Office of the Historian

714.00/6–1554

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

secret
[Washington,] June 15, 1954.

Subject:

  • Draft Press Statement by President on Guatemala

Attached as Tab A is a draft of press conference statement2 submitted by the CIA to Mr. Hagerty for use at the President’s press conference on Wednesday, June 16.

I most vigorously oppose the use of this statement.

Our whole plan for an OAS meeting on Guatemala is based upon the principle that the United States is undertaking to solve this problem without unilateral intervention, whether political or economic, in Guatemalan affairs. I have reiterated this again and again to every Latin American Ambassador and so have our Ambassadors in those capitals.

The CIA very understandably wants to bring both political and economic pressure to bear in Guatemala at this time. From their point of view I can see that this is logical. I object strenuously, however, because by following this course we will demonstrate that our assertions regarding the OAS meeting are not true. On the one hand, we would be avowing a laudable determination to forebear from all unilateral [Page 1169] action and, on the other hand, through the President of the United States we would be indulging in the most direct unilateral political intervention.

The results, in my judgment, would be disastrous to our proposed OAS meeting.

Attached as Tab B is a recommended substitute.3

  1. Drafted by Mr. Holland.↩

  2. The draft statement reads as follows:

    “The current crisis in Guatemala grows out of the attempt to convert its communist infiltrated government into an out-and-out communist dictatorship. A few days ago the regime officially announced the suspension of civil liberties and rounded up many prominent non-communists. Now we hear of an order directing that part of the recent shipment of arms from behind the Iron Curtain is to be distributed to communist cadres. Clearly these moves, all too familiar as steps in a communist takeover, are not being made in response to any external threat. The truth is that they are prompted by the increasing awareness of the communist threat and growing anti-communism of the enormous majority of the Guatemalan people and above all of the Guatemalan army. These same circumstances give us reason to hope and expect that the loyal anti-communists in the country will themselves clean their own house.”

    ↩
  3. Not printed.↩