9. Memorandum for the Record1
SUBJECT
- Conversation with Mr. Thomas Corcoran on 15 April re [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]
Mr. Corcoran had a talk with MonsignorCarroll, the purpose of which was to induce the Monsignor to assign to Central America, and particularly to Guatemala, a group of teacher-missionaries who are active young Americans and who have been recalled from China. Much to Mr. Corcoran’s surprise, the Monsignor took the position that he had [Page 18] very little interest in dissipating his strength in Central America; that he needed these men as teachers and administrators here and that he was going to keep them here. Mr. Corcoran told him that he had no doubt of the useful purpose that could be served by these men in this country but that, in his opinion, the Church had one major enemy today—Communism; that this country was in no immediate danger from that enemy, but that the entire position of the Church in Central and South America was in great danger from that enemy. He asked the Monsignor if he knew General Smith and suggested that it might be worthwhile for him to have a talk with General Smith to get an appraisal of the seriousness of the situation in Central and South America and he referred to the Argentine. Mgr. Carroll replied that he was planning to telephone General Smith and ask for an appointment, but that he did not know him although his brother knew him well in North Africa. [3-1/2 lines of source text not declassified]
[4 paragraphs (17 lines of source text) not declassified]
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79–01025A, Box 7, Folder 1. Secret. Drafted by Hedden. A handwritten note by Stuart Hedden at the bottom of the page reads: “Apr 28—Gen. Smith approved [name not declassified] and asked me to have [less than 1 line of source text not declassified].”↩