414.008/6–1254
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy (Thomas)
Dear Mr. Secretary: I refer to the request of the Department of State dated May 22, 1954,1 to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, for assistance in preventing the delivery of contraband arms cargoes from Europe to Guatemala. It is my understanding that the Chief of Naval Operations is attempting to determine the identity of ships suspected of carrying such cargoes to Guatemala, and to divert them to Panama [Page 1166] or to a United States port for inspection. I now wish to confirm conversations between officers of both Departments concerning orders by the Chief of Naval Operations to effect this purpose.
It is understood by the Department of State that suspected ships are of three categories, each of which lists specific ships after consultation and agreement between the Department of State and Department of the Navy. Category A are those ships which, in most cases, have been reported as carrying arms to Guatemala or are known illicit traders; Category B are ships of Soviet or Soviet Bloc registry encountered in the Caribbean, on a course for or in the Gulf of Honduras. Category C are those ships which have sailed from Iron Curtain ports within the past sixty days and which enter the Gulf of Honduras.
With respect to the above-stated categories, it is the desire of the Department of State that the task units of the Department of the Navy will provide surveillance of designated areas and of the suspected vessels in accordance with the following instructions: If time permits, upon sighting of a vessel on the suspect list worked out jointly by the Department of State and the Navy, the Navy units should without detaining the ship inform the Chief of Naval Operations so that the Department of State may attempt to obtain authorization from the flag state or from the Organization of American States to order it to Panama or to a United States port for inspection. The Department realizes, however, that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for a ship to be trailed from the limits of surveillance areas to the limits of the territorial waters of Guatemala pending the receipt of instructions from the Chief of Naval Operations. Therefore, if time does not permit the surveillance, it is recommended that the ships in the suspect category lists A, B, or C, be detained as they enter the Gulf of Honduras surveillance area on a course for Puerto Barrios, and that the Chief of Naval Operations be informed in order to obtain further instruction. The Department of State would then desire to be consulted at once, so that steps can be taken to persuade the flag state, or the Organization of American States if the Department of State is unable to obtain the approval of the flag state, to approve the detention of the ship and to divert the detained ship to Panama or a United States port for inspection. In the case of ships which refuse to identify themselves while on a course for Puerto Barrios in the surveillance area, they should be detained until the identity is established. The procedures for the three categories (or for non-suspect ships) can then be followed.
It should be pointed out that in case of suspected vessels the Department of State will seek prior permission to divert the suspected vessel to Panama. Only if the Department of State cannot secure approval for the detention of the ship from its own state, and if it cannot obtain a decision from the Organization of American States authorizing the detention of the ship, will the Department of the Navy forcibly divert the [Page 1167] ship to Panama or to a United States port for inspection of its cargo, and in every case the Department of the Navy will act only with the concurrence of the Department of State.
It will be appreciated if the Navy will take the precaution to assure that the ships in the area will be properly instructed with respect to its duties in this surveillance action.
Sincerely yours,
Assistant Secretary