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], under the direction of their local man, [name not declassified], who is in charge of their supply and transportation. However, to [name not declassified], no explanation other than orders as to what to do would have to be given.

4. It was agreed that as soon as I had obtained permission to cut in Mr. [name not declassified], a second meeting would be held, this time including Mr. [name not declassified] and Mr. [name not declassified].³

5. My impression of Mr. [name not declassified] was most favorable. He impressed me as a man who would be discreet, trustworthy and who thoroughly understood the problem as presented.

J.C. King

Chief, WHD

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–01025A, Box 77, Folder 7. Secret. Prepared on November 23 in Washington.
2. A handwritten note in the margin was not declassified.
3. A handwritten note in the margin reads: “Memo has gone forward to Col. Edwards.” This memorandum has not been found.