Eisenhower Library, Hagerty papers
Excerpt From the Diary of James C. Hagerty, Press Secretary to the President
Monday, April 26—Legislative leaders meeting at 8:30—V.P., Knowland, Ferguson, Millikin, Bridges; Speaker, Halleck, Arends, [Page 1102] Allet; staff. The President started the meeting with a discussion of Guatemala and Indo China—On Guatemala the President said that it was the usual Red penetration with a small minority which is gradually taking over the country. He said that he gave the present Foreign Minister, when he was Ambassador here “unshirted hell, but he’s playing along with the Communists”. He said that the Caracas decision had been helpful in stopping Communism in this hemisphere and that consequently we would have all Latin and South American countries helping us “whenever the Reds make a move”—he said that we have a good man in Guatemala and that he is watching the situation very closely and giving us constant reports—In Guatemala, however, the Reds are in control and they are trying to spread their influence to San Salvador as a first step of the breaking out in Guatemala to other South American countries.
[Here follows discussion concerning Indochina.]