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

Miller files, lot 53 D 26, “Guatemala”

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge of Central America and Panama Affairs (Clark)

confidential

[Washington,] November 12, 1952.

Subject:

• U.S. Policy Toward Guatemala, Especially as it Relates to a Decision Affecting the Negotiation of an Inter-American Highway Agreement

• Participants: ARA—Mr. Miller
  • Mr. Mann
• MID—Mr. Rubottom
  • Mr. Clark
• Ambassador Rudolf Schoenfeld

Reference is made to the memorandum of November 12, 1952¹ from Mr. Rubottom to Mr. Miller and Mr. Mann which reviewed recent developments in U.S. relations with Guatemala and pointed up the need to give serious consideration to whether or not we should make adjustments at this time in our policy toward that country. Various alternatives were suggested and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each were set forth. It was pointed out that the immediate problem facing us which made a policy decision imperative was that of the Guatemalan desire to conclude an Inter-American Highway Agreement.

The memorandum referred to was read by those present. After some discussion it was agreed that the time was inappropriate to make a final decision on general policy because of the impending changeover in Administration. Such a decision should more properly be left for the incoming Administration.

With regard to the immediate problem of the Guatemalan desire to conclude an Inter-American Highway Agreement, it was decided that the Department should take the position that since there were no funds immediately available for work and since the attitude of the new Congress toward the appropriation of new funds for the Inter-American Highway could not be predicted, the Department considered that it was unwise to sign an Agreement until it was clear what attitude the new Administration would assume toward the Highway project.² It was agreed that the Guatemalan Ambassador should be so informed at an appropriate opportunity. In the meantime negotiations on a technical level involving a Guatemalan proposal to change the wording of one of the provisions of the agreement could continue. It was agreed that the Department should continue to take the position in this regard that it preferred not to change the original language of the provision in question.

1. Not found in Department of State files.
2. In a memorandum to Mr. Rubottom and Mr. Clark, dated Nov. 17, 1952, Assistant Secretary Miller stated that the best course to follow in connection with a highway agreement with Guatemala was to defer any major decision until after the new administration took office in order not to prejudice the situation, and that our general policy should be “to avoid taking decisions that constitute a deviation from previous lines of approach.” (Miller files, lot 53 D 26, “Guatemala”)