Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, The American Republics, Volume IV

714.00/10–352

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs ( Mann ) to the Secretary of State ¹

top secret

[ Washington ,] October 3, 1952.

Subject:

• Possible Military Action Against Guatemala

ARA attaches importance to the information which it has received through official foreign government channels concerning a military plan directed against Guatemala in which several of its neighboring states would be involved. In order that you might be apprised of this plan in the event the subject is raised while you are attending the UN General Assembly,² your attention is invited to the following:

1. President Somoza of Nicaragua apparently has gained the impression, however mistakenly, that a military venture directed at the overthrow of the present Guatemalan Government would have the blessing of the United States. Tab A is a memorandum³ referring to several conversations with Brigadier General Mara,⁴ Assistant Military Aide to President Truman, indicating that he may have led President Somoza to that conclusion.

2. In August Ambassador Thomen of the Dominican Republic told Assistant Secretary Miller that President Somoza, during his stay in Ciudad Trujillo for the Presidential inauguration,⁵ stated to Generalissimo Trujillo that “understandings” had been arrived at between himself and President Truman in Washington with regard to anti-communist activities in the Caribbean and particularly in Guatemala. Tab B is a memorandum⁶ of Mr. Miller’s conversation with Ambassador Thomen.

3. Ambassador Sevilla Sacasa of Nicaragua last week called on Messrs. Miller and Mann to relate in some detail a plan whereby Nicaragua, with the support of several of its neighbors, as well as the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela, would take indirect military action against Guatemala which they considered to be a threat because of communist influence in that Government. Tabs C and D are memoranda⁷ of Ambassador Sevilla Sacasa’s conversations with Messrs. Miller and Mann, respectively.

4. Concomitant with the Nicaraguan approach to the Department, Ambassador Zuleta Angel of Colombia told Ambassadors Warren and Beaulac in Caracas and Habana, respectively, what he learned during a quick trip made by him through Central America and the Caribbean area, ostensibly for trade promotion, but actually to discuss the communist threat in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Tab E is a copy of Ambassador Warren’s telegram⁸ relating what he learned from Ambassador Zuleta, and Tab F is Ambassador Beaulac’s report⁹ of his conversation with Ambassador Zuleta.

5. From these official sources, it has been adduced that: (1) A military plan against Guatemala has already been formulated; (2) only a leader is required to put the plan in action; (3) it is hoped to carry out the plan this year, and (4) all elements concerned would like to have a “green light” from the U.S. and tangible support in arms.

6. Both Colombia and Venezuela fear Betancourt ¹⁰ (former Accion Democratica leader in Venezuela) who presently lives in exile in San Jose, Costa Rica, more than they do Guatemala. President Somoza of Nicaragua is also fearful of developments in neighboring Costa Rica where its leftist liberal leader, Figueres, is now the leading Presidential candidate for the elections scheduled next year.

Messrs. Miller and Mann, on separate occasions, stated as clearly as possible to Ambassador Sevilla Sacasa that the United States could never condone military intervention on the part of an American State against one of its neighbors, pointing out that non-intervention was one of the very keystones of the Inter-American system and that there are treaty commitments against such action.¹¹ The Ambassador was reminded that the United States is fighting with its UN allies in Korea for the non-aggression principle. The Ambassador was told, however, that the United States has been concerned with the communist influence in the Guatemalan Government and that it might be more appropriate to approach that problem through ODECA (Organization of Central American States) or, if that were not possible, through the regularly established procedures of the OAS, if practicable.

Mr. Miller was expected to make the same points clear to Ambassador Zuleta whom he expected to see in Panama this week during the inauguration ceremonies for President Remon.¹² Mr. Miller also was expected to see President Somoza’s son¹³ in Panama.

1. Concurred in by Special Assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of State Nolting, Deputy Director of the Office of Regional American Affairs Jamison, Director of the Office of Middle American Affairs Rubottom, and Director of the Office of South American Affairs Atwood; the memorandum was initialed by Secretary Acheson.
2. Reference is to the Seventh Session of the General Assembly, which opened on Oct. 4, 1952.
3. Dated July 21, 1952, not printed.
4. Neil Mara.
5. Reference is to the inauguration of Héctor Bienvenista Trujillo Molina, who was elected unopposed as President of the Dominican Republic on May 16, 1952; he succeeded his brother, Generalissimo Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina.
6. Dated Sept. 11, 1952, not printed.
7. Dated Sept. 26 and 29, respectively, neither printed.
8. Telegram 122, from Caracas, dated Sept. 21, 1952, not printed; a copy is also in file 713.00/9–2152.
9. The report under reference, dated Sept. 16, 1952, is not printed.
10. Rómulo Betancourt.
11. In a memorandum of a conversation at the Department of State between Mr. Siracusa, Mr. Clark, and Col. Roberto Barrios Peña, a retired Guatemalan army officer and opponent of President Arbenz, dated May 27, 1952, Colonel Peña is reported in part to have forecast an upheaval in Guatemala against the Arbenz government and to have inquired what the United States would do when it occurred. The memorandum, by Mr. Siracusa, reads in part as follows: “he was informed that the United States could only view possible internal struggles in Guatemala as purely domestic issues involving Guatemala alone and that it, therefore, would maintain, in such events, its traditional policy of non-interference and non-intervention.” (714 00/5–2752)
12. José Antonio Remón was elected President of Panama on May 11, 1952, and installed in office on Oct. 1.
13. Anastasio Somoza Debayle.