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

S/S–OCB files, lot 62 D 430, “Guatemala”

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

confidential

Washington, April 20, 1954.

Subject:

• Possible Congressional Inquiry into Communism in Guatemala

Discussion:

Representative Charles J. Kersten (R., Wisconsin) has suggested to General Cutler of the NSC the possibility of a Congressional inquiry by his House Select Committee on Communist Aggression, into Communism in Guatemala. Mr. Kersten states that his Committee cannot undertake this inquiry until after they visit Europe in June, but a newspaper man, Mr. Pat McMahon, has prepared for him a proposed press release which Mr. Kersten implies he might wish to issue in the near future. The text of the proposed press release is attached to his letter of April 15 to General Cutler (Tab A).²

Recommendation:

That you request General Cutler to inform Representative Kersten that a Congressional inquiry of the nature he suggests might prove to be a very useful “sounding board” for public dissemination of information concerning Communism in Guatemala. Since however, the Committee cannot undertake the inquiry until after June, and since there are possibilities of new developments in the Guatemalan situation between now and the end of June, we would appreciate it if Mr. Kersten would defer any announcement with respect to a possible inquiry until we can review the situation with him just before his Committee departs for Europe.³

1. Drafted by Mr. Woodward.
2. No attachments were found with the source text.

3. In a memorandum to Under Secretary Smith, dated May 6, 1954, Robert Cutler, Special Assistant to the President, stated in part the following:

   “This morning I have had a very good talk with Congressman Kersten, who was, as always, most understanding and cooperative.

   “We discussed the Caracas Conference, the position taken by the Secretary, and the general situation in Central America, and related matters. He accepted my suggestion that his Sub-Committee defer any announcement relative to Guatemala until the Members of the Sub-Committee return from a proposed trip through Europe. At the present time, their expectation is to return from this trip in July. I suggested that when Congressman Kersten had returned, he might get in touch with me again, and we would take a fresh reading with you, Allen Dulles, and the OCB, on this situation.” (S/S–OCB files, lot 62 D 430, “Guatemala”)